SE Asia Stocks-Indonesia hits 9-mth low on growth concerns

* Indonesia to release annual GDP data on Monday

* Malaysia headed for third straight session of declines

* Singapore touches over two-week low

By Sumeet Gaikwad

May 4 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on

Friday, as investors turned cautious ahead of the release of

U.S. payrolls data later in the day, with Indonesia down on

fears economic growth rate will weaken in the first quarter.

The U.S. jobs report for April will likely underscore labour

market strength. Nonfarm payrolls probably increased by 192,000

jobs last month, according to a Reuters survey of economists,

after rising only 103,000 in March.

Indonesia's GDP growth rate likely was a touch weaker in

2018's first three months than in the previous quarter as

lacklustre consumption continued to constrain the pace, a

Reuters poll showed. The country is due to release its annual

GDP data on May 7.

Indonesian stocks fell to their lowest since August

2017 as financials weighed, with Bank Central Asia

falling 1 percent and Bank Negara Indonesia declining

2.3 percent.

An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

fell nearly 1 percent.

Foreign investors net sold $55.3 million worth of Indonesian

stocks on Thursday, stock exchange data showed.

"We suspect the murky economic outlook amid low inflationary

pressures have triggered the selloff. Further, we remain

concerned that Bank Indonesia may be too much behind the yield

curve," said Taye Shim, head of research at Mirae Asset

Sekuritas.

"If the exogenous risk factors persist, pre-emptive policy

tightening might need to be accompanied by politically-sensitive

decisions of raising fuel and energy prices," DBS Bank said in a

note.

Singapore hit its lowest in over two weeks, with

lenders DBS Group Holdings falling 1.7 percent and

United Overseas Bank sliding 1.3 percent.

Malaysian shares shed 0.3 percent on financials.

Index heavyweights CIMB Group Holdings fell 1.6

percent, while Public Bank was off 0.6 percent.

Markets are expected to closely watch the outcome of

general elections scheduled next week.

"Investors will be looking forward to policy continuity

which will be crucial to ensuring economic stability after the

election," DBS Bank said in a note.

Philippine shares were flat, while Thailand

edged lower.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: AS AT 0324 GMT

Change on day

Market Current Previous Close Pct Move

Singapore 3546.15 3575.68 -0.83

Bangkok 1787.42 1790.8 -0.19

Manila 7539.03 7535.1 0.05

Jakarta 5815.856 5858.732 -0.73

Kuala Lumpur 1846.16 1851.8 -0.30

Ho Chi Minh 1029.46 1026.46 0.29

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3546.15 3402.92 4.21

Bangkok 1787.42 1753.71 1.92

Manila 7539.03 6840.64 10.21

Jakarta 5815.856 6355.654 -8.49

Kuala Lumpur 1846.16 1796.81 2.75

Ho Chi Minh 1029.46 664.87 54.84

(Reporting by Sumeet Gaikwad in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)