SE Asia Stocks-Most retreat; Singapore falls ahead of budget

BANGKOK, March 24 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets retreated on Thursday, with Singapore hitting a more than one-week low ahead of budget while a stronger dollar capped risk appetite in the region. The key Straits Times Index fell 1 percent to 2,852.05, its lowest since March 16, after a marginal gain on Wednesday. Singapore's 2016-17 budget is expected to lend a hand to businesses affected by an economic slowdown, in a possible shift in emphasis after focusing in recent ye