SE Asia stocks down after BoJ stimulus disappoints investors

Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower on Friday, in line with other Asian markets that were battered after the Bank of Japan's monetary easing programme disappointed investors.

The Japanese central bank expanded stimulus by doubling purchases of exchange-traded funds (ETF), yielding to pressure from the government and financial markets for bolder action.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.68%.

"The meeting's results have definitely confounded markets. Traders were expecting a much heftier stimulus package," said Victor Felix, an analyst with AB Capital Securities Inc in Manila.

Singapore shares dropped 1.7% to post its biggest percentage loss since June 24. The index was dragged down by financial stocks such as DBS Group Holdings Ltd, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd and United Overseas Bank, which declined on mounting concerns about loans to the oil and gas sector after Swiber Holdings on Thursday filed for liquidation.

The index snapped four straight weekly gains to post a loss of 2.62% this week, but grew 0.98% on the month.

Indonesia slid 1.6% after losing its early gains, with consumer non-cyclicals being the worst performer on the index. It climbed 0.36% on the week and posted a monthly gain of 3.97%.

Indonesia's biggest cigarette maker by market value, PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna Tbk, slumped 9.7%.