SE Asia Stocks-Most markets fall as risk appetite remains fragile

* Singapore posts over 1-month closing low

* Thailand, Vietnam shares inch higher

By Ambar Warrick

Aug 16 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets

tracked broader Asia to end lower on Thursday, as Turkey's

currency woes and concerns of slowing economic growth in China

weighed on investor risk appetite.

However, news that Beijing will hold trade talks with

Washington late this month helped markets cut some losses.

A Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang

Shouwen will meet with U.S. representatives led by Under

Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs David Malpass,

the Ministry of Commerce said.

But it is unclear whether it will take place before or after

Aug. 23, when Washington is due to activate additional tariffs

on $16 billion of Chinese goods.

Asian shares saw sustained sell-offs over the past few

sessions, driven by a slew of lukewarm Chinese economic data.

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

fell to a one-year low on Thursday, having

plunged about 4 percent since last week.

Investors also remained wary of a shock sell-off in

emerging-market currencies, as seen in Turkey's lira, after

trade tensions flared between Ankara and Washington.

"The trade war between the U.S. and Turkey, which resulted

in a free-fall of the Turkish lira, has affected emerging

markets, especially Asia," said Manny Cruz, an analyst at

Asiasec Equities.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore stocks closed at a more

than one-month low, dragged by financials. The city-state's top

lenders led the decline, with Oversea-Chinese Banking

Corporation Ltd and DBS Group Holdings Ltd

shedding 1.4 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

Singaporean banks reported record profits last year but

their prospects have been clouded this year by curbs on property

investment imposed in July and a slowdown in economic growth due

to international trade tensions.

Indonesian shares declined for a third session in

four, with financials and telecom stocks weighing the most. They

gained in the previous session after Bank Indonesia hiked its

key interest rate for the fourth time since mid-May.

The central bank flagged slowing economic growth in 2018,

stemming mainly from weakening economic fundamentals.

"Weakening growth will continue to drag market sentiment,

and it should compel fund managers and foreign investors to

continue selling," Cruz said.

Bank Negara Indonesia ended 4.1 percent lower,

while Telekomunikasi Indonesia shed 2.3 percent.

An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

ended 0.8 percent lower.

Malaysian shares fell, dragged by telecom and

utility stocks, ahead of second-quarter GDP data on Friday.

The economic growth pace likely slowed again in the second

quarter of 2018, a Reuters poll showed.

Meanwhile, Thai and Vietnam stocks gained

slightly.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3211.93 3234.12 -0.69

Bangkok 1680.96 1676.29 0.28

Manila 7517.36 7540.92 -0.31

Jakarta 5783.798 5816.59 -0.56

Kuala Lumpur 1777.27 1785.94 -0.49

Ho Chi Minh 964.28 961.37 0.30

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3211.93 3402.92 -5.61

Bangkok 1680.96 1753.71 -4.15

Manila 7517.36 8558.42 -12.16

Jakarta 5783.798 6355.654 -9.00

Kuala Lumpur 1777.27 1796.81 -1.09

Ho Chi Minh 964.28 984.24 -2.03

(Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu

Sahu)