SE Asia Stocks-Most rise on upbeat China growth data; Malaysia falls

* Malaysia drops to over 2-year low

* Indonesian market closed for election

* Thailand set to snap two sessions of losses

By Shreya Mariam Job

April 17 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose

on Wednesday after China reported better-than-expected economic

growth, fuelling hopes of a recovery in its economy amid

concerns of a global growth slowdown.

China's economy grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter from a

year earlier, official data showed on Wednesday — steady from

the previous quarter — helped by sharply higher factory

production.

"While China may not be able to avert a slowdown amid global

demand downturn coinciding with the tech-cycle pullback, it is

not doomed for a slump; given domestic demand buffered by

coordinated monetary and fiscal easing," Vishnu Varathan, senior

economist at Mizuho Bank said in a note.

Singapore stocks led gains in the region, helped by

financial stocks and gains in counters of Keppel Corporation Ltd

.

Shares of Keppel Corp rose as much as 3.2 percent to its

highest level since October 12, 2018. The company's units

received final approval for conversion of Gimi Floating

Liquefaction Vessel project, a contract worth $947 million.

Separately, Singapore's on-year non-oil domestic exports

(NODX) growth fell more-than-expected in March, dented by a

plunge in electronic and pharmaceutical shipments, official data

showed on Wednesday.

Thai stocks reopened after a two-day holiday to rise

0.3 percent, and was set to snap two sessions of losses, led by

consumer and healthcare stocks.

Financial stocks also boosted the Philippine benchmark index

to rise 0.4 percent, with BDO Unibank Inc and

Ayala Corp rising 1.5 percent and 1.3 percent,

respectively.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian bourse fell 0.6 percent to

its lowest level in over two years.

FTSE Russell placed Malaysia's market accessibility level in

its World Government Bond Index under a review considering a

downgrade from the current level of 2 (highest level of

accessibility) to 1 at the end of the review period in

September. [https://bit.ly/2GkVnvP

]

The downgrade may make the Malaysian local government

ineligible for the index that helps with exposure to wider

global investors.

The risk of possible outflows from the country, if it were

to be removed from the index, dampened investor sentiment.

Losses on the index were broad-based with state utility firm

Tenaga Nasional Bhd and top lender Malayan Banking Bhd

being the top percentage losers.

Indonesian stock market was closed on account of

Presidential elections.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS As at 0350 GMT

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3345.69 3332.04 0.41

Bangkok 1665.86 1660.45 0.33

Manila 7855.56 7826.46 0.37

Kuala Lumpur 1619.98 1629.46 -0.58

Ho Chi Minh 976.96 977.17 -0.02

Change so far in 2019

Market Current End 2018 Pct Move

Singapore 3345.69 3068.76 9.02

Bangkok 1665.86 1563.88 6.52

Manila 7855.56 7,466.02 5.22

Kuala Lumpur 1619.98 1690.58 -4.18

Ho Chi Minh 976.96 892.54 9.46

(Reporting by Shreya Mariam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by

Uttaresh.V)