* Malaysia Q4 GDP growth slows to decade-low
* Indonesia hits over 1-wk low
* Singapore leads gainers, up over 1.4%
By Arundhati Dutta
Feb 12 (Reuters) - Singapore and Thailand stocks rose over
1% on Wednesday on hopes that the worst of the coronavirus
outbreak in China might be over, while Malaysia shares fell as
data showed its fourth-quarter economic growth had slumped to a
decade-low.
China reported the lowest number of new virus cases since
late January on Wednesday, supporting the country's senior
medical advisor's prediction that the epidemic would be over by
April.
Singaporean shares .STI closed 1.5% higher, with
heavyweight financial stocks United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI and
DBS Group Holdings DBSM.SI gaining more than 1%.
Malaysian equities .KLSE slipped 0.6% after data showed
southeast Asia's third-largest economy grew 3.6% in
October-December from the same period a year earlier, prompting
the central bank to signal 'ample room' for rate cuts.
Financials were top losers, with Hong Leong Bank HLBB.KL
and Public Bank PUBM.KL shedding 4.3% and 2.8%, respectively.
Malaysia's lacklustre GDP data and Singapore's collapsing
tourist numbers have increased the odds of monetary easing by
the countries' central banks, said Jeffrey Halley, market
analyst at OANDA, in a note.
Singapore expects visitor numbers to decline by about 25-30%
this year due to the virus outbreak, the city state's tourism
board said on Tuesday.
Indonesian stocks .JKSE dropped 0.7%, hitting its lowest
level in about one week, weighed down by consumer stocks.
Instant noodles maker PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk
ICBP.JK tumbled 6%.
The country's health minister asserted on Tuesday that
Indonesia was not hiding anything over coronavirus, after U.S.
researchers said that infections may have gone undetected in
Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Indonesia remains the only country in Southeast Asia with no
confirmed virus cases, despite having had direct flights to
Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus.
The Thai index .SETI ended 1% higher, marking its best day
in a week, lifted by financial companies. The Siam Commercial
Bank SCB.BK and Kasikornbank KBANK.BK were up 4.6% and 1.8%,
respectively.
Philippines .PSI closed 0.8% lower, while Vietnam .VNI
ended up 0.3%.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3223.37 3175.57 1.51
Bangkok 1539.84 1523.93 1.04
Manila 7383.1 7439.4 -0.76
Jakarta 5913.081 5954.397 -0.69
Kuala Lumpur 1542.94 1551.48 -0.55
Ho Chi Minh 937.68 934.67 0.32
Change so far in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 3223.37 3222.83 0.02
Bangkok 1539.84 1579.84 -2.53
Manila 7383.1 7,815.26 -5.53
Jakarta 5913.081 6,299.54 -6.13
Kuala Lumpur 1542.94 1588.76 -2.88
Ho Chi Minh 937.68 960.99 -2.43