SE Asia Stocks-Most end lower on anxiety over second virus wave; Indonesia falls most
* Singapore snaps 4 straight sessions of gains * Indonesian stocks hit near 2-week low * Energy sector buoys Thai index By Pranav A K May 12 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower on Tuesday on fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections as more countries gradually re-open their economies, with Indonesian shares closing at a near two-week low. China's Wuhan, where the outbreak began late last year, reported five new cases on Monday since a lockdown was lifted a month ago, while South Korea and Germany also saw jumps in infections after easing restrictions. Indonesian shares slid 1.1%, their lowest closing since April 29, as the country's COVID-19 deaths passed the 1,000 mark on Tuesday. "Active cases (in Indonesia) are yet to peak which will continue to shroud the pace of economic recovery as well the rebound in market sentiment," said research analysts at ANZ in a note. Trade-sensitive Singapore's equities snapped four straight sessions of gains to end 0.9% lower, with Southeast Asia's biggest lender DBS Group Holdings losing 3.3% and flagship carrier Singapore Airlines shedding 2.7%. Prices in Singapore's benchmark index are trapped in a rangebound trade of between 2,500 and 2,670 levels, "awaiting clearer insights into reopening of the economy and the broad demand picture for trade," Jingyi Pan, market strategist at IG said in a note. Prospects of Sino-American relations worsening also soured sentiment after U.S. President Donald Trump said he opposed renegotiating the "Phase 1" trade deal with China. Malaysian stocks closed 0.2% lower in a volatile session as the country's March factory output saw its sharpest decline in nearly a decade. Thai and Vietnamese shares, however, bucked the region's trend to close higher. Thai equities advanced for a third straight session to settle at their highest level since April 30, with energy stocks gaining from the rise in oil prices. Heavyweight PTT PCL firmed 1.4%, while Banpu Power rose 4.5%. In Vietnam, the benchmark index rose 0.8% for a sixth straight session of gains, supported by financials and consumer staples. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 2587.81 2611.31 -0.90 Bangkok 1299.69 1287.3 0.96 Manila 5651.67 5667.93 -0.29 Jakarta 4588.734 4639.105 -1.09 Kuala Lumpur 1379.93 1382.31 -0.17 Ho Chi Minh 835.32 828.33 0.84 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 2587.81 3222.83 -19.70 Bangkok 1299.69 1579.84 -17.73 Manila 5651.67 7,815.26 -27.68 Jakarta 4588.734 6,299.54 -27.16 Kuala Lumpur 1379.93 1588.76 -13.14 Ho Chi Minh 835.32 960.99 -13.08 (Reporting by Pranav A K; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.)
