SE Asia Stocks-Most end firmer on China stimulus hopes

* China's move to relax residency curbs lifts broader

sentiment

* Cautious investors seek clarity on Sino-U.S. trade talks

* Vietnam snaps three session of gains to end lower

By Shreya Mariam Job

April 9 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks closed

higher on Tuesday, in line with mainland markets, after Beijing

unleashed fresh measures to boost economic growth, while a surge

in oil prices drove Thai shares to a near six-week closing high.

China will relax residency curbs in many of its smaller

cities this year and increase infrastructure spending, the state

planner said, in a fresh push to boost the urban population and

revive slowing economic growth.

Leading the gains, Indonesian stocks recouped losses

from the previous session to end 0.9 percent higher, ahead of

the presidential elections on April 17.

Most opinion polls give the incumbent, President Joko

Widodo, a double-digit lead over his rival, former military

general Prabowo Subianto.

"President Jokowi looks set for a second term and another

majority in the new parliament, which should be positive for

markets and the IDR (Indonesian rupiah)," a note from Maybank

said. "His re-election signals policy continuity and will calm

fears of any policy disruption," the note said.

Consumer stocks boosted the index, with shares of Astra

International Tbk Pt and Unilever Indonesia Tbk Pt

closing up 2 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.

Oil prices were near five-month highs on Tuesday as markets

continued to tighten amid OPEC-led supply cuts, U.S. sanctions

against Iran and Venezuela, and escalating violence in Libya.

Bolstered by gains in energy shares, Thai stocks

closed at a near six-week high. PTT Exploration and Production

Pcl and PTT Pcl gained 3.1 percent and 0.5

percent, respectively.

Separately, investors exercised caution ahead of the release

of the minutes to U.S. Federal Reserve's previous policy meeting

and as they also awaited further clarity on the Sino-U.S. trade

talks.

A top White House official said on Monday that U.S.

officials are "not satisfied yet" about all the issues standing

in the way of a deal to end the U.S.-China trade war but made

progress in talks with China last week.

Meanwhile, Vietnam stocks snapped three consecutive

sessions of gains to slump nearly 1 percent. Real estate and

consumer stocks dragged the index lower, with Vingroup JSC

closing 2.2 percent lower and Vietnam Dairy Products

JSC down 1.3 percent.

Philippine markets were closed for a holiday.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3325.6 3315.42 0.31

Bangkok 1657.74 1646.18 0.70

Jakarta 6484.348 6425.734 0.91

Kuala Lumpur 1641.94 1644.35 -0.15

Ho Chi Minh 988.48 997.56 -0.91

Change so far in 2019

Market Current End 2018 Pct Move

Singapore 3325.6 3068.76 8.37

Bangkok 1657.74 1563.88 6.00

Jakarta 6484.348 6,194.50 4.68

Kuala Lumpur 1641.94 1690.58 -2.88

Ho Chi Minh 988.48 892.54 10.75

(Reporting by Shreya Mariam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry

Jacob-Phillips)