SE Asia Stocks-Fall; Malaysia 2014 budget, Thai economic data in focus

BANGKOK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks fell on

Friday, tracking weakness in other Asian markets as worries

continued over tighter cash markets in China and Malaysian

shares retreated ahead of the government's budget announcement

due later in the day.

The Malaysian index eased 0.3 percent after rising

for seven consecutive sessions, sending the benchmark to a

record closing high of 1,818.93 on Thursday. Trading volume was

25 percent of its daily average over the past 30 sessions.

Despite the fall, Malaysian shares were on track to post a

weekly gain of 0.8 percent for a fourth consecutive week and be

among the outperformers in Southeast Asia.

Among the weak spots, the Thai SET index was down

0.4 percent. It is set to fall almost 2 percent on the week,

after three weeks of gains, amid selling led by domestic funds.

The Thai exchange saw lacklustre trade as market players

turned cautious after the Bank of Thailand cut 2013 GDP growth

forecast to 3.7 percent from 4.2 percent.

Singapore's index was down 0.2 percent but remained

on course for a third week of rise, while three stocks including

Blumont Group Ltd, that have become targets of a

government investigation, tumbled.

Vietnam's benchmark VN Index edged down 0.01 percent.

It is set to post a modest gain on the week, rising for a second

straight week.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change at 0750 GMT

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 424.78 425.18 -0.09

Singapore 3212.19 3217.95 -0.18

Kuala Lumpur 1813.58 1818.93 -0.29

Bangkok 1460.05 1466.32 -0.43

Jakarta 4578.92 4594.85 -0.36

Manila 6554.63 6583.77 -0.44

Ho Chi Minh 501.12 501.17 -0.01