SE Asia Stocks-Singapore, Thailand lead gains; oil price slide weighs

By Nicole Pinto

June 22 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Thursday, led

by gains in Singapore and Thailand, but a slide in oil prices to multi-month

lows kept investors on edge.

Singapore shares rose 0.4 percent, with financials contributing most

of the gains, while Thai shares advanced 0.3 percent after data showed

customs-cleared exports in May rose at its fastest pace in 52 months, handily

beating expectations.

An official at the Thai commerce ministry expressed confidence in achieving

its 2017 export growth target of 5 percent, after exports climbed 13.2 percent

in May from a year earlier after April's 8.5 percent increase.

However, caution prevailed in Southeast Asia amid weak oil prices as traders

assessed a glut of physical supply that has persisted despite OPEC-led efforts

to balance the market.

Philippine shares closed 0.4 lower percent after falling as much as

0.7 percent earlier in the day.

The Philippine central bank said after market close that it would leave its

key overnight borrowing rate steady at 3.0 percent, as expected.

However, the central bank cut its inflation forecast for this year to an

average of 3.1 percent in 2017 from 3.4 percent.

The real estate and industrial sectors accounted for most of the losses,

with Ayala Land and SM Investment losing 1.2 percent and 0.8

percent, respectively.

Malaysian shares closed 0.1 percent higher after falling for three

straight sessions.

Genting Bhd gained 1.9 percent and IHH Healthcare Bhd

gained 1.5 percent.

Indonesian shares gained 0.2 percent. The country's financial markets will

be shut on Friday and throughout next week on account of public holidays.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS:

Change on the

day

Market Current Previous Pct Move

Close

Singapore 3215.55 3201.77 0.43

Bangkok 1580.91 1577.01 0.25

Manila 7858.34 7886.37 -0.36

Jakarta 5829.708 5818.552 0.19

Kuala Lumpur 1777.43 1775.57 0.10

Ho Chi Minh 766.3 767.41 -0.14

Change so far

this year

Market Current End 2016 Pct Move

Singapore 3215.55 2880.76 11.62

Bangkok 1580.91 1542.94 2.46

Manila 7858.34 6840.64 14.9

Jakarta 5829.708 5296.711 10.06

Kuala Lumpur 1777.43 1641.73 8.27

Ho Chi Minh 766.3 664.87 15.3

(Reporting by Nicole Pinto; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)