* Vietnam top gainer after rate cuts
* Most mark weekly gains, as trade tensions ease
By Devika Syamnath
Sept 13 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks markets
ended higher on Friday as risk sentiment got a boost from signs
of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks and the European Central
Bank's stimulus, with Vietnam leading the gains on rate cuts.
Easing trade tensions between the world's two largest
economies helped most regional markets, which count China as a
key trade partner, notch a weekly gain.
Investors' risk appetite was also supported by the European
Central Bank's pledge to offer indefinite stimulus to revive an
ailing euro zone economy. MKTS/GLOB
Leading the gains, Vietnam shares .VNI climbed to a more
than three-week peak after the country's central bank joined
global peers by cutting interest rates, to support growth and
control inflation. Banking stocks dominated the gains, with Vietcombank
VCB.HM closing at an all-time peak and BIDV BID.HM ending at
its highest level in over one year.
Vietnam equities have outperformed regional peers this year,
helped by increased foreign investment due to some production
being shifted from China to the country due to the Sino-U.S.
trade war.
Singapore stocks .STI closed 0.5% higher, gaining over 2%
this week. The city-state is among the most sensitive to trade
war developments.
"There's a bit of bargain hunting ... local banks are also
trading at very attractive dividend yields," Liu Jinshu,
director of research at NRA Capital said.
The country's biggest lender DBS Group DBSM.SI added 0.8%
to close at its highest since early August.
Bucking the trend, Indonesian stocks .JKSE slipped 0.1%,
extending losses to a second session.
However, the index clocked a gain of 0.4% for the week.
"Fundamentals remain intact, over the past couple of days
it's been more about profit taking and rotation into laggard
names where they (investors) see more upside value," said Taye
Shim, head of research, Mirae Asset Sekuritas.
Instant noodle maker Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur ICBP.JK
lost 2.7% on the day, after having advanced over 25% since late
March.
Consumer goods heavyweight Unilever Indonesia UNVR.JK
climbed 1.1%, after giving up over 5% so far this month.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3211.49 3194.96 0.52
Bangkok 1661.96 1660.68 0.08
Manila 7992.32 7944.43 0.60
Jakarta 6334.843 6342.174 -0.12
Kuala Lumpur 1601.25 1601 0.02
Ho Chi Minh 987.22 976.07 1.14
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3211.49 3068.76 4.65
Bangkok 1661.96 1563.88 6.27
Manila 7992.32 7,466.02 7.05
Jakarta 6334.843 6,194.50 2.27
Kuala Lumpur 1601.25 1690.58 -5.28
Ho Chi Minh 987.22 892.54 10.61