SE Asia Stocks-Higher; investors track U.S. healthcare bill

By Sindhu Chandrasekaran

March 23 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose

on Thursday, in line with Asia and Wall Street, with investors

closely watching the progress of a U.S. healthcare bill that

could affect President Donald Trump's ability to deliver on

other campaign promises.

Repealing and replacing Democratic former President Barack

Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act is a first major test of

Trump's legislative ability and whether he can go ahead with his

agenda, including cutting taxes and regulation to boosting

infrastructure.

Asian shares rose, with the MSCI's broadest index of

Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up as much as

0.4 percent, while U.S. equities rebounded on Wednesday after

all three key indexes touched their lowest in about five weeks

earlier in the session.

"Since there is not much actionable news coming from Asia, I

think the markets are just taking cues from U.S. equities...,"

said Victor Felix, an equity analyst with Manila-based AB

Capital Securities.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesian shares closed at a

record high, helped by gains in financial stocks.

Indonesia's central bank senior deputy governor said the

rate of inflation in March was seen at below 0.2 percent month

on month.

Vietnam shares rose 0.9 percent, supported by

consumer staples and financials.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agricultural Joint Stock Co ended

6.8 percent higher, while Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint

Stock Bank (Sacombank) was up 6.1 percent.

Philippines closed 0.6 percent firmer, with

industrials accounting for more than half the gains.

The Philippine central bank left its key overnight borrowing

rate steady at 3.0 percent as expected, saying inflation should

settle within its target for this year and next.

Singapore finished the session marginally higher.

Earlier in the day, data showed the city state's headline

consumer price index in February rose the most in more than two

years on the back of increased private road transport cost.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS : CHANGE ON DAY

Market Current previous Pct Move

close

Singapore 3126.93 3118.19 0.28

Bangkok 1568.72 1566.66 0.13

Manila 7301.03 7254.93 0.64

Jakarta 5563.759 5534.093 0.54

Kuala Lumpur 1747 1748.3 -0.07

Ho Chi Minh 719.56 712.94 0.93

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3126.93 2880.76 8.55

Bangkok 1568.72 1542.94 1.67

Manila 7301.03 6840.64 6.7

Jakarta 5563.759 5296.711 5.04

Kuala Lumpur 1747 1641.73 6.41

Ho Chi Minh 719.56 664.87 8.2

(Reporting by Sindhu Chandrasekaran; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)