SE Asia Stocks-Singapore gains; Philippines set to snap losing run

By Nikhil Nainan

Dec 5 (Reuters) - Singapore shares edged higher on Tuesday,

led by gains in top lenders, while the Philippines rebounded, on

track to snap a five-session losing streak.

Singapore shares climbed 0.4 percent after a survey

showed late on Monday that factory activity rose for the 13th

consecutive month in November to hit its highest level in eight

years.

Heavyweights Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, DBS

Group Holdings and United Overseas Bank

posted gains in the range of 1.2 percent to 1.5 percent.

Philippine shares inched up 0.3 percent after data

showed headline inflation slowed for the first time in five

months to 3.3 percent, in line with forecasts.

The Philippine central bank governor said late last month

that the economy was not at risk of overheating, and with data

showing inflation slowing, this may ease pressure on the central

bank to raise interest rates next year.

Philippine annual inflation is on track to hit the central

bank's forecast of 3.2 percent for 2017, the governor said on

Tuesday.

However, the gains in equities may be temporary, said Joseph

Roxas, president at Manila-based Eagle Equities.

"Maybe for the rest of the day, but I think in the next few

days, we should try to test the lows again," he added.

Real estate and industrial stocks posted the biggest gains,

with Ayala Land Inc and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc

adding 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

Indonesian stocks firmed 0.1 percent as financials

and consumer discretionary stocks rose.

Astra International Tbk PT rose 2.2 percent and

Bank Central Asia Tbk PT 0.7 percent.

Malaysian shares were flat, with Sime Darby's

recently spun off units offsetting gains in Genting

Malaysia and Petronas Gas.

Thai stock market was closed on account of a national

holiday.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: CHANGE AT 0344 GMT

Change at 0344 GMT

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3452.37 3438.47 0.40

Manila 8109.83 8084.45 0.31

Jakarta 6006.656 5998.195 0.14

Kuala Lumpur 1712.57 1713.13 -0.03

Ho Chi Minh 966.5 970.02 -0.36

Change so far this year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3452.37 2880.76 19.84

Manila 8109.83 6840.64 18.55

Jakarta 6006.656 5296.711 13.40

Kuala Lumpur 1712.57 1641.73 4.31

Ho Chi Minh 966.5 664.87 45.37

(Reporting by Nikhil Kurian Nainan; Editing by Amrutha

Gayathri)