SE Asia Stocks-Philippine index hits record closing high; Thai extends gains

By Aditya Soni

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on

Friday, mirroring increases in Asian peers and in step with

stellar gains on Wall Street overnight, with the Philippine

and Thai indexes touching record closing highs.

In Asia, shares hovered only a few points

below their all-time peak of 591.5 hit in November 2007, as U.S.

jobs data pointed to firm economic growth.

The Dow blew past the 25,000 mark for the first time

on Thursday, while other major U.S. indexes touched closing

record highs again.

The gains on Wall Street have had a positive impact as most

global asset managers are willing to take on risk, especially in

the emerging markets, said Fio Dejesus, equity research analyst

at RCBC Securities in Manila.

Philippine shares climbed 0.4 percent to touch a

record closing high, with real estate stocks and financials

leading the gainers.

The index, which has posted five consecutive weekly gains,

rose 2.5 percent on week, the highest since April 2017.

Ayala Land Inc climbed 2.8 percent, while Ayala

Corp rose to its highest since Nov. 9.

Thai shares marked a record closing high on Friday,

with financials leading the gainers.

Bank of Ayudhya surged 16.6 percent to its highest

since March 2015.

The index rose 2.4 percent on week.

Singapore shares fell, dragged down by financials.

The index, however, gained 2.5 percent on week, its best since

January last year.

DBS Holdings, the biggest stock by market

capitalisation, dropped 0.7 percent.

"Singapore has been on a good run of late, so I think it is

just short-term profit-taking that's driving it down today,"

said a Singapore-based analyst who did not want to be named.

Malaysia added 0.8 percent, while Indonesian shares

climbed nearly 1 percent.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Previous close Pct Move

Singapore 3489.45 3501.16 -0.33

Bangkok 1795.45 1791.02 0.25

Manila 8770 8739.83 0.35

Jakarta 6353.738 6292.321 0.98

Kuala Lumpur 1817.97 1803.45 0.81

Ho Chi Minh 1012.65 1019.75 -0.70

Change on year

Market Current End 2017 Pct Move

Singapore 3489.45 3402.92 2.54

Bangkok 1795.45 1753.71 2.38

Manila 8770 8,558.42 2.47

Jakarta 6353.738 6,355.65 -0.03

Kuala Lumpur 1817.97 1796.81 1.18

Ho Chi Minh 1012.65 984.24 2.89

(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)