Southeast Asian stocks: Most higher; Malaysia highest since Dec 8

The Kuala Lumpur composite index climbed 1.2 percent to 1,663.51, the highest close since Dec. 8, with Petronas Chemicals Group and Tenaga Nasional most actively traded by turnover.

BANGKOK: Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose in line with Asia and on a rebound in oil prices on Wednesday, with key indexes in Malaysia and the Philippines closing at multi-week highs ahead of market holidays on buying led by foreign investors.
    The Philippines' index was up 0.5 percent at 7,002.42, the highest close since Dec. 2. Foreign investors bought a net 515 million peso ($10.90 million), including shares of power generation First Gen Corp, stock exchange data showed.
    The Kuala Lumpur composite index climbed 1.2 percent to 1,663.51, the highest close since Dec. 8, with Petronas Chemicals Group and Tenaga Nasional most actively traded by turnover.
    Stocks in Indonesia extended gains for a third day.
    Stock markets in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia
will be closed on Thursday and Friday for public holidays.
    Singapore rose for a second day. The city-state
bourse will trade half-day on Thursday and will shut on Friday.
    Thai stocks advanced 1 percent, with domestic mutual
funds among buyers. The Thai bourse said foreign investors sold
shares worth a net 5.2 billion baht ($144.28 million) after
offloading a net 27.4 billion baht over the past twelve days.
 
    Vietnam ended down 0.37 percent, a fourth consecutive
fall, with shares moving marginally in mixed trade. 
    
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
 Change on day
 Market             Current     Prev Close    Pct Move
 Singapore          2863.65       2852.97       +0.37
 Kuala Lumpur       1663.51       1643.26       +1.23
 Bangkok            1274.50       1261.66       +1.02
 Jakarta            4522.65       4517.57       +0.11
 Manila             7002.42       6966.18       +0.52
 Ho Chi Minh         564.27        566.35       -0.37
 
 Change on year
 Market             Current       End 2014    Pct Move
 Singapore          2863.65       3365.15      -14.90
 Kuala Lumpur       1663.51       1761.25       -5.55
 Bangkok            1274.50       1497.67      -14.90
 Jakarta            4522.65       5226.95      -13.47
 Manila             7002.42       7230.57       -3.16
 Ho Chi Minh         564.27        545.63       +3.42
 ($1 = 47.2870 Philippine pesos)
($1 = 36.0400 baht)
- Reuters