* Singapore stocks fall 1%
* South Korea shares lose 1.4%
* Indonesia, Thailand Feb CPI due Friday
* India Q4 GDP due Thursday

By Ayushman Ojha
       Feb 26 (Reuters) - Most Asian equities lost ground on
Monday while currencies in the region held largely steady ahead
of an array of data this week that will help refine expectations
for future rate moves by central banks.
    Stocks in Singapore dropped as much as 1%, while
Indonesian stocks and Malaysian shares lost as
much as 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively.
    In South Korea, shares were down as much as 1.4%,
despite the financial regulator's announcement of reform
measures for listed companies with lower valuations to boost
shareholder returns and thus reduce the "Korea discount" on the
country's stock prices.
    Currencies in the region were subdued ahead of a week packed
with key economic releases from the United States, China,
Indonesia and Thailand.
    "Markets will focus on any further signs of pick-up in
economic activity and price pressures out of the United States,
but just as importantly, whether economic activity stabilises in
China," analysts at MUFG wrote.
    The U.S. core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price
index - the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation -
is due on Thursday, where expectations are for a 0.4% increase
on a monthly basis.
    "The U.S. would see the PCE Core, GDP, personal spending and
ISM manufacturing out – all data that can potentially lift the
greenback if they come out too strongly, though the opposite can
happen if they weaken," analysts at Maybank said in a note.
    In Asia, February inflation data from Indonesia and Thailand
are due on Friday. Last week, data from Malaysia and Singapore
showed that inflation accelerated less than expected in January.
    Easing inflation has given central banks some breathing room
but investor focus remains on the timing of rate cuts. The
central banks of Indonesia and South Korea left their policy
rates unchanged last week. 
    The Indonesian rupiah weakened 0.3%, while the
Philippine peso and Singapore dollar both inched
0.1% lower.
    Market's are closely watching the Malaysian ringgit
which traded at lows not seen since the Asian financial crisis
last week, as outflows, foreign currency hoarding and a strong
dollar pile on pressure.
    The country's prime minister had said the fall was
concerning but strong fundamentals underpinned a promising
outlook for the economy. 
    The ringgit was flat at 4.775 per U.S. dollar on Monday.
    Focus will also be on India's fourth-quarter GDP, due on
Thursday, and China's February purchasing manager's index (PMI)
to be released on Friday.
    The markets in Thailand were closed for a public
holiday on Monday.
    

    HIGHLIGHTS:    
    ** Indonesia sees 2025 annual GDP growth at 5.3%-5.6%, says
planning minister
    ** Philippines sells record $10.46 bln from retail T-bonds
    ** China stocks set to snap nine-session winning run, HK
shares also down
    
    
  Asia stock indexes and                             
 currencies at 0439 GMT                         
 COUNTRY  FX RIC         FX    FX  INDE  STOCK  STOCK
                      DAILY   YTD     X      S  S YTD
                          %     %        DAILY      %
                                             %  
 Japan                +0.01  -6.2  <.N2  0.39   17.29
                                6  25>          
 China                         9  EC>          
 India                +0.05  +0.3  <.NS  -0.30   1.91
                                7  EI>          
 Indones              -0.22  -1.4  <.JK  -0.11   0.19
 ia                             7  SE>          
 Malaysi              +0.00  -3.8  <.KL  -0.12   6.36
 a                              7  SE>          
 Philipp              -0.12  -1.0  <.PS   0.23   7.43
 ines                           1  I>           
 S.Korea                       2  11>          
 Singapo              -0.06  -1.8  <.ST  -0.79  -2.48
 re                             6  I>           
 Taiwan               -0.01  -2.6  <.TW   0.17   5.52
                                0  II>          
 Thailan                  -  -4.8  <.SE      -  -1.25
 d                              3  TI>          
 

    
 (Reporting by Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline
Wong)