SE Asia Stocks-Most fall ahead of China trade data; Singapore up

* Philippines down after three sessions of gains

* Malaysia Feb industrial data due later in day

By Shreya Mariam Job

April 11 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets

edged lower on Thursday as investors exercised caution amid a

tariff spat between the United States and the European Union,

and ahead of China trade data on Friday.

"Investors will likely stay defensive and monitor

geopolitical developments ahead of China trade data later in the

week," ING said in a note.

China's exports are expected to have rebounded in March

after a sharp drop in February, while imports likely shrank for

a fourth straight month but at a more modest pace, a Reuters

poll showed.

Investors remained wary as U.S. President Donald Trump has

threatened new tariffs on goods from the European Union even as

the Sino-U.S. trade dispute remains unresolved.

Indonesian shares slipped amid political uncertainty

ahead of the presidential elections on April 17.

Consumer and financial stocks led the decline with Astra

International Tbk PT down 1.6 percent, while Bank

Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk PT lost 1.8 percent.

Philippine shares fell 0.3 percent and were headed

for their first session of decline in four, after data showed a

drop in the country's February exports.

Exports slid 0.9 percent from a year earlier, while imports

rose 2.6 percent.

Malaysian stocks declined 0.7 percent, hurt by a 3

percent fall in state utility firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd

.

Malaysian state-owned investment firm Khazanah Nasional has

raised 1.05 billion ringgit ($255 million) through the sale of

85 million Tenaga Nasional shares at the bottom of a 12.33–12.58

ringgit range.

Investors now await February industrial output data expected

later in the day for cues about the local economy.

Meanwhile, Singapore shares gained on telecom stocks.

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd rose as much as

2.3 percent to a more than five-month high. The Economic Times

reported Singapore Telecommunications, Bharti Airtel Ltd

and Warburg Pincus were in talks to buy the near-61

percent stake of Zee founder Subhash Chandra's family in Dish

TV, to be followed by an open offer for 26 percent more.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS As at 0350 GMT

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3336.63 3327.65 0.27

Bangkok 1660.75 1662.13 -0.08

Manila 7981.1 8008.53 -0.34

Jakarta 6439.43 6478.326 -0.60

Kuala Lumpur 1628.5 1639.46 -0.67

Ho Chi Minh 981.87 981.91 0.00

Change so far in 2019

Market Current End 2018 Pct Move

Singapore 3336.63 3068.76 8.73

Bangkok 1660.75 1563.88 6.19

Manila 7981.1 7,466.02 6.90

Jakarta 6439.43 6,194.50 3.95

Kuala Lumpur 1628.5 1690.58 -3.67

Ho Chi Minh 981.87 892.54 10.01

(Reporting by Shreya Mariam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by

Subhranshu Sahu)