SE Asia Stocks-Most end higher in subdued trade, weak August

BANGKOK: Stocks in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines edged
higher in subdued session on Friday, ending August with their first
decline in two months as weak exports data kept market investors
cautious about the global economic impact on domestic growth. For the
month, Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.4 percent, easing after
the previous two months' 9.3 percent rise. Jakarta's Composite Index
lost 2 percent, halting a two-month gain for a combined 7.9 percent.
The Philippine index was down 2.1 percent in August, against a 4.2 gain
in June and July. Volatile Vietnamese shares fared the worst in the
month following last week's arrests of executives of Asia Commercial Bank
that have worried investors over risks in the banking system. The Ho
Chi Minh Stock Exchange's VN Index posted a monthly loss of 4.5
percent, its worst since May. - Reuters