SE Asia Stocks-Philippines, Indonesia drop ahead of Fed meeting

* Philippines slumps 2.1 pct, posts lowest close since

mid-Sept

* Indonesia extends fall into sixth consecutive session

* Singapore ends higher for first time in five sessions

By Aaron Saldanha

March 20 (Reuters) - Philippine shares plunged over 2

percent and Indonesian stocks fell for a sixth straight session

on Tuesday, as investors braced for new Federal Reserve Chairman

Jerome Powell's first policy meeting starting later in the day.

The Philippine Stock Exchange PSEI Index ended 2.1

percent lower, posting its lowest close since mid-September,

after declining as much as 2.7 percent.

The Philippine economy is more exposed to U.S. rate hikes

with current account and budget deficits. Inflation also

quickened to 3.9 percent in February, the fastest pace in more

than three years under a revised price index.

"I think what is alarming the region right now is the Fed is

open to raising its benchmark rates probably four times (this

year). It is a story of a shift of funds from emerging markets

back to the U.S. given the improved economic outlook," said

Lexter Azurin, a senior equity analyst at AB Capital.

As of Monday, foreign investors had offloaded Philippine

equities worth a net $195 million so far this month, according

to exchange data.

The Fed is widely expected to raise rates on Wednesday, with

market participants looking for any hints on the number of

remaining rate hikes in store for 2018 in Powell's commentary

the next day.

Financials and real estate stocks were the top losers with

Ayala Corp declining 7.2 percent and BDO Unibank Inc

shedding 2.7 percent.

Indonesian shares dropped 0.7 percent to their

lowest close since late December with Telekomunikasi Indonesia

down 4.2 percent.

Foreign investors had sold Indonesian equities worth a net

$714 million in the month to Monday, according to exchange data.

An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

fell 0.9 percent.

Thai shares closed little changed with gains in

materials stocks being largely negated by weakness in

financials. Bangkok Bank Pcl fell 1 percent.

Singapore shares snapped four sessions of falls,

buoyed by financials. Lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd

rose 1.4 percent, while DBS Group Holdings Ltd

gained 0.9 percent.

Malaysian shares recovered from early losses to end

0.5 percent higher as financials and telecom services stocks

rose. Public Bank Bhd gained 1.7 percent.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: Change on day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3513.31 3498.29 0.43

Bangkok 1799.84 1799.79 0.00

Manila 8059.6 8235.54 -2.14

Jakarta 6243.577 6289.572 -0.73

Kuala Lumpur 1856.39 1847.94 0.46

Ho Chi Minh 1159.39 1159.22 0.01

Change so far in 2018

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3513.31 3402.92 3.24

Bangkok 1799.84 1753.71 2.63

Manila 8059.6 8558.42 -5.83

Jakarta 6243.577 6355.654 -1.76

Kuala Lumpur 1856.39 1796.81 3.32

Ho Chi Minh 1159.39 984.24 17.80

(Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by

Subhranshu Sahu)