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 .SETI fell to its lowest in over a week and the baht THB=TH 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 .KS11 tumbled more than 2% in its second straight day of losses, dragged lower by sharp losses in Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS.

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 KRW=KFTC and Taiwan's dollar TWD=TP slipped around 0.2% each.

Malaysia's ringgit .MYR=, Singapore's dollar SGD=, and the Philippine peso PHP= 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 .JKSE and Thailand .SETI have lost 8% and 15.6%, respectively, in the quarter. The Indonesian rupiah IDR= is set for a near 3% decline.

Singapore .STI 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 $(STI)$ .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 IDR=, .JKSE 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 DBSM.SI scales all-time high during session

** Malaysia's 10-year bond yield MY10YT=RR 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

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

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((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com;))