* Vietnam leads gains in the region
* Singapore rises on hopes of a rate-cut
* Thailand dips, UOB sees no export growth for the year
By Anushka Trivedi
July 23 (Reuters) - Singapore shares strengthened on
Tuesday, amid gains in most Southeast Asian markets, after its
core inflation hit a more than two-year low, raising hopes of an
easing monetary policy by its central bank in October.
Official data showed that Singapore's core inflation gauge
in June rose 1.2% from a year earlier, as expected by a Reuters
poll. This was the lowest print since March 2017 when core
inflation rate grew at the same pace. The Singapore benchmark .STI rose over 0.4%.
With the weakness in export data last week and the recent
inflation figures, chances of a 50 bp interest-rate cut at the
scheduled October review are all but confirmed, though an
earlier intra-meeting move cannot be ruled out, ANZ research
said in a note.
Shares of utilities provider Sembcorp Industries Ltd
SCIL.SI firmed 3.3%.
Meanwhile, other markets in the pack rose on hopes of
similar policy action by U.S. and European central banks.
The European Central bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve are
due to hold meetings in the upcoming weeks, with chances of the
Fed delivering a 25 bp cut mostly affirmed.
The ECB is more likely to utilise the review on Thursday to
set the stage for cuts in the future, according to economists
polled by Reuters. Vietnam shares .VNI closed at a more than 3-month high and
were the top gainers in the region.
The country's largest firm Vingroup JSC VIC.HM added 2.8%
and steel maker Hoa Phat Group JSC HPG.HM rose 4.6%
Among losers were Indonesian shares .JKSE , shedding 0.5%,
as financial and telecom stocks dragged the benchmark.
The country's largest bank by market value Bank Central Asia
Tbk PT BBCA.JK fell 0.9%, while Smartfren Telecom Tbk PT
FREN.JK sank 24.8%.
An index of Indonesia's 45 most liquid stocks .JKLQ45
declined 0.3%.
Thai stocks .SETI dipped with mostly telecom stocks
bearing the brunt.
Internet services provider Jasmine International PCL
JAS.BK tumbled as much as 22.4% to mark its worst session in
nearly four years.
UOB Global Economics and Markets Research sees no export
growth in 2019 for Thailand, after rising 6.7% last year, in
part due to the U.S.-China trade tensions.
"Thailand is deeply entrenched in the global supply chain,
and the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on China will have a direct
harmful impact on Thai exports such as computer parts and
integrated circuits", UOB added.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3373.13 3357.22 0.47
Bangkok 1724.87 1727.58 -0.16
Manila 8251.46 8246.83 0.06
Jakarta 6403.81 6433.547 -0.46
Kuala Lumpur 1655.67 1655.4 0.02
Ho Chi Minh 989.46 982.04 0.76
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3373.13 3068.76 9.92
Bangkok 1724.87 1563.88 10.29
Manila 8251.46 7,466.02 10.52
Jakarta 6403.81 6,194.50 3.38
Kuala Lumpur 1655.67 1690.58 -2.06
Ho Chi Minh 989.46 892.54 10.86
($1 = 1,179.1100 won)