SE Asia Stocks-Thailand, Indonesia lead regional gains on inflows

SINGAPORE, April 17 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock

markets rose on Thursday as investors took positions in emerging

markets on expectations of strong corporate earnings, boosting

Thai shares to their highest since November, while Indonesia

ended at more than a week high.

Bangkok's SET index closed up 0.5 percent at

1,408.78. Shares of Kasikornbank led the gainers on

expectations of strong results for the January-March quarter.

Jakarta's Composite Index gained 0.5 percent to

4,897.05, its highest close since April 9. Bank Central Asia

rose 1.4 percent after broker Trimegah Securities said

in a report on Thursday that the lender was likely to post

strong quarterly earnings.

Foreign investors net bought Thai shares worth 1.73 billion

baht ($53.6 million), while for Indonesia it was 672.8 billion

rupiah ($59 million).

In Singapore, shares of rig builder Keppel Corp

fell after reporting weak quarterly results.

Indonesia and Singapore will be shut on Friday for a market

holiday, reopening on Monday. The Philippine stock market was

shut from Thursday, and trading will resume on Monday.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 421.55 419.46 +0.50

Singapore 3253.80 3253.20 +0.02

Kuala Lumpur 1850.54 1845.37 +0.28

Bangkok 1408.78 1401.84 +0.50

Jakarta 4897.05 4873.01 +0.49

Ho Chi Minh 580.31 574.29 +1.05

Change on year

Market Current End 2013 Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 421.55 388.37 +8.54

Singapore 3253.80 3167.43 +2.73

Kuala Lumpur 1850.54 1866.96 -0.88

Bangkok 1408.78 1298.71 +8.48

Jakarta 4897.05 4274.18 +14.57

Manila -- 5889.83 +13.27

Ho Chi Minh 580.31 504.63 +15.00

* The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a

highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia,

Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

($1 = 32.2675 Thai Baht)

($1 = 11434.5000 Indonesian Rupiahs)

(Reporting by Andrew Toh; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee)