Southeast Asian stocks mostly down

Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended weaker on Tuesday awaiting directions from US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's twice-yearly monetary policy report to the Congress later this week. Philippine shares were down 0.6 percent, snapping a three-session gaining streak, falling from a five-week closing high as investors booked profits in SM Investments Corp, while other Southeast Asian stocks ended mixed in thin trading volume.
Thailand's main share index closed 0.3 percent weaker, dropping from a near two-week high, led by banks and energy shares. Singapore's Straits Times index fell 0.4 percent, while Malaysia ended a tad weaker from the previous session's more-than-five-week high. Bucking the trend, Jakarta's Composite Index ended up 0.2 percent and Vietnam gained 0.4 percent.