SE Asia Stocks-Most climb on upbeat data; Vietnam scales fresh multi-yr peak

By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets firmed

on Thursday, with Indonesia climbing about 1 percent after a

six-session losing streak and Vietnam scaling a fresh peak in

nearly a decade, as upbeat U.S. and regional economic data

boosted sentiment.

Broader Asian equities gained after data showed that

underlying U.S. consumer prices increased in October and retail

sales grew more than expected, highlighting strong economic

growth.

The data is seen as setting the stage for a December rate

hike by the Federal Reserve, an event largely factored in

already by investors, and as raising the prospects for further

monetary policy tightening.

"US PPI (Producer Price Index) was a big beat. Economists

had expected an increase in October of 0.1 percent but instead,

the print showed a bounce of 0.4 percent which lifted the

year-on-year PPI to 2.8 percent from 2.6 percent and against

expectations of a 2.4 percent," Greg McKenna, chief market

strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader, wrote in a note.

Regionally, the Philippine economy grew at a

faster-than-expected pace of 6.9 percent in the third quarter,

supported by strong industrial output and services, the

statistics agency said.

Philippine shares climbed 0.1 percent, with real

estate stocks leading the gains.

The Philippine government is optimistic about meeting its

economic growth target of 6.5-7.5 percent for the year, the

Economic Planning Secretary said in a statement.

The Indonesian index rose as much as 1.1 percent,

marking its biggest intraday gain in two weeks, with the telecom

sector accounting for most of the gains.

Indonesia's central bank is expected to keep its key

interest rate unchanged in its policy decision on Thursday,

despite sluggish economic growth.

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia

Tbk inched 1.9 percent higher, and was the biggest

boost on the index.

Vietnam shares jumped 0.6 percent to their highest

since January 2008.

After signing two agreements in last week's Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to buy gas at home and from

Indonesia, Vietnam could receive a significant boost to its

natural gas supplies as soon as 2023, aiding expansion in its

power and petrochemical sectors.

The deals could give gas field development across Southeast

Asia a much-needed push after a slump in oil and gas prices in

2014 slowed investments.

Meanwhile, Malaysian shares declined 0.1 percent to

an eight-month low, with health care and telecom stocks leading

the losses.

IHH Healthcare Berhad was down 0.7 percent, while

banker CIMB Group Holdings Berhad fell 0.2 percent.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: CHANGE AT 0441 GMT

Change on the

day

Market Current Previous Pct Move

close

Singapore 3354.73 3368.7 -0.41

Bangkok 1696.07 1690.26 0.34

Manila 8284.68 8273.44 0.14

Jakarta 6026.483 5972.311 0.91

Kuala Lumpur 1720.94 1722.99 -0.12

Ho Chi Minh 887.75 882.59 0.58

Change on year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3354.73 2880.76 16.45

Bangkok 1696.07 1542.94 9.92

Manila 8284.68 6840.64 21.11

Jakarta 6026.483 5296.711 13.78

Kuala Lumpur 1720.94 1641.73 4.82

Ho Chi Minh 887.75 664.87 33.52

(Reporting by Karthika Namboothiri in Bengaluru; Editing by

Amrutha Gayathri)