SE Asia Stocks -Mostly edge up on Fed optimism; Singapore down

July 30 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended

firmer on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said the

domestic economy and job market continue to strengthen, leaving

the door open for an interest rate hike as early as September.

After a two-day policy meeting that ended on Wednesday, Fed

officials said they felt the economy had overcome a

first-quarter slowdown and was "expanding moderately", despite a

downturn in the energy sector and headwinds from overseas.

The Philippines stock index closed higher 0.4

percent, Vietnam recovered from early losses to end 0.3

percent up, while Malaysia gained 0.1 pct.

Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index retreated from

early gains and ended 0.2 percent higher at a 16-month low,

while Singapore closed 1.1 percent down at its lowest

since mid-December.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

Singapore 3249.52 3284.00 -1.05

Kuala Lumpur 1699.52 1698.99 +0.05

Jakarta 4712.49 4721.12 -0.18

Manila 7510.39 7482.83 +0.37

Ho Chi Minh 626.57 624.70 +0.30

Change on year

Market Current End 2014 Pct Move

Singapore 3249.52 3365.15 -3.44

Kuala Lumpur 1699.52 1761.25 -3.48

Bangkok -- 1497.67 --

Jakarta 4712.49 5226.95 -9.84

Manila 7510.39 7230.57 +3.87

Ho Chi Minh 626.57 545.63 +14.83

(Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; Additional reporting by

Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)