SE Asia Stocks-Singapore shares close at 1-week high on improved outlook

By Mai Nguyen

HANOI, April 14 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks advanced on

Monday, while most other regional markets fell, helped by a

central bank forecast of a moderate economic rebound for the

City State, and Indonesian equities picked up after a

post-election slump.

The Straits Times Index bounced back from previous

losses after Singapore's central bank said on Monday it would

maintain a tight monetary policy, backed by optimism on the

economic outlook, despite weak first-quarter data.

"The Singapore economy is expected to grow at a moderate

pace in 2014, supported by the cyclical uplift in the

industrialised economies," the Monetary Authority of Singapore

said.

The Singapore index closed up 0.52 percent at 3214.83, the

highest since April 3, led by industrial conglomerate Jardine

Matheson Holdings and subsidiary Jardine Strategic

Holdings Ltd, Reuters data showed.

Indonesia's Jakarta's Composite Index climbed 1

percent, with the banking sector outperforming others.

The region's second best performer so far this year has

gained a combined 2.1 percent in two sessions, recouping after a

more than 3 percent drop on Thursday amid political uncertainty

that could impact investments in the country.

Stocks in the Philippines fell for a third straight

day to close down 0.11 percent with trading at the lowest volume

in almost three months, Reuters data showed.

Malaysia was nearly flat at 0.06 percent and

Vietnam's VN Index lost 0.74 percent amid cautious

sentiment and extended net selling by foreigner investors.

The Thai market was closed on Monday for a public holiday.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 415.91 416.81 -0.22

Singapore 3214.83 3198.22 +0.52

Kuala Lumpur 1851.53 1852.66 -0.06

Jakarta 4864.88 4816.58 +1.00

Manila 6589.55 6596.96 -0.11

Ho Chi Minh 596.11 600.57 -0.74

Change on year

Market Current End 2013 Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 415.91 388.37 +7.09

Singapore 3214.83 3167.43 +1.50

Kuala Lumpur 1851.53 1866.96 -0.83

Bangkok 1389.16 1298.71 +6.96

Jakarta 4864.88 4274.18 +13.82

Manila 6589.55 5889.83 +11.88

Ho Chi Minh 596.11 504.63 +18.13

* The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a

highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia,

Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Editing by Martin Petty and Anupama Dwivedi)