* Thailand falls on profit-taking after recent gains in
energy,
utility sectors
* Malaysia May exports grow 2.5%, below Reuters forecast
* Vietnam gains most in region, closes 1.3% firmer
By Rashmi Ashok
July 4 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets posted
lacklustre performances on Thursday as weak economic data in the
United States heightened concerns of a global economic slowdown,
while Vietnam shares closed at a five-week high on real estate
boost.
Data showed that the U.S. trade deficit jumped in May and
Sino-U.S. trade tensions helped drive activity in the services
sector to a two-year low in June, while private employers added
fewer-than-expected jobs to their payrolls. Thai shares .SETI , the biggest laggards in the region,
shed early gains to drop 0.8% towards close.
"It should be profit-taking in the power sector," said
Saharat Chudsuwan, Head of Marketing & Wealth Advisory for
Mutual & Private Funds at Tisco Asset Management Co, Ltd.
Shares in utility companies Energy Absolute PCL EA.BK
slumped 2.7%, while Banpu Power PCL BPP.BK shed 4.8%.
Investors locked in profits after the index saw solid gains
last month - its best monthly gain since September 2013. The
bourse rose about 11% so far this year, leading the gains in the
region.
Malaysian stocks .KLSE ended lower after data showed the
country's exports grew 2.5% in May from a year earlier, but
below the 3.6% expansion forecast by economists in a Reuters
poll. However, the export growth was better than a consensus
median of 2.2%, with a strong performance from electronics,
chemicals and machinery exports, said Prakash Sakpal, economist
for Asia at ING, in a note.
Malaysia's electronics and electrical exports "represent a
significant outperformance in the face of the ongoing
electronics export weakness observed elsewhere in the region
reflecting the global tech slump," ING's note read.
Bucking the trend, Vietnamese stocks .VNI ended up 1.3% at
their highest close since May 27. Joint Stock Commercial Bank
for Foreign Trade of Vietnam VCB.HM closed 4.2% firmer, while
Vinhomes JSC VHM.HM ended up 3.7%.
Indonesian stocks .JKSE ended firmer, with top boost Adaro
Energy Tbk ADRO.JK closing 4.4% higher.
Singapore's index .STI rebounded to end a tick higher
after two tepid sessions.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3372.25 3367.8 0.13
Bangkok 1724.37 1738.51 -0.81
Manila 8064.92 8092.68 -0.34
Jakarta 6375.967 6362.622 0.21
Kuala Lumpur 1687.48 1690.05 -0.15
Ho Chi Minh 973.04 960.39 1.32
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3372.25 3068.76 9.89
Bangkok 1724.37 1563.88 10.26
Manila 8064.92 7,466.02 8.02
Jakarta 6375.967 6,194.50 2.93
Kuala Lumpur 1687.48 1690.58 -0.18
Ho Chi Minh 973.04 892.54 9.02