SE Asia Stocks-Remain in wait-and-watch mode after mixed China data

* China's Jan-Feb industrial output slips, investment picks

up

* Profit taking may be likely in near term - Singapore

analyst

By Rashmi Ashok

March 14 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets remained

subdued on Thursday in thin trade, as investors chose to wait

and watch, after a mixed set of economic data from the region's

largest trading partner China kept them on edge.

China's January-February industrial output slipped to a

17-year low, but investment picked up pace during the period as

the government boosted road and rail projects in a bid to avert

a slowdown.

However, retail sales were marginally better-than-expected,

with the headline figure rising 8.2 percent in January-February

from a year earlier, in line with December.

Singapore's index slipped for a second straight day

amid thinly traded volumes, after posting the sole loss in the

region in the previous session.

"Investors seem to be taking a wait and see approach,

reflected by the lower trading volumes. Fundamental data is

really weakening," said Joel Ng, analyst at KGI Securities,

referring to China's industrial output data.

He added that profit taking was likely in the near term as a

result of China's downcast data, as investors looked closely for

signs of a slowing in Singapore's largest trading partner's

economy

Lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd edged

lower, while index heavyweight Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd

fell about 2.6 percent to weigh on the index.

Philippine's index also slipped, as financial and

consumer stocks both weighed on the index. Metropolitan Bank &

Trust Company fell 1 percent while food and beverage

manufacturer Universal Robina Corp lost 1.2 percent.

Meanwhile, investors in Indonesia and Thailand appeared

non-committal, with shares trading little changed. Malaysian

stocks edged slightly lower.

Vietnamese stocks slipped, with consumer stocks

weighing on the country's benchmark. Dairy processor Vietnam

Dairy Products JSC was down nearly 1 percent.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS at 0318 GMT

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3191.71 3195.59 -0.12

Bangkok 1641.05 1639.67 0.08

Manila 7749.18 7766.15 -0.22

Jakarta 6381.403 6377.575 0.06

Kuala Lumpur 1675.62 1678.24 -0.16

Ho Chi Minh 1002.35 1005.41 -0.30

Change so far in 2019

Market Current End 2018 Pct Move

Singapore 3191.71 3068.76 4.01

Bangkok 1641.05 1563.88 4.93

Manila 7749.18 7,466.02 3.79

Jakarta 6381.403 6,194.50 3.02

Kuala Lumpur 1675.62 1690.58 -0.88

Ho Chi Minh 1002.35 892.54 12.30

(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi

Aich)