* Philippine shares up over 1 pct, partially recover week's
losses
* Vietnam up for ninth straight session; hits record
* Singapore shares fall 0.4 pct
By Aaron Saldanha
March 22 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose
on Thursday, with the Philippines bouncing back from steep
losses and Vietnam scaling an all-time peak, as the U.S. Federal
Reserve's rate outlook for 2018 was seen as less hawkish than
expected.
The Fed raised its interest rate on Wednesday and reiterated
two more rate increases this year, signalling caution in its
monetary policy tightening pace.
Philippine shares rose 1.1 percent on broad-based
gains, bouncing back from three straight sessions of sharp
losses.
The country has experienced significant foreign fund
outflows over the past few weeks, with the benchmark down about
6.6 percent year-to-date.
The Philippine central bank is expected to leave its
benchmark rate steady at its monetary policy meeting on
Thursday, on optimism that annual inflation would ease back to
its target range next year, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.
The Fed maintaining its outlook for a total of three rate
increases for the year helps retain the allure of higher
yielding assets in emerging markets.
Indonesian shares gained 0.4 percent, helped by
gains across the board. Telecom services stocks and materials
contributed the most to the benchmark, which broke a six-session
losing streak on Wednesday.
Telekomunikasi Indonesia was the top contributor,
rising as much as 1.4 percent to recoup some of its losses last
week.
The index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks
added 0.4 percent.
Malaysian shares gained 0.3 percent as financials
and consumer staples rose. Malayan Banking Bhd gained
as much as 1.4 percent.
Vietnam shares rose 1.6 percent to a record, led by
gains in consumer staples and utilities. Seafood processing firm
Vinh Hoan Corp was up as much as 3.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Singapore shares lost 0.4 percent, weighed
down by financials, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd
shedding 1.1 percent.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: CHANGE AS AT 0400 GMT
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3498.58 3511.13 -0.36
Bangkok 1809.46 1801.43 0.45
Manila 7998.25 7909.07 1.13
Jakarta 6339.192 6312.831 0.42
Kuala Lumpur 1871.81 1865.8 0.32
Ho Chi Minh 1177.59 1159.39 1.57
Change so far in 2018
Market Current End 2017 Pct Move
Singapore 3498.58 3402.92 2.81
Bangkok 1809.46 1753.71 3.18
Manila 7998.25 8558.42 -6.55
Jakarta 6339.192 6355.654 -0.26
Kuala Lumpur 1871.81 1796.81 4.17
Ho Chi Minh 1177.59 984.24 19.64
(Reporting by Aaron Saldanha, Additional reporting by Saif
Naqvi in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)