SE Asia Stocks - S'pore posts worst drop since Jan; all eyes on Fed

BANGKOK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets

mostly fell on Tuesday as investors awaited a Federal Reserve

meeting for clues on U.S. monetary policy, with selling in

large-caps pulling down the Singapore benchmark to its lowest

close in more than two months.

Singapore's Straits Times Index slid 1.2 percent,

the biggest daily loss since Jan. 3. It ended at 3,272.62, its

lowest close since July 10.

All 30 stocks measured by the index were lower. Shares of

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., the most actively

traded and the largest firm by market value, dropped 2.1

percent.

The Thai SET index ended down 0.9 percent at its

lowest close in more than two weeks, with interest rate

sensitive stocks including banks and property shares

slipping ahead of the central bank's policy meeting.

The Bank of Thailand is expected to leave its main interest

rate steady at 2.0 percent on Wednesday, believing the current

level can help economic recovery without raising already-high

household debt.

Indonesia posted a net foreign outflow worth 522

billion rupiah ($43.65 million), the Philippines reported

a net foreign outflow worth 110.6 million peso ($2.50 million)

and Vietnam had net foreign outflows worth 268 billion dong

($12.66 million), Thomson Reuters and stock exchange data

showed.

Investors awaited the outcome of the Fed's two-day policy

meeting which begins later on Tuesday.

Vietnam's VN Index lost 0.43 percent as investors

offloaded shares to reduce margin trading while two

exchange-traded funds (ETF) reviewed their portfolios.

Malaysia was shut for a holiday, resuming trade on

Wednesday.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

Singapore 3272.62 3312.47 -1.20

Bangkok 1565.41 1579.12 -0.87

Jakarta 5130.50 5144.89 -0.28

Manila 7180.34 7161.27 +0.27

Ho Chi Minh 627.66 630.34 -0.43

Change on year

Market Current End 2013 Pct Move

Singapore 3272.62 3167.43 +3.32

Kuala Lumpur -- 1866.96 -1.05

Bangkok 1565.41 1298.71 +20.54

Jakarta 5130.50 4274.18 +20.03

Manila 7180.34 5889.83 +21.91

Ho Chi Minh 627.66 504.63 +24.38

(1 US dollar = 44.3100 Philippine peso)

(1 US dollar = 11,960.0000 rupiah)

(1 US dollar = 21,175.0000 Vietnam dong)

(Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; Editing by Sunil Nair)