* Singapore core inflation rises at slowest rate since April
2016
* Philippines adds 1.2% for week, snaps 4 weeks of declines
* Vietnam snaps 7 weeks of gains
By Niyati Shetty
Aug 23 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks declined on Friday as
authorities trimmed full-year inflation forecast towards the
lower half of their guidance range, while last-minute buying in
blue chips saw Philippine shares reverse course to end higher.
The city state's core inflation eased to its slowest pace in
more than three years in July, in further evidence of weakened
economic condition. Singapore shares .STI fell 0.6% for the day, with
Hutchison Port Holdings Trust HPHT.SI and Hongkong Land
Holdings HKLD.SI retreating 5.7% and 2.3%, respectively.
The benchmark stock index was down nearly 1.8% for the week.
Meanwhile, uncertainty about how much further the U.S.
Federal Reserve would cut interest rates also rattled investors
who keenly await Chairman Jerome Powell's speech at a gathering
of policymakers later in the day. MKTS/GLOB
Thai stocks .SETI ended 0.8% higher and were the top
performer in Southeast Asia, with nearly all sectors closing
higher.
Communication and industrial stocks largely underpinned
gains, with telecom company Total Access Communication Pcl
DTAC.BK adding 4.6%.
Vietnam shares .VNI snapped seven sessions of gains on
Friday but gained 1.3% for the week.
Philippine equities .PSI closed 0.5% higher, bouncing back
from a 0.5% drop earlier, due to a spurt in buying of large caps
including JG Summit Holdings JGS.PS , SM Investments Corp
SM.PS and Ayala Corp AC.PS just few minutes before close.
Shares of JG Summit jumped 3% in the last 15 minutes of
trade to end up 1.9%.
The Manila stock index ended four weeks of declines and
added 1.2% this week.
Philippine financial markets are closed on Monday for a
holiday.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3110.35 3127.74 -0.56
Bangkok 1646.68 1633.56 0.80
Manila 7889.41 7848.83 0.52
Jakarta 6255.597 6239.245 0.26
Kuala Lumpur 1609.33 1602.47 0.43
Ho Chi Minh 992.45 997.26 -0.48
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3110.35 3068.76 1.36
Bangkok 1646.68 1563.88 5.29
Manila 7889.41 7,466.02 5.67
Jakarta 6255.597 6,194.50 0.99
Kuala Lumpur 1609.33 1690.58 -4.81
Ho Chi Minh 992.45 892.54 11.19