* Q2 GDP +4.9% y/y vs Q1 +4.5% (Reuters poll +4.8%)
* First in Southeast Asia to report faster growth than in Q1
* Ringgit down 1.5% vs U.S. dollar in Q2 (Adds details on new forex rules)
By Joseph Sipalan
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia's economy grew faster-than-expected in April-June and became the first Southeast Asian nation to report an acceleration in growth from the previous quarter, driven by stronger consumer spending and palm oil production.
The region's third-biggest economy also loosened currency hedging rules in a push to boost market liquidity and prevent its bonds being excluded from global index provider FTSE Russell's benchmarks, which has loomed as a major concern for investors.
Central bank data on Friday showed second-quarter gross domestic product grew 4.9% year-on-year, beating the 4.8% forecast in a Reuters poll, and faster than the 4.5% pace in the first quarter.
Malaysia's pickup in growth contrasts with other economies in its neighbourhood, which have slowed this year as the U.S.-China trade war hits demand for exports. However, analysts and policymakers caution that increased global risks pose challenges for Malaysia's outlook.
"Clear downside risks remain on the immediate horizon, stemming primarily from external factors," Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Nur Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said.
Malaysia's full-year growth is still expected to come in within the central bank's 4.3-4.8% target range, but Nur Shamsiah said an escalation in global trade tensions could knock 0.1 percentage point off GDP growth.
Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore have all reported weaker growth in the second quarter than in the first. Thailand will report April-June data on Monday.
"We are forecasting a further slowdown in global growth over the coming quarters, which would weigh on demand for Malaysia’s exports," Capital Economics Asia Economist Alex Holmes said in a note after the data. "The recent escalation in the U.S.-China trade war will be another headwind."
Malaysia is one of the most vulnerable countries to the U.S.-China trade war, being a large exporter of intermediary goods to China.
The ringgit fell 1.5% against the U.S. dollar in the second quarter amid a weakening global growth outlook and escalating trade tensions.
The current account surplus narrowed to 14.3 billion ringgit ($3.42 billion) in the second quarter, from 16.4 billion ringgit in the first quarter, separate central bank data showed on Friday.
Headline inflation is expected to average higher in the second half of the year as the impact of tax policy changes lapsed, BNM said.