SE Asia Stocks-Lacklustre ahead of U.S. healthcare vote

By Sandhya Sampath

March 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets were

subdued on Friday, with some investors dipping a toe back into

risk trades after a few sessions of swings in sentiment,

although voting on U.S. President Donald Trump's healthcare bill

was postponed.

Trump will get a second chance to try to close the deal with

Republican lawmakers on dismantling Obamacare in a high-stakes

vote on the healthcare bill later in the day.

Investors regard the vote as test for the Trump presidency

that could show whether it can muster the backing needed to push

through fiscal measures central to its economic agenda.

Markets have been consolidating due to a lack of news, said

Jose Vistan, an analyst with Manila-based AB Capital Securities,

adding that most markets were looking for cues from developments

in major economies, particularly the United States.

Singapore shares rose 0.2 percent, heading for their

second consecutive session of gains, led by financial and energy

stocks.

The big three Singapore banks rose between 0.4 percent and

0.8 percent, while Keppel Corp Ltd gained 0.7 percent.

Investors await February manufacturing data, due out later

in the day, for leads on the city-state's economy.

Philippine shares fell 0.1 percent, weighed down by

financials and consumer staples.

The market is watching out for the fiscal reform programmes,

including a hike in government spending, of the current

administration, which are going to dramatically change the

physical landscape, said Vistan.

Property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc fell 0.2

percent, while Food and beverages producer Universal Robina Corp

dropped 1.6 percent.

Indonesia was marginally lower, while an index

of the 45 most liquid stocks fell 0.1 percent.

Vietnam rose 0.4 percent, led by financials and

industrials, with Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade

of Viet Nam rising 0.3 percent.

Thailand and Malaysia were flat.

Malaysia's consumer price index in February rose

to an eight-year high at 4.5 percent, government data showed.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: CHANGE AT 0431 GMT

Market Current Previous Close Pct Move

Singapore 3134.46 3126.93 0.24

Bangkok 1570.67 1568.72 0.12

Manila 7293.05 7301.03 -0.11

Jakarta 5557.513 5563.759 -0.11

Kuala Lumpur 1747.44 1747 0.03

Ho Chi Minh 722.16 719.56 0.36

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3134.46 2880.76 8.81

Bangkok 1570.67 1542.94 1.8

Manila 7293.05 6840.64 6.6

Jakarta 5557.513 5296.711 4.92

Kuala Lumpur 1747.44 1641.73 6.44

Ho Chi Minh 722.16 664.87 8.6

(Reporting by Sandhya Sampath; Additional Reporting by Sindhu

Chandrasekaran; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)