SE Asia Stocks-Indonesia up on strong trade data, most others down

* Broader Asian shares down

* Malaysia climbs to 2-1/2 month high

* Indonesian trade data lifts shares

By Nikhil Nainan

April 16 (Reuters) - Indonesian shares reacted positively to

trade data released on Monday, while most other Southeast Asian

markets closed lower in line with broader Asia but losses were

capped as an escalation of U.S.-led strikes over the weekend in

Syria seemed unlikely.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan

fell 0.6 percent as Chinese blue chips

skidded 1.6 percent, ahead of China's first quarter gross

domestic product (GDP) data expected on Tuesday.

"With trade war and now Syria fatigue likely to set in ...

it's best not to get too comfortable at this point as market

risk sentiment swings will remain large this week," Stephen

Innes, head of trading APAC at Oanda, said in a note.

Investors are showing little appetite to chase riskier

assets, he added.

On Saturday, the United States, France and Britain launched

missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical

weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected

poison gas attack in Douma earlier in April.

Indonesian shares closed 0.3 percent higher after

data showed Southeast Asia's largest economy in March posted its

biggest trade surplus in six months.

Indonesia's finance minister said the country's first

quarter GDP was likely to be 5.2 percent, which would be an

improvement on last year's growth of 5.01 percent.

An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

rose 0.4 percent.

Malaysian shares climbed 0.6 percent to a

two-and-a-half-month high, helped by gains in financial and

telecom stocks.

Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd

closed up 3.9 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively,

while Genting Malaysia Bhd soared 4.3 percent.

Singapore shares fell 0.1 percent as industrials and

real estate stocks weighed on the index. Jardine Strategic

Holdings Ltd was the biggest drag, closing down 2

percent.

"There has been a shift in investor sentiment since late

January. After two rounds of sell-offs in 2018, investors are

cautious, added with news over the weekend of further

geopolitical uncertainty," said Jinshu Liu, director of research

at NRA Capital Pte Ltd, Singapore.

Capitaland Ltd and City Developments Ltd

fell 1.1 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively, leading the

losses among real estate stocks.

Philippines shares closed down 0.4 percent, as

financials dragged the index lower.

Heavyweights PLDT Inc and SM Investments Corp

fell 2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

Thailand's stock market was closed on Monday for a

holiday.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3497.19 3501.3 -0.12

Manila 7870.25 7899.98 -0.38

Jakarta 6286.748 6270.327 0.26

Kuala Lumpur 1878.76 1868.47 0.55

Ho Chi Minh 1148.49 1157.14 -0.75

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3497.19 3402.92 2.77

Bangkok 1767.17 1753.71 0.77

Manila 7870.25 8558.42 -8.04

Jakarta 6286.748 6355.654 -1.08

Kuala Lumpur 1878.76 1796.81 4.56

Ho Chi Minh 1148.49 984.24 16.69

(Reporting by Nikhil Kurian Nainan; Editing by Sunil Nair)