* Vietnam top gainer, hits over 2-month high
* Singapore little changed ahead of inflation data
* Thai shares boosted by industrial stocks
By Anushka Trivedi
July 23 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets
inched higher on Tuesday on expectations of monetary policy
easing by major central banks such as the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The European Central Bank is meeting on Thursday, followed
by the Fed next Tuesday-Wednesday. The consensus view is that
the ECB is gearing up to ease rates in September, while the Fed
will deliver a 25 basis point cut in the July 30-31 meeting.
"While the ECB will attract some attention Thursday, it is
the Fed decision and policy guidance that will be most critical
for the markets risk on view," Stephen Innes, managing partner
at VanguardMarkets.com, said in a note to clients.
Vietnam shares .VNI were the top gainers in Southeast
Asia, rising 0.5% to a more than two-month high on the back of
materials stocks.
Singapore shares .STI were little changed ahead of
inflation data.
The city state's headline and core inflation rate likely
eased in June, a Reuters poll showed, amid more economists
raising their bets on a monetary policy easing in October.
The economy grew at its slowest annual pace in a decade in
the second quarter, according to data released last week,
raising bets that a technical recession and monetary policy
easing could be just around the corner.
Shares of industrial conglomerate Jardine Matheson Holdings
Ltd JARD.SI and electronic services provider Venture Corp Ltd
VENM.SI were among the top performers.
Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported
on Monday that a few U.S. officials were planning to visit China
next week to commence talks to iron out the longstanding tariff
dispute between the two nations. While reports of the two economic power houses resuming
trade talks next week are positive for risk sentiment, analysts
at ING anticipate markets to tread cautiously ahead of the ECB
meeting this week and the Fed meeting next week.
Thai shares .SETI inched up 0.1%, bolstered by industrial
and utility stocks.
Manufacturing giant Berli Jucker PCL BJC.BK gained 1.5%,
while electricity generator Gulf Energy Development PCL
GULF.BK added 0.4%.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0407 GMT
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3365.82 3357.22 0.26
Bangkok 1729.01 1727.58 0.08
Manila 8228.16 8246.83 -0.23
Jakarta 6421.022 6433.547 -0.19
Kuala Lumpur 1656.79 1655.4 0.08
Ho Chi Minh 986.72 982.04 0.48
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3365.82 3068.76 9.68
Bangkok 1729.01 1563.88 10.56
Manila 8228.16 7,466.02 10.21
Jakarta 6421.022 6,194.50 3.66
Kuala Lumpur 1656.79 1690.58 -2.00
Ho Chi Minh 986.72 892.54 10.55