SE Asia Stocks-Most rise; Thailand hits record as energy stocks gain

By Aditya Soni

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets edged

higher on Thursday, riding Wall Street's euphoria after factory

activity data showed signs of robust U.S. economic growth, with

gains in energy shares lifting Thailand to an all-time peak.

The S&P 500 index rose above 2,700 for the first time on

Wednesday and other major indexes hit record closing highs as

technology stocks climbed after data showed U.S. factory

activity increased more than expected in December, signalling

strong economic momentum at the end of 2017.

"Continued gains from the U.S. stock markets which posted

new record highs have spilled over to the regional markets, if

the U.S. markets continue to rally, that should accelerate the

Asian equities," said Manny Cruz, an analyst at Asiasec Equities

Inc.

Thai shares climbed as much as 0.6 percent, building

on the previous session's 1.4 percent jump, led by gains in the

energy sector as oil prices remained near levels last seen in

late 2014/2015, amid tensions in Iran and ongoing OPEC-led

production cuts.

Oil producer PTT Exploration and Production PCL

climbed 2.5 percent to its highest since July 2015.

Malaysian shares inched up to their highest since

May 2015, with industrials and financials accounting for most of

the gains.

Index heavyweight Sime Darby Bhd surged 10.4

percent to a near six-week high, while Public Bank Bhd

ticked up 0.2 percent.

Singapore shares rose to an over two-and-a-half-year

high, boosted by financials, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp

Ltd and DBS Group Holdings Ltd hitting fresh

records.

Philippine stocks held steady after rising nearly 2

percent the previous day.

The country's monthly inflation data is due on Friday, and

consumer prices are likely to have increased in December at the

same annual pace as the previous month, according to a Reuters

poll.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change as of 0327

GMT

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3470.68 3464.28 0.18

Bangkok 1780.84 1778.53 0.13

Manila 8727.19 8724.13 0.04

Jakarta 6243.646 6251.479 -0.13

Kuala Lumpur 1799.45 1792.79 0.37

Ho Chi Minh 1012.24 1005.67 0.65

Change on year

Market Current End prev yr Pct Move

Singapore 3470.68 3402.92 1.99

Bangkok 1780.84 1,753.71 1.55

Manila 8727.19 8,558.42 1.97

Jakarta 6243.646 6,355.65 -1.76

Kuala Lumpur 1799.45 1796.81 0.15

Ho Chi Minh 1012.24 984.24 2.84

(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha

Gayathri)