(SE Asia Stocks: Tues 09/09/14 20:03:05)

HANOI (Sept 09): Most Southeast Asian stock markets lost ground on Tuesday, led by Philippine and Vietnamese shares, amid widespread profit booking after strong increases in the past sessions.

The Philippine SE Composite Index retreated 0.84 percent from a 15-month high, led by property firm Ayala Land with a 3.32 percent decline.

Vietnam's benchmark VN Index pared all of its gains over the past two weeks, dropping 2.02 percent as investors secured profits from most equities.

Southeast Asia's best performer has been bullish after strong inflows boosted Vietnamese shares, which have surpassed a high of nearly five years.

Tuesday's falls lowered the relative strength indexes of both Philippine and Vietnamese markets to below 70, removing them from an overbought territory, Reuters data showed.

Foreign investors turned net sellers of 123 billion rupiah ($10.45 million) worth of Indonesian shares, which declined 0.94 percent after hitting a record closing high for the second time in a month on Monday.

Investors on the Jakarta bourse have expected higher fuel prices following a potential cut in subsidies by the government, which aims at limiting the country's current account deficit.

Singapore's FTSE Straits Times Index outperformed the regional market, on gains in the baking sector.

The city-state has been lagging the regional markets, despite being Southeast Asia's cheapest equities.

FTSTI has gained 5.54 percent since the beginning of the year, far below top risers Vietnam at 24.23 percent and the Philippines at 23.16 percent.

Singaporean stocks' price-to-earnings ratio humbles at 14.02, compared with the most expensive Philippines at 21.55.

Thailand and Malaysia moved in tight range, amid moderate volumes.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change at close
Market             Current     Prev Close    Pct Move
TR SE Asia Index*   445.77        448.93       -0.70
Singapore          3342.96       3335.19       +0.23
Kuala Lumpur       1874.12       1871.09       +0.16
Bangkok            1583.18       1584.77       -0.10
Jakarta            5197.12       5246.483       -0.94
Manila             7253.67       7314.94       -0.84
Ho Chi Minh         626.92        639.85       -2.02

Change on year
Market             Current       End 2013    Pct Move
TR SE Asia Index*   445.77        388.37      +14.78
Singapore          3342.96       3167.43       +5.54
Kuala Lumpur       1874.12       1866.96       +0.38
Bangkok            1583.18       1298.71      +21.90
Jakarta            5197.12       4274.18      +21.59
Manila             7253.67       5889.83      +23.16
Ho Chi Minh         626.92        504.63      +24.23

* The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

($1=11,765 Indonesian rupiah)