SE Asia Stocks-Most rise tracking Asian peers; Philippines jumps 1.2 pct

* Thailand gains ahead of central bank meet later in the day

* Singapore's Singtel falls on lean Q1 profit

By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Philippine stocks rose over 1 percent on

Wednesday ahead of GDP data release and central bank meeting,

while most other Southeast Asian markets gained in line with

broader Asian peers, supported by upbeat Wall Street earnings.

Asia shares ex-Japan rose modestly in the

middle of a strong second-quarter U.S. earnings season and on

expectations that Beijing will ramp up fiscal stimulus to

cushion the impact of its trade dispute with Washington.

Manila's central bank looks certain to raise interest rates

for a third time this year at its meeting on Thursday, which

comes shortly after government data showed annual inflation move

further above its 2 percent-4 percent target range for 2018.

Boosted by industrials and banking stocks, Philippine shares

snapped two straight sessions of declines to climb as

much as 1.2 percent.

"The inflation number surged in July, but today the rise in

U.S. stock markets as well as the positioning ahead of the

release of the second-quarter GDP bolstered investor

confidence," said Manny Cruz, analyst, Manila-based Asiasec

Equities Inc.

However, Philippine imports in June grew at the fastest pace

this year while exports dipped, bringing the trade deficit to

more than $3 billion for a third straight month, government data

showed on Wednesday.

Thai shares extended gains, with gas supplier PTT

Public Co being the biggest boost.

Thailand's central bank is expected to leave its policy

interest rate unchanged later in the day, to aid economic growth

as inflation remains benign and policymakers say capital

outflows are not currently a concern.

Malaysian stocks inched higher, with telecom company

Axiata Group Bhd climbing as much as 1.8 percent.

Indonesian shares recovered from previous session's

losses, buoyed by materials and consumer stocks. Paper

manufacturer Tjiwi Kimia jumped 11.8 percent to its

highest in over a month.

Bucking the trend, Singapore stocks fell nearly 1

percent, pulled down by financials.

Financial service provider DBS Group Holdings was

the biggest drag on the index, while Southeast Asia's largest

telecom operator Singapore Telecommunications hit a

one-month low after reporting a 6.6 percent fall in

first-quarter profit.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0439 GMT

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3321.01 3340 -0.57

Bangkok 1715.82 1707.26 0.50

Manila 7802.92 7725.85 1.00

Jakarta 6098.881 6091.25 0.13

Kuala Lumpur 1798.13 1791.09 0.39

Ho Chi Minh 962.22 956.79 0.57

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3321.01 3402.92 -2.41

Bangkok 1715.82 1753.71 -2.16

Manila 7802.92 8558.42 -8.83

Jakarta 6098.881 6355.654 -4.04

Kuala Lumpur 1798.13 1796.81 0.07

Ho Chi Minh 962.22 984.24 -2.24

(Additional reporting by Sumeet Gaikwad, Editing by Sherry

Jacob-Phillips)