SE Asia Stocks-Subdued on Trump healthcare defeat

By Sindhu Chandrasekaran

March 27 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets were

cautious on Monday, in line with Asia, as a failure by U.S.

President Donald Trump in getting a crucial healthcare bill

passed raised concerns about his plans of using fiscal stimulus

to boost economic growth.

Trump witnessed a stunning political setback on Friday, when

Republican leaders pulled legislation to overhaul the U.S.

healthcare system, a major 2016 election campaign promise of the

president and his allies.

The defeat of Trump's first major legislative initiative

since taking office on Jan. 20 not only raises concerns about

his ability to get other key parts of his agenda, including tax

cuts and a boost in infrastructure spending, through Congress,

but also the Republican Party's capacity to govern effectively.

"The failure of the Trump government - the push for their

own healthcare - has resulted in mixed results in the regional

markets today," said Manny Cruz, an analyst with the

Manila-based Asiasec Equities Inc.

"So, we (investors) are waiting for some developments before

moving back to these markets."

In Singapore, shares fell as much as 1 percent to

their lowest since March 10, with industrials leading the

losses.

Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd shed 1.8 percent, the

biggest percentage loser on the index.

The Philippine index fell 0.4 percent, as financial

stocks weighed. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company fell

3 percent.

Indonesia shed 0.3 percent, with financials

accounting for more than half the losses on the index.

Vietnam hit a fresh more than nine-year high, with

HUD1 Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company

the biggest percentage gainer on the index.

In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares

outside Japan fell as much as 0.2 percent.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS : Change at 0440

Market Current previous Pct Move

close

Singapore 3125.81 3142.9 -0.54

Bangkok 1571.51 1573.51 -0.13

Manila 7238.66 7269.62 -0.43

Jakarta 5549.619 5567.134 -0.31

Kuala Lumpur 1749.24 1745.75 0.20

Ho Chi Minh 725.07 722.14 0.41

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3125.81 2880.76 8.51

Bangkok 1571.51 1542.94 1.85

Manila 7238.66 6840.64 5.8

Jakarta 5549.619 5296.711 4.77

Kuala Lumpur 1749.24 1641.73 6.55

Ho Chi Minh 725.07 664.87 9.1

(Reporting by Sindhu Chandrasekaran; Additional reporting by

Urvashi Goenka; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)