SE Asia Stocks-Higher; investors await Fed meet outcome

By Ambar Warrick

March 14 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets

closed higher amid thin trading on Tuesday, but concerns that

the U.S. Federal Reserve would announce a hike in interest

rates, as widely expected, after a two-day policy meeting kept

investor sentiment cautious.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen has already signalled that the U.S.

central bank would likely increase rates at its March 14-15

meeting.

"There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, which is

what's holding back the positions of most markets," said Manny

Cruz, an analyst at Manila based Asiasec Equities Inc.

Indonesian shares closed at a four-month high, led

by telecom and financial stocks.

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia closed at a four month

high, while Bank Central Asia ended 0.8 percent

higher.

"The construction sector improved from a year ago, which

boosted sentiment in Indonesia," said Cruz.

An index of the 45 most liquid stocks closed 0.4

percent higher.

Coal miner TB Bukit Asam was up 3.9 percent, while

highways operator PT Jasa Marga closed 2.7 percent

higher.

Vietnam closed 0.6 percent higher, with consumer

staples and industrials gaining the most.

Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Co was up 3.4 percent,

while FLC Faros Construction hit a record high.

Philippines largely held on to gains from earlier in

the session, led by industrials.

International Container Terminal Services closed at

a more than five month high.

Singapore closed slightly lower, with consumer

staples and real estate stocks dragging the index down.

Thai Beverage closed 1.6 percent lower, while

property developer City Developments was down 1.8

percent.

In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares

outside Japan was up 0.3 percent as of 0940 GMT.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Previous Pct Move

Close

Singapore 3143.4 3147.15 -0.12

Bangkok 1543.15 1535.51 0.50

Manila 7261.75 7233.09 0.40

Jakarta 5431.585 5409.372 0.41

Kuala Lumpur 1722.47 1721.92 0.03

Ho Chi Minh 714.71 710.17 0.64

Change so far

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3143.4 2880.76 9.12

Bangkok 1543.15 1542.94 0.01

Manila 7261.75 6840.64 5.97

Jakarta 5431.585 5296.711 2.55

Kuala Lumpur 1722.47 1641.73 4.92

Ho Chi Minh 714.71 664.87 7.22

(Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)