BANGKOK, March 15 — Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell today, in line with Asia, taking a breather after recent rallies, as the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady as expected.

Investors also awaited US Federal Reserve meeting for clues on interest rate directions.

Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.22 per cent, with energy-related stocks among losers as oil prices declined on oversupply concerns. Shares of Sembcorp Industries Ltd dropped 1.6 per cent, among top per centage decliners.

Indonesia’s Jakarta composite index slipped 0.6 per cent, after closing at its highest level in near eight months in the previous session ahead of the central bank meeting on Thursday.

The Thai key SET index ended a two-day winning streak, while stocks in Malaysia and Vietnam drifted lower after three successive days of gains.

“Even though the Federal Reserve appears to be in no hurry to pull the trigger on its next rate hike at this meeting, its clues on future rate hikes throughout the year however seem to be in the focus of the market,” said Bangkok-based broker Phillip Securities in a report.

Energy shares underperformed on MSCI’s index of Southeast Asia, led by Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical and Indonesia’s Adaro Energy both down about 3 per cent.

Bucking the trend, the Philippines’ index climbed 1.2 per cent, boosted by a rally in shares of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) and Globe Telecom Inc after San Miguel Corp and Telstra Corp ended joint venture negotiations. — Reuters