* Indonesia's unaudited 2019 budget deficit at 2.20% of GDP
* Philippines Dec CPI above forecast
* Thai equities rise most in over one month
By Sameer Manekar
Jan 7 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian equities finished higher
on Tuesday, with Thailand leading gains, as markets drew relief
from the absence of any fresh escalations in the standoff
between the United States and Iran.
Regional markets recovered from sharp declines on Monday,
gaining broadly in line with their Asian peers. The MSCI's
broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS recouped almost all of losses from the previous
session.
However, uncertainties still persist on report of Iran
considering 13 "revenge scenarios" in retaliation for U.S.
strike last week, and the United States denying visa to Iran's
foreign minister to attend a United Nations meeting this week.
Thai equities .SETI led the gains in the region, buoyed by
financial and industrial sectors. Retailer CP All Pcl CPALL.BK
and Airports of Thailand AOT.BK rising 1.4% and 2.1%,
respectively.
Singapore's benchmark index .STI ended 0.9% higher,
boosted by financials and industrial firms.
Southeast Asia's largest lender DBS Group Holdings DBSM.SI
added 0.7%, while Jardine Strategic Holdings JSH.SI gained
1.6%.
Malaysian stocks .KLSE finished 0.8% higher with
financials and telecom firms rising the most.
CIMB Group Holdings CIMB.KL and Maxis Bhd MXSC.KL added
1.3% and 2.3%, respectively.
Philippine bourse .PSI rose 0.6% on the back of consumer
firms, with SM Investments Corp SM.PS adding 2.6%.
Data released on Tuesday showed the country's annual
inflation picking up more than expected in December, but
remaining within the central bank's target for last year.
Last year, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor
Benjamin Diokno said the policymakers will resume easing policy
this year, and "at least 50 basis points" were to be expected in
2020. Indonesian shares .JKSE gained 0.4%, with financials and
consumer sectors pushing the index.
The country posted an unaudited budget deficit of 2.2% of
gross domestic product in 2019, in line with the government's
latest estimate, however, wider than its initial plan to keep
the deficit at 1.8% of GDP. Bank Rakyat Indonesia BBRI.JK and poultry feed firm
Charoen Pokphand Indonesia CPIN.JK gained 0.7% and 6.9%,
respectively.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3247.86 3218.86 0.90
Bangkok 1585.23 1568.5 1.07
Manila 7840.7 7797.87 0.55
Jakarta 6279.346 6257.403 0.35
Kuala Lumpur 1611.04 1597.76 0.83
Ho Chi Minh 958.88 955.79 0.32
Change so far in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 3247.86 3222.83 0.78
Bangkok 1585.23 1579.84 0.34
Manila 7840.7 7,815.26 0.33
Jakarta 6279.346 6,299.54 -0.32
Kuala Lumpur 1611.04 1588.76 1.40
Ho Chi Minh 958.88 960.99 -0.22