SE Asia Stocks-Lower; Trump's tirade on China weighs

By Rushil Dutta

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets, except

Indonesia, closed lower on Friday, with investor sentiment in

export-reliant Asian economies jittery as U.S. President Donald

Trump again accused China of being a currency manipulator.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Trump called China

the "grand champions" of currency manipulation, hours after his

new Treasury Secretary promised a more methodical approach to

analysing Beijing's foreign exchange practices.

Trump's comments weighed on the already weakened sentiment

across the region, where investors have chafed at the new U.S.

administration's protectionist stance.

"Protectionist policies will definitely have a negative

impact on the regional markets, especially on those

export-dependent on the U.S.," said Lexter Azurin, head of

equities research at Manila-based Unicapital Securities Inc.

In Singapore, shares ended 0.7 percent lower after

the city-state reported factory output fell 6 percent from

December, more than double the 2.6 percent contraction predicted

in a Reuters poll.

The index, however, posted a third straight weekly gain,

adding 0.3 percent.

Oil and gas, and consumer stocks took a hit, with Genting

Singapore dropping 2.4 percent and rig builder

Sembcorp Industries off 2.7 percent.

Philippine shares slipped for a second day, ending 1

percent lower, as realtors SM Investments and Ayala Land

shed 1.8 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

The index added 0.2 percent on the week.

Indonesia was the region's only gainer, finishing

0.2 percent higher. It rose 0.7 percent on the week.

Malaysia and Thailand dropped slightly,

while Vietnam lost 0.3 percent.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Previous Close Pct Move

Singapore 3117.03 3137.57 -0.65

Bangkok 1564.59 1567.32 -0.17

Manila 7258.99 7335.56 -1.04

Jakarta 5385.906 5372.748 0.24

Kuala Lumpur 1698.35 1704.48 -0.36

Ho Chi Minh 714.47 716.87 -0.33

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3117.03 2880.76 8.20

Bangkok 1564.59 1542.94 1.40

Manila 7258.99 6840.64 6.10

Jakarta 5385.906 5296.711 1.68

Kuala Lumpur 1698.35 1641.73 3.45

Ho Chi Minh 714.47 664.87 7.50

(Additional reporting by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by

Biju Dwarakanath)