SE Asia Stocks-Fall ahead of key U.S. jobs data

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks fell on

Thursday, in line with Asian peers, as investors shrugged off an

official survey showing Chinese factory activity unexpectedly

expanded in August, to focus on a U.S. jobs report that could

determine the timing of a rate increase by the Federal Reserve.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls data due on Friday remains this week's

key market focus after Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley

Fischer said last week the data would be a factor as to when the

central bank hikes interest rates.

Employers are expected to have added 180,000 jobs in August,

according to the median estimate of 89 economists polled by

Reuters.

"People are waiting for the data tomorrow..Jobs data has

always been improving over the past few months..don't see any

reason why it will reverse," said Joseph Roxas, president at

Philippines-based Eagle Equities Inc.

A private employment report, published ahead of the

government data, showed private payrolls increased by 177,000

jobs, in line with economists' expectations.

The markets were tepid to an official survey showing

activity in China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded

at its fastest pace in nearly two years in August as

construction boomed, suggesting the economy is steadying in

response to stronger government spending.

Philippine shares fell as much as 1.8 percent to a

two-month low, on track to post a seventh session of losses, led

by consumer cyclicals and non-cyclicals.

SM Investments Corp and GT Capital Holdings Inc

lost more than 2 percent each.

The market is still in correction and has been overbought

for a while, Roxas said.

Indonesia fell as much as 1 percent, led by

utilities and consumer cyclicals.

PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, a state gas distribution

firm, was the second biggest decliner on the index, falling as

much as 5.6 percent.

Vietnam fell 0.7 percent, while Malaysia was

down marginally.

Singapore shares bucked the trend to rise as much as

0.6 percent.

Asian shares fell, with MSCI's broadest index of

Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.5

percent.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

STOCK MARKETS

Change at 0425 GMT

Market Current Prev close Pct Move

Singapore 2832.56 2820.59 0.42

Bangkok 1547.18 1548.44 -0.08

Manila 7684.71 7787.37 -1.32

Jakarta 5340.562 5386.082 -0.85

Kuala Lumpur 1672.59 1678.06 -0.33

Ho Chi Minh 670.07 674.63 -0.68

Change this year

Market Current End 2015 Pct Move

Singapore 2832.56 2882.73 -1.74

Bangkok 1547.18 1288.02 20.12

Manila 7684.71 6952.08 10.54

Jakarta 5340.562 4593.008 16.28

Kuala Lumpur 1672.59 1692.51 -1.18

Ho Chi Minh 670.07 579.03 15.72

(Reporting by Geo Tharappel in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)