SE Asia Stocks-Trade in tight range, investors focus on Sino-US talks

 * Indonesia top loser, Vietnam rises 0.7 pct * Philippine December trade deficit narrows By Anushka Trivedi Feb 12 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets traded
in a tight range on Tuesday as Washington and Beijing started a
new round of talks on Monday to resolve their months-long trade
dispute that has rattled equities globally since last year. U.S. and Chinese officials expressed hopes that the new
round of talks would bring them closer to striking a deal but
the White House economic adviser dampened sentiment when he
warned that March 1 is the "real deadline". Stock markets across broader Asia remained largely unchanged
in early trade. Indonesian shares fell about 0.4 percent, making
them the top losers in Southeast Asia, pressured by telecom and
consumer stocks. Telekom Indonesia skidded as much as 1.8 percent,
while automotive services provider Astra International Tbk PT lost 2.5 percent. Philippine shares declined slightly, dragged by real
estate and industrial stocks. Meanwhile, the country's trade
deficit narrowed in December as imports tumbled for the first
time in a year. Malaysian shares slipped 0.2 percent, dragged by
material and healthcare stocks. Chemical producer Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd
fell 2 percent, while hospital operator IHH Healthcare Bhd dropped 2.5 percent. Vietnam shares climbed 0.7 percent with real state
and financial stocks leading the gains. Property developer Vingroup JSC scaled 1.9 percent,
while Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam
gained 2.4 percent. Thailand shares traded sideways after the Election
Commission on Monday disqualified the princess from taking part
in the election. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0345 GMT STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3210.84 3206.27 0.14 Bangkok 1641.58 1638 0.22 Manila 8042.23 8061.54 -0.24 Jakarta 6470.008 6495.002 -0.38 Kuala Lumpur 1685.86 1688.56 -0.16 Ho Chi Minh 932.56 926.1 0.70 Change on year Market Current End 2018 Pct Move Singapore 3210.84 3068.76 4.63 Bangkok 1641.58 1563.88 4.97 Manila 8042.23 7466.02 7.72 Jakarta 6470.008 6194.498 4.45 Kuala Lumpur 1685.86 1690.58 -0.28 Ho Chi Minh 932.56 892.54 4.48 (Reporting by Anushka Trivedi in Bengaluru; Editing by
Subhranshu Sahu)