SE Asia Stocks-Major markets at 1-week low after U.S. car news

* Singapore's banks pull market to lowest in a week

* Crisis in the U.S. car sector depresses regional sentiment

BANGKOK, March 30 - Major Southeast Asian stock markets fell to a one-week low on Monday amid crisis in the U.S. automobile industry, with Singapore leading the losses.

Markets across Asia slumped after a U.S. task force rejected turnaround plans for auto makers GM and Chrysler. [ID:nN30310350]

Analysts said the news raised concern over the economic outlook in the United States and about the prospect for exports from Asian countries.

"This is going to be a short-term pressure for Asian stock markets," said Kosin Sripaiboon, head of research at UOB Kay Hian Securities in Bangkok.

Singapore's benchmark index <.FTSTI> dropped 4.2 percent, earlier losing as much as 5 percent to its lowest since March 23, while Thailand's SET index <.SETI> slid 2.5 percent.

Bank shares led fallers in Singapore, with the biggest, DBS Group Holdings , down 4.1 percent, United Overseas Bank off 5.7 percent and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp 3.4 percent lower.

In Bangkok, where renewed political tension added to the gloom, shares in the big car parts sector took a hit. Sector leader Stanley Electrics was off 2.8 percent.

Top energy firm PTT <PTT.BK> fell 5 percent and its subsidiary PTT Exploration lost 4 percent, as oil prices extended losses. Siam Commercial Bank slid 4.5 percent while Bangkok Bank dropped 3.3 percent.

Malaysia's main index <.KLSE> ended down 1.8 percent at its lowest since March 23, with Sime Darby down 2.5 percent, Malayan Banking falling 6.0 percent and financial service group CIMB 2 percent lower.

CIMB has asked its 36,000 employees to consider taking up to six months of unpaid leave in an effort to cut costs.

Indonesia's index <.JKSE> fell 3 percent to a one-week low, the Philippine index <.PSI> eased 0.8 percent, after a 16 percent gain over the past eight days and Vietnam <.VNI> fell 1.8 percent after a 10.5 percent gain over the past four days.

Indonesia's largest automotive distributor PT Astra International Tbk slid 9.8 percent.