SE Asia Stocks-Bangkok weak, others dull on caution over results

By Ploy Chitsomboon BANGKOK, July 10 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets were mixed on Friday as uncertainty about earnings and economic recovery prospects kept volume down and helped push bourses in Jakarta and Bangkok into the red. Thailand led losses, dropping 2.7 percent after falling crude prices depressed heavyweight shares in the energy sector. Singapore eked out tiny gains, adding 0.02 percent as banks rose. Indonesia shed 1 percent. Trading in the region was fairly choppy as many investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the corporate earnings season. "People are obviously looking forward to seeing how the second quarter will play out for most firms," said Gabriel Yap, a senior dealing director of DMG & Partners in Singapore. "Essentially, there are anticipation and worries in the market ... but after a company like Alcoa set a positive tone, it is actually not as bad as others had expected," Yap said, referring to a smaller-than-expected loss at the U.S. aluminium giant. Concern over the global economy would continue, but the economy should start to recover in the first half of 2010, Yap added. The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan edged down 0.45 percent by 0953 GMT. In Bangkok, falls in energy bellwethers dragged the market lower, with top decliners including top oil and gas firm PTT and its PTT Exploration and Production unit, down 4.9 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. Banpu, the country's largest coal mining company, lost 2.9 percent. Oil fell below $60 and looked set to end the week down about 8 percent, its largest weekly fall since late January, due to pessimism about the global economy and fears of new rules to curb speculation. Elsewhere in the region, the Philippine index rose for a second day, closing up 0.54 percent after hitting its highest in two weeks. Malaysia edged up 0.2 percent after a flat finish on Thursday while Vietnam sank 1.7 percent. In Kuala Lumpur, shares in Chinese sports shoe maker Xingquan International gained 8.2 percent on its debut. The company is Malaysia's first foreign initial public offering. ($1=34.07 Baht) (Editing by Alan Raybould) (([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail])) FACTORS TO WATCH: Thai corp bond group sees record 2009 issuance Thai policy rate seen unchanged until end-2009 Indonesia Telkom eyes profit growth Philippines' May exports fall 27 pct yr/yr Bank of Ayudhya buys GE Capital units in Thailand Customers sue Singapore's DBS over investment loss For South East Asia Hot Stock reports, click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move Singapore 2307.98 2307.61 +0.02 Kuala Lumpur 1067.76 1065.68 +0.2 Bangkok 566.03 581.99 -2.74 Jakarta 2063.09 2083.97 -1.0 Manila 2487.22 2473.85 +0.54 Ho Chi Minh 438.83 446.40 -1.7 Change on year Market Current End prev yr Pct Move Singapore 2307.98 1761.56 +31.02 Kuala Lumpur 1067.76 876.75 +21.79 Bangkok 566.03 449.96 +25.80 Jakarta 2063.09 1355.40 +52.21 Manila 2487.22 1872.85 +32.80 Ho Chi Minh 438.83 315.62 +39.04 Stock Market Volume (shares) Market Current Volume Average Volume 90 days Singapore 246,737,100 439,520,563 Kuala Lumpur 120,782,300 398,752,691 Bangkok 2,562,911 3,504,985 Jakarta 4,133,111,500 7,516,576,833 Ho Chi Minh 34,190 40,282 ASIA-PACIFIC STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia........ Japan....... S.Korea... S.E. Asia....... Hong Kong... Taiwan.... Australia/NZ.... India....... China..... OTHER MARKETS: Wall Street.... Gold ....... Currency.. Eurostocks..... Oil ........ JP bonds... ADR Report ..... LME metals. US bonds.. Stocks News US.. Stocks News Europe DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary & data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Singapore diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead TOP NEWS: For top Asian company news, double click on: U.S. company news European company news Forex news Global Economy news Banking news Tech,Media,Telecoms Politics/General news Asia Macro data A multimedia version of Reuters Top News is available at: http://topnews.session.rservices.com LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt (Local currency) LME price overview Keywords: MARKETS SOUTHEASTASIA STOCKS/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.