SE Asia Stocks-Most end higher as U.S. recession fears recede

Reuters
0

* Broader Asia shares ex-Japan up 0.2 pct

* Cautiously-optimistic view on Spore's manufacturing

environment-

analyst

By Shanima A

March 26 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks edged

higher on Tuesday, with Indonesia adding 0.9 percent, as worries

over a U.S. recession ebbed after Treasury yields rose.

Sentiment continued to remain fragile, however, over

inversion of the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield curve, an indicator

of impending recession in the world's largest economy. Equities

around the world witnessed a sharp selloff on Monday on fears

over global economic growth.

However, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield came

off late-2017 lows and edged up to 2.442 percent, sending the

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan

0.2 percent higher after a 1.4 percent loss in

the previous session.

Indonesian stocks, the top performer in the region,

climbed 0.9 percent, boosted by gains in consumer staples and

financials.

Shares of cigarettes maker Gudang Garam Tbk PT

gained 2.9 percent, while Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk

PT added 1.4 percent.

Singapore shares added 0.6 percent, with conglomerate

Jardine Matheson Holdings rising 1.2 percent.

The country's manufacturing output in February expanded

slightly, rising 0.7 percent from a year earlier.

OCBC Bank in a note forecast a "lacklustre view of the

manufacturing momentum for 1Q19 in the light of the dampened

global growth prospects."

Thai shares closed 0.4 percent higher despite data

showing the country's factory output in February slipped 1.6

percent, compared to a Reuters poll forecasting a 0.5 percent

decline.

Financials and energy stocks led the index higher, with oil

and gas explorer PTT Exploration and Production PCL

rising 0.8 percent and Kasikornbank PCL edging 1.1

percent higher.

In Philippines, the benchmark index gained 0.6

percent, bolstered by industrial sector. Heavyweights SM

Investments Corp and JG Summit Holdings added

1.2 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Vietnam shares, however, bucked the trend and ended

marginally lower, hurt by losses in utilities and real estate

stocks.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Previous Close Pct Move

Singapore 3200.28 3182.92 0.55

Bangkok 1632.32 1625.91 0.39

Manila 7907.03 7863.02 0.56

Jakarta 6469.999 6411.251 0.92

Kuala Lumpur 1649.94 1649.15 0.05

Ho Chi Minh 969.79 970.07 -0.03

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3200.28 3068.76 4.29

Bangkok 1632.32 1563.88 4.38

Manila 7907.03 8558.42 -7.61

Jakarta 6469.999 6194.498 4.45

Kuala Lumpur 1649.94 1690.58 -2.40

Ho Chi Minh 969.79 984.24 -1.47

(Reporting by Shanima A in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreejay

Sinha)

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