BANGKOK: Southeast Asian stock markets mostly gained on Thursday, with Thai shares outperforming amid selective buying in dividend-yielding stocks, while Indonesia ended near an eight-month high as consumer shares rose ahead of an interest rate decision.

Thai SET index closed up 1.04% at 1,370.50, the highest since Dec 4. Shares of Bangkok Bank, PTT and Siam Cement were among the outperformers in the Top 30 high dividend stocks.

Indonesia's main index finished up 0.9% at 4,726.17, the highest close since July 23, led by consumer-related stocks, including Unilever Indonesia and Telkom Indonesia.

Bank Indonesia held its benchmark reference rate unchanged at 7.50%, as widely expected, because pressures over the inflation rate and the rupiah have eased. The decision came after market close on Thursday.

Vietnam was up 0.88%, the seventh gain in a row, boosted by investors' growing confidence in the macro-economy.

Malaysia pared earlier gain, ending nearly unchanged at 1,818.86 after the country's industrial production in January rose 3.7% from a year earlier, below expectations. Stocks in Singapore and the Philippines fell for a second session, amid selling in recent gainers such as shares of Keppel Corp and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day

Market Current Prev Close Pct Move

TR SE Asia Index* 403.79 401.02 +0.69

Singapore 3081.39 3097.43 -0.52

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Southeast Asia stocks: Indonesia Near 8-Month High, M'sia unchanged