SE Asia Stocks-Retreat after BOJ holds steady, Philippines up on telecoms

BANGKOK, March 15 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock

markets fell on Tuesday, in line with Asia, taking a breather

after recent rallies, as the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy

steady as expected.

Investors also awaited U.S. Federal Reserve meeting for

clues on interest rate directions.

Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.22 percent,

with energy-related stocks among losers as oil prices declined

on oversupply concerns. Shares of Sembcorp Industries Ltd

dropped 1.6 percent, among top percentage decliners.

Indonesia's Jakarta composite index slipped 0.6

percent, after closing at its highest level in near eight months

in the previous session ahead of the central bank meeting on

Thursday.

The Thai key SET index ended a two-day winning

streak, while stocks in Malaysia and Vietnam

drifted lower after three successive days of gains.

"Even though the Federal Reserve appears to be in no hurry

to pull the trigger on its next rate hike at this meeting, its

clues on future rate hikes throughout the year however seem to

be in the focus of the market," said Bangkok-based broker

Phillip Securities in a report.

Energy shares underperformed on MSCI's index of Southeast

Asia, led by Thailand's PTT Global Chemical

and Indonesia's Adaro Energy both down

about 3 percent.

Bucking the trend, the Philippines' index climbed 1.2

percent, boosted by a rally in shares of Philippine Long

Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) and Globe Telecom Inc

after San Miguel Corp and Telstra Corp

ended joint venture negotiations.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change at 0525 GMT

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 2840.9 2847.06 -0.22

Bangkok 1388.66 1394.27 -0.40

Manila 7195 7112.89 1.15

Jakarta 4849.224 4877.531 -0.58

Kuala Lumpur 1694.16 1700.31 -0.36

Ho Chi Minh 575.82 577.98 -0.37

(Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; Editing by Anand Basu)