SE Asia Stocks-rebound; Singapore Air, banks lead way
* S'pore comes off 1-week low
* Banks outperform in Indonesia, Thailand
* Vietnam near 9-month high, Malaysia, Philippines down
By Viparat Jantraprap
BANGKOK, June 9 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks ended higher on Tuesday, with Singapore coming off a 1-week low and Indonesia rising almost 2 percent as heavyweight shares like Singapore Air and Bank Mandiri led the way.
Equities in the region fell earlier in the day as investors cashed in on recent rallies. Analysts said a weak U.S. dollar boded well for stocks and commodity prices.
Singapore's index .FTSTI closed up 0.7 percent, after sliding to a 1-week low in early trade. Indonesia's index .JKSE climbed 1.8 percent after a 1.1 percent fall on Monday, and Thailand's index .SETI rose 1.3 percent after opening lower.
Vietnam .VNI extended its gains for a seventh day, adding 2.2 percent to reach its highest level since September 10.
In Bangkok, broker Kim Eng Securities advised investors to buy shares in sectors seen less affected by market volatility such as telecoms, utilities and retail.
"U.S. dollar movement against major currencies is pivotal to equity markets. Our strategy of "stay invested" in equities is based on continued dollar weakness, which brings about a reciprocal rise in commodity prices," it said.
The dollar slipped on Tuesday, pausing from gains versus the euro as investors reassessed whether speculation of a possible rise in U.S. interest rates later this year may push the currency higher. [USD/]
In Thailand, Bangkok Bank BBL.BK jumped 4.5 percent, mobile phone firm DTAC DTAC.BK gained 2.5 percent, and utility firm Glow Energy GLOW.BK rose 4.5 percent.
In Singapore, Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) gained 4.4
percent after the carrier said it was still keen on
acquisitions in China and India.
Singapore Exchange (SGXL.SI) rose 0.9 percent to S$7.60
after broker DBS Vickers raised the price target of the stock
to S$9.10 from S$7.80, citing the bullish market sentiment and
its view that SGX is still the cheapest stock exchange in the
region.
Advancers in Jakarta included PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI.JK), which jumped 5.1 percent, and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BBCA.JK), up 3.9 percent.
In Hanoi, Petrovietnam Finance Joint Stock Corporation PVF.HM and Vinamilk VNM.HM each gained nearly 5 percent.
Bucking the trend, Malaysia index .KLSE fell for a second day, down 0.1 percent after Malaysia's long-term local currency rating was cut to A from A-plus by Fitch Ratings.
Malayan Banking (MBBM.KL) slid 2.7 percent and
Bumiputra-Commerce BUCM.KL eased 1.1 percent.
The Philippine index .PSI fell for a second day to its lowest level since June 4. Metropolitan Bank & Trust (MBT.PS) and Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO.PS) each dropped more than 4 percent. ($1=34.24 Baht) (Editing by Darren Schuettler)
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