* Singapore extends gains for third consecutive session
* Indonesia and Philippine markets closed until Wednesday
* Vietnam set to snap a 3-session rally
By Shruti Sonal
Dec 24 (Reuters) - Trade-sensitive Singapore shares extended
gains for a third straight session on Tuesday, buoyed by
lingering optimism about an interim U.S.-China trade deal, while
other Southeast Asian stock markets were down in subdued trade
ahead of holidays.
A recent spate of positive developments have pointed towards
a de-escalation of a trade conflict between the world's
two-largest economies.
The benchmark Singapore index .STI , which will trade for a
shorter session ahead of the Christmas holiday, was buoyed by
telecom and industrials.
Jardine Strategic Holdings JSH.SI was up as much as 0.8%,
while Singapore Telecommunications STEL.SI rose 0.9%.
However, investors in most other markets are choosing to
wait until next year to see how long the current thaw in
Sino-U.S. relations lasts.
"Granted, there were bright spots with the White House
suggesting that the "Phase-1" deal is within grasp... but the
tough "Phase-1" negotiations reveal that further progress would
require significant concessions on both sides, which lifts the
bar for further trade gains," Vishnu Varathan, a senior
economist at Mizuho Bank, said in a note.
Losing the most in the region, Malaysian equities .KLSE
saw their worst session in five days, with utilities and
healthcare weighing down on the index in thin trading.
Index heavyweights Petronas Gas PGAS.KL and Top Glove
Corporation Bhd TPGC.KL fell about 3% and 1% respectively.
Thailand stocks .SETI shed as much as 0.3%, a day after
central bank governor raised concerns about the economy,
signalling room for further rate cuts. "The outlook moving forward remain gloomy as the country's
effort to control currency appreciation by cutting key interest
rates, among others has no significant impact," an MIDF Research
note said.
Industrials and telecom were the biggest drag on the index,
with G J Steel PCL GJS.BK being the top percentage loser on
it.
The Vietnam index .VNI was set to snap three straight
sessions of gains, dragged down by industrials and financials.
Meanwhile, Philippine .PSI and Indonesian .JKSE markets
were closed until Wednesday.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0339 GMT
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3223.28 3214 0.29
Bangkok 1571.04 1573.57 -0.16
Kuala Lumpur 1607.93 1614.18 -0.39
Ho Chi Minh 955.87 959.43 -0.37
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3223.28 3068.76 5.04
Bangkok 1571.04 1563.88 0.46
Manila 7872.6 7,466.02 5.45
Jakarta 6305.91 6,194.50 1.80
Kuala Lumpur 1607.93 1690.58 -4.89
Ho Chi Minh 955.87 892.54 7.10