SE Asia Stocks-Most gain; Vietnam hits 10-year closing high

By Sandhya Sampath

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended

higher on Monday tracking broader Asia and on expectations of

strong first-quarter earnings, while Vietnam recorded its

highest close in more than a decade.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan

crept towards an all-time peak, with brisk

economic growth and benign inflation adding to the risk

appetite, while U.S. stocks notched their best weekly gains in

more than a year on Friday.

In Southeast Asia, ahead of the results season, there is

positive expectation about first-quarter earnings, said Joel Ng,

an analyst at KGI Securities in Singapore.

Vietnam stocks erased early losses and ended one

percent firmer at 1,022.90, their highest since November 2007,

helped by gains in energy and basic materials.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group ended 6.3 percent

higher while steel maker Hoa Phat Group JSC climbed 3.1

percent to a record close.

The Malaysian index added 0.8 percent to 1,832.15,

its highest since April 2015, as energy stocks such as Petronas

Gas Bhd climbed on firmer global oil prices.

Singapore shares gained 0.7 percent to their highest

in nearly 32 months, driven by financial and industrial stocks.

Real estate firm CapitaLand Ltd ended 1.9 percent

up, while Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd gained 1.7

percent.

Indonesian shares rose for a third straight session,

closing 0.5 percent higher, with energy and industrial stocks

accounting for most of the gains. Adaro Energy Tbk PT

ended up 8.5 percent.

An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks

rose 0.6 percent.

Philippine shares erased early gains to close 0.3

percent lower with financials and real estate stocks accounting

for more than half of the losses.

"I think it is a correction after last week's run up. I

think we can go down a little further," said Joseph Roxas,

president at Manila-based Eagle Equities.

Meanwhile, Thai shares gave up gains towards the end

of the session and closed 0.15 percent lower as consumer staples

and energy stocks fell.

CP ALL PCL and PTT Exploration and Production PCL

lost 1.6 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3512.18 3489.45 0.65

Bangkok 1792.81 1795.45 0.15

Manila 8745.12 8770 -0.28

Jakarta 6385.404 6353.738 0.50

Kuala Lumpur 1832.15 1817.97 0.78

Ho Chi Minh 1022.9 1012.65 1.01

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3512.18 3402.92 3.21

Bangkok 1792.81 1753.71 2.2

Manila 8745.12 8558.42 2.2

Jakarta 6385.404 6355.654 0.47

Kuala Lumpur 1832.15 1796.81 1.97

Ho Chi Minh 1022.9 984.24 3.93

(Reporting by Sandhya Sampath; Editing by Vyas Mohan)