SE Asia Stocks-End lower on U.S. recession fears; Vietnam sheds 2 pct

* Philippine shares among worst performers, end 1.9 pct

weaker

* Singapore Feb core inflation rate eases

* Thailand Feb factory output seen rising 0.52 pct

By Shanima A

March 25 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets ended

lower on Monday with cautious investors across the globe opting

for safe-haven bonds as risk assets were rattled by fears of an

impending U.S. recession, while Vietnam shares slumped to a near

one-month low.

Concerns about the health of the world economy heightened

last week after remarks by the U.S. Federal Reserve, sending the

10-year treasury yields to the lowest since early 2018.

Meanwhile, data showed preliminary measures of manufacturing

and services activity in the United States grew at a slower pace

this month than in February, and dampened sentiment further.

Traditionally, an inverted yield curve - where long-term

rates slip below short-term - has signalled a recession in the

offing.

Asian shares followed the broader global equities sell-off,

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

dropping 1.5 percent to a one-week trough.

Leading the declines in the region, Vietnam shares

closed 1.9 percent weaker, with real estate stocks weighing on

the index.

Philippines shares ended 1.9 percent lower, with

losses in industrial stocks accounting for most of the declines.

Thai shares shed 1.2 percent as the Southeast Asia's

second-largest economy awaits the final results of the country's

first election since a 2014 coup.

Pheu Thai party linked to self-exiled former leader Thaksin

Shinawatra won 138 seats, while military junta chief Prayuth

Chan-ocha's Palang Pracharat party got 96, but the winners of

150 of the lower house seats are still unclear, the election

commission announced after market hours.

The overall winner of Sunday's election may not emerge for

weeks because the Election Commission has said it will announce

the official results of the final 150 seats in the 500-seat

parliament on May 9.

On a separate note, Thailand's annual manufacturing output

in February is expected to have risen at a slightly faster pace

than in the previous month, a Reuters poll showed.

Singapore shares fell 0.9 percent to their lowest

close in nearly two months, after data showed that the

city-state's core inflation rate for February eased to 1.5

percent from a year earlier.

The rate hit its lowest in nine months on expectations that

the central bank will keep monetary policy unchanged when it

meets next month.

Indonesia stocks closed 1.8 percent weaker, dented

by losses in consumer staples and financial stocks, with Gudang

Garam Tbk PT slipping more than 4.5 percent.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3182.92 3212.1 -0.91

Bangkok 1625.91 1646.29 -1.24

Manila 7863.02 8013.42 -1.88

Jakarta 6411.251 6525.274 -1.75

Kuala Lumpur 1649.15 1666.66 -1.05

Ho Chi Minh 970.07 988.71 -1.89

Change so far in 2019

Market Current End 2018 Pct Move

Singapore 3182.92 3068.76 3.72

Bangkok 1625.91 1563.88 3.97

Manila 7863.02 7,466.02 5.32

Jakarta 6411.251 6,194.50 3.50

Kuala Lumpur 1649.15 1690.58 -2.45

Ho Chi Minh 970.07 892.54 8.69

(Reporting by Shanima A in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry

Jacob-Phillips)