SE Asia Stocks-Most up ahead of holiday; Thai SET near 3-week high

BANGKOK, April 2 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock

markets rose on Thursday, led by energy shares, while Thai stock

index climbed to the highest in almost three weeks as

tourism-related stocks gained after the government lifted

martial law.

The benchmark SET index was up 0.5 percent at

1,532.94. It earlier hit 1,539.65, the highest since March 16.

Investors have shown appetite for selected aviation stocks

after the military government said on Wednesday it had lifted

martial law imposed before a coup 10 months ago.

Shares of Airports of Thailand jumped 1.4 percent

to their highest in one week and airline firm Bangkok Airways

traded up 1 percent after the slide on Wednesday.

Broker Phillip Securities pegged resistance for the main

index at 1,540 for the day. It advised investors to take profits

near the resistance level.

"Even though the lifting of the martial law would be a

short-term positive for the market, we believe economic recovery

will still largely depend on government's investment spending,"

it said.

A rebound in U.S. oil prices overnight bolstered some buying

into regional energy shares but caution remained over the energy

price volatility due to nuclear talks with Iran, brokers said.

Shares of Thailand's PTT Pcl, Singapore's Keppel

Corp and Malaysia's Petronas Gas were among

actively traded.

Singapore's index traded slightly higher, heading

for a modest loss on the week. Indonesia eased 0.2

percent, on track for a weekly gain of 1 percent. Singapore and

Indonesia will be closed on Friday for a public holiday.

The Philippines was shut on Thursday through Friday

for a public holiday.

Malaysia was up 0.3 percent, reversing from the fall

on Wednesday. Vietnam was up 1.5 percent, rebounding from

a three-month low hit on the previous day, with banking shares

leading the pack.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change at 0753 GMT

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

Singapore 3450.20 3447.02 +0.09

Kuala Lumpur 1831.35 1826.31 +0.28

Bangkok 1532.94 1525.58 +0.48

Jakarta 5453.51 5466.87 -0.23

Ho Chi Minh 546.85 538.91 +1.47

(Reporting by Viparat Jantraprap; Editing by Anand Basu)