SE Asia Stocks-Rise, Singapore leads gains

* Investors brace for Trump-Xi meeting

* Singapore rises most in over 3 weeks

By Shreya Mariam Job

Nov 26 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets closed

higher on Monday, in line with broader Asia, as investors braced

for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese

President Xi Jinping at the end of the week.

Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the sidelines of a G20

summit in Argentina on Nov. 30, to discuss contentious trade

matters.

"An agreement for talks over dinner suggests a higher level

of engagement, which could result in a gentlemen's agreement not

to escalate tariffs further," said Wei Liang Chang, a FX

strategist with Mizuho Bank.

"(Peter) Navarro, the (U.S.) Administration's most prominent

trade hawk, has been pointedly excluded for the Trump-Xi dinner.

If anything, this hints at American inclination to promote a

conducive environment for talks rather than ruffle feathers."

However, if the meeting does not result in any deals, the

U.S. tariffs on $200 billion goods, introduced in late

September, are likely to be raised to a proposed 25 percent next

year from 10 percent.

Singapore stocks led the gains in Southeast Asia with

a 1.3 percent rise, the best since Nov. 2, after October factory

data beat expectations.

The city-state's October factory output rose 4.3 percent on

year, much higher than a 2.3 percent growth predicted by a

Reuters survey. The growth was mainly attributable to a 15.8

percent rise in pharmaceutical production.

Gains were dominated by technology stocks, with Venture Corp

Ltd gaining 5.2 percent, while Singapore Airlines Ltd

climbed 2.9 percent.

Philippine shares closed 0.8 percent higher, with

industrials accounting for more than half of the gains.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc surged 11.1 percent,

making it the biggest boost to the benchmark index, while SM

Prime Holdings Inc gained 2.2 percent.

"The (Philippine) market has been strong for the past couple

of sessions. The recent fall in crude oil price might be

offsetting some of the concerns with regard to inflation in the

Philippines," said Charles William Ang, an associate analyst

with COL Financial Inc.

Thai shares gained 0.5 percent, helped by financials

and real estate stocks.

Siam Commercial Bank PCL rose 2.2 percent, while

Airports of Thailand Pcl climbed 1.2 percent.

Meanwhile, gains in telecommunication services and basic

materials helped Malaysian shares close 0.4 percent

higher.

Petronas Dagangan Bhd rose 2.9 percent, while

Maxis Bhd added 2.3 percent.

Indonesian shares gained 0.3 percent, aided by

financial and material stocks. Bank Central Asia Tbk PT

and Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk PT rose 0.5

percent and 1 percent, respectively.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS:

Change on the day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3093.38 3052.49 1.34

Bangkok 1630.77 1622.1 0.53

Manila 7397.87 7340.18 0.79

Jakarta 6022.778 6006.202 0.28

Kuala Lumpur 1701.99 1695.88 0.36

Ho Chi Minh 921.03 917.97 0.33

Change on year

Market Current End prev yr Pct Move

Singapore 3093.38 3402.92 -9.10

Bangkok 1630.77 1753.71 -7.01

Manila 7397.87 8,558.42 -13.56

Jakarta 6022.778 6,355.65 -5.24

Kuala Lumpur 1701.99 1796.81 -5.28

Ho Chi Minh 921.03 984.24 -6.42

(Reporting by Shreya Mariam Job; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)