EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks in South Korea, Thailand decline on US auto tariffs

        *
      South Korea's stocks fall 2%


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      Thai stocks hit over a week low, baht weakens 0.4%
Thailand suspends trading activity after Myanmar earthquake


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      Singapore's Straits Times index breaches 4,000 level


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      Indonesian markets closed till April 7



 (Updates as of 0700 GMT)
    By Sameer Manekar
       March 28 (Reuters) - Most Asian emerging market stocks
declined on Friday on worries over U.S. tariffs, with equities
in South Korea and Thailand particularly hit as the new U.S.
auto levies dented car and auto parts makers.
    Thailand's benchmark index fell to its lowest in
over a week and the baht slipped 0.4%, as Southeast
Asia's biggest auto production centre and an export base for top
car makers stood exposed to the new U.S. auto duties.
    "The U.S.'s higher import tariffs on automobiles and auto
parts will weigh further on Thailand's ailing economy via an
additional drag on the automotive sector," said Charnon
Boonnuch, an ASEAN economist at Nomura.
    Boonnuch also noted that the reciprocal and auto sector
tariffs announced were a downside risk to Thailand's growth
outlook.
    The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended all afternoon
trading activities and went on a full halt after an earthquake
struck neighbouring Myanmar and people rushed out of buildings
in panic in Bangkok.
    South Korea's KOSPI tumbled more than 2% in its
second straight day of losses, dragged lower by sharp losses in
Hyundai Motor ( HYMTF ) and sister automaker Kia Corp ( KIMTF )
.
    The index has lost more than 3% over the past two sessions
as the two automakers lost billions of dollars in value.
    South Korea' won and Taiwan's dollar
slipped around 0.2% each.
    Malaysia's ringgit, Singapore's dollar, and
the Philippine peso edged lower.
    U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff salvos since he took
office in January have sent emerging Asian markets into a tizzy,
resulting in heavy outflows from Southeast Asian equities.
    Stocks in Indonesia and Thailand have lost
8% and 15.6%, respectively, in the quarter. The Indonesian
rupiah is set for a near 3% decline.
    Singapore remained a bright spot as its stock market
marched towards its fourth consecutive quarter in the black,
highlighting the resilience of the financial and trading hub.
    On the day, the city-state's Straits Times index (STI)
 rose as much as 0.6% to breach the 4,000-level for the
first time ever, though it pared gains in the afternoon to trade
largely flat.
    "Breaking this level suggests a strengthening sentiment, but
sustaining it would depend on global stability and market
fundamentals," said Daphne Tan, Director of Business Development
at CMC Markets Singapore.
    Analysts expect trade-reliant Southeast Asian economies to
face limited direct impact from tariffs but note their
vulnerability to reciprocal U.S. duties, and slower growth in
the global economy and key trading partners.
    Indonesia's financial markets, will be closed
for a national holiday till April 7. Markets in Malaysia,
Singapore, and India will also be closed on March 31.


    HIGHLIGHTS:
    ** Singapore's DBS Group scales all-time high
during session
    ** Malaysia's 10-year bond yield hovers at
3-week high of 3.779%
    ** Indonesia's Widjaja family offers to take Sinarmas Land
private in $986 million deal
    ** Hegseth reaffirms ironclad US commitment to the
Philippines to enhance threat deterrence


 Asia stock
 indexes and
 currencies
 as of 0700
 GMT
 COUNTRY      FX          FX            FX          INDEX    STOCKS            STOCKS
                RIC         DAILY %       YTD %                DAILY %           YTD %
 Japan                    +0.31         +4.38                -1.80             -6.95
 China                    -0.02         +0.49                -0.54             0.11
 India                    +0.20         +0.01                0.01              -0.21
 Indonesia                -             -2.81                -                 -8.04
 Malaysia                 -0.02         +0.86                -0.56             -7.02
 Philippines              +0.02         +1.25                0.13              -5.84
 S.Korea                  -0.11         +0.41                -1.89             6.61
 Singapore                -0.10         +1.83                -0.13             4.99
 Taiwan                   -0.13         -1.10                -1.59             -6.22
 Thailand                 -0.24         +1.21                -1.11             -16.11






 (Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Additional reporting
by Ankur Banerjee in Singapore; Editing by Janane Venkatraman
)