SE Asia Stocks-Fall as N.Korea missile test sours sentiment

By Binisha Ben

Sept 15 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets edged

down on Friday, in line with broader Asia, as North Korea's

latest missile launch caused a mild flutter among investors.

Pyongyang's missile flew over Japan's northern Hokkaido,

further escalating tensions following North Korea's test of its

most powerful nuclear bomb yet.

The missile launch came just days after the United Nations

Security Council imposed new sanctions against North Korea over

the nuclear test on Sept. 3.

"Another day, another missile from North Korea. It would be

wrong to say that markets are not taking any notice, but the

relatively muted responses of JPY, and KRW and risk assets

globally, suggest that a sense of fatigue on this belligerence

is creeping in," ING analysts wrote in a note.

Meanwhile, U.S. consumer inflation data rekindled

expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates

in December.

Philippine shares declined 0.3 percent, retreating

from a record closing high, with heavyweights SM Investments

and property developer SM Prime Holdings

sliding about 0.6 percent each.

Singapore shares fell 0.2 percent, weighed by

financials, with top lender DBS Group giving up 1.2

percent to touch its lowest in four months, while

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp shed about 1 percent.

Indonesian shares edged down 0.2 percent, paring

early gains.

Indonesia's external trade returned to a surplus in August,

led by growth in manufacturing and mining exports, producing the

biggest surplus in more than five years, the statistics bureau

said on Friday.

Gains in Indonesia's basic materials stocks were more than

offset by a slump in energy, consumer staples, and financial

shares.

Paper products maker Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk PT

, which surged 15.4 percent, was the biggest gainer on

the index, while Bank Central Asia, down 1.4 percent,

was the biggest drag.

The index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

fell 0.2 percent.

For Asian Companies click;

Southeast Asian stock markets: Change at 0421 GMT

Market Current Previous Pct Move

Close

Singapore 3213.59 3220.95 -0.23

Bangkok 1659.33 1659.1 0.01

Manila 8121.67 8144.91 -0.29

Jakarta 5841.778 5852.002 -0.17

Kuala Lumpur 1778.78 1781.37 -0.15

Ho Chi Minh 804.88 806.32 -0.18

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3213.59 2880.76 11.55

Bangkok 1659.33 1542.94 7.54

Manila 8121.67 6840.64 18.73

Jakarta 5841.778 5296.711 10.29

Kuala Lumpur 1778.78 1641.73 8.35

Ho Chi Minh 804.88 664.87 21.06

(Reporting by Binisha Ben; Additional reporting by Aditya Soni

in bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)