BANGKOK, Nov 20 — Southeast Asian stocks mostly ended lower today, with the typhoon-struck Philippines extending losses to a two-month low while Indonesia ended two sessions of gains as state-owned banks were hit by plans for lower dividend payouts.

The Philippine main index fell for a third session, down 1.8 per cent at 6,155.34, the lowest close since September 13, amid selling in shares of typhoon-hit firms such as Energy Development Corp.

Jakarta’s Composite Index slid 1.1 per cent, coming off a one-week closing high hit in the previous session, with foreign investors selling shares worth a net 197,240 million rupiah (RM54 million).

Shares of state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia were down 2.2 per cent while Bank Rakyat Indonesia fell 1.9 per cent, underperforming the broader banking index which fell 1.1 per cent.

A local newspaper reported that Indonesia’s ministry of state-owned enterprise has proposed dividend payout ratios for state-owned banks in 2013 at 20-25 per cent, lower than the previous level of 30 per cent, according to Bahana Securities research report.

Thai stocks eased 0.5 per cent to a one-week closing low, erasing some earlier losses, as a Constitutional Court ruling to stop the government amending the constitution was seen easing political tension.

Malaysia edged down 0.5 per cent, bouncing off its intra-day low after rating agency Moody’s Investor Service changed the outlook for Malaysia’s A3 rating to positive from stable.

Stocks in Vietnam ended a tad higher after falling in early hours of trading while the Singapore index edged down 0.3 per cent amid weakness in global shares. — Reuters