(Corrects 10th paragraph to show poll forecasted Malaysia's Oct
inflation at 1.0%, not 1.1%)
* U.S. Senate's Hong Kong bill may strain trade talks -
analyst
* Malaysia Oct inflation rises 1.1% y/y
* Semirara mining ban weighs on Philippine market
By Arundhati Dutta
Nov 20 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell on
Wednesday amid fears that trade talks between Beijing and
Washington could be derailed after President Donald Trump
threatened fresh tariffs and the U.S. Senate passed a bill aimed
at protecting human rights in Hong Kong.
Trump said on Tuesday he had a good relationship with China,
noting that Beijing was "moving along." However, he said China
would have to make a deal "I like". Market participants are worried about a further
deterioration in relations between the two countries after the
Senate unanimously passed a legislation to protect human rights
in Hong Kong amid a crackdown on the pro-democracy protest
movement. China on Wednesday condemned the move, asking the United
States to stop interfering in Hong Kong and Chinese affairs.
"There are some concerns that it might result in no interim
trade deal between the two countries, especially since China is
really touchy about the subject," said Rachelle C Cruz, an
analyst at AP Securities.
Philippine stocks .PSI were the top losers in the region,
dragged by Semirara Mining and Power Corp SCC.PS and DMCI
Holdings Inc DMC.PS .
Semirara fell as much as 13% after the coal miner was
directed by the energy department to suspend all mining
activities under a contract immediately, in relation to a
mudflow incident in October. DMCI, which derives around half of its earnings from
Semirara, lost nearly 7.9%.
Malaysian equities .KLSE fell, hurt by losses in large
caps like telco Axiata Group AXIA.KL and Petronas Gas
PGAS.KL .
Data showed inflation in October rose 1.1% from a year ago,
slightly higher than a 1.0% increase forecast by a Reuters poll.
Mild inflation in recent times and sluggish economic growth
in the third quarter amid a slump in exports and mining have
fuelled expectations of a rate cut by the central bank early
next year.
Trade-sensitive Singapore shares .STI dipped 0.2%, dragged
by real estate stocks.
Thai shares .SETI fell 0.3%, dragged by oil and gas
companies PTT Pcl PTT.BK and PTT Exploration and Production
PTTEP.BK due to a fall in crude oil prices overnight.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0408 GMT
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3232.8 3238.87 -0.19
Bangkok 1602.34 1607.25 -0.31
Manila 7880.6 7912.14 -0.40
Jakarta 6147.061 6152.09 -0.08
Kuala Lumpur 1598.73 1605.31 -0.41
Ho Chi Minh 1003.59 1008.35 -0.47
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3232.8 3068.76 5.35
Bangkok 1602.34 1563.88 2.46
Manila 7880.6 7,466.02 5.55
Jakarta 6147.061 6,194.50 -0.77
Kuala Lumpur 1598.73 1690.58 -5.43
Ho Chi Minh 1003.59 892.54 12.44