Most Southeast Asian stocks regain

Most Southeast Asian stock markets climbed higher on Monday, regaining some of the ground lost last week when global stocks and commodities tumbled, as solid US payrolls data suggested a recovery in the world's biggest economy was picking up momentum.
Market players appeared to be staying defensive, though, with turnover in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam falling below the 30-day average and some bourses seeing mild outflows of foreign funds on the day. The energy-driven Thai stock market led the regional rebound, with the benchmark SET index advancing 2.1 percent, erasing some of the 3.9 percent drop last week, when it was Asia's worst performer.
Beaten-down energy shares lured bargain hunters. "We sense that risk appetite for Thai stocks and this region will be volatile going forward and there's likely to be quick selling on any market rebound," said Wikij Tirawannarat, senior analyst at broker Capital Nomura Securities.
In Bangkok, the market rebound came in moderate volume, with turnover at its 30-day average. The market recorded $180 million in foreign outflows last week, the exchange said. That compared with inflows in some markets including Indonesia and the Philippines. However, on Monday, Indonesia and the Philippines reported outflows of $10.3 million and $11.6 million respectively, Thomson Reuters data showed.
Malaysia saw small inflows of $3.22 million, its exchange said. Stocks in Singapore rose 1.3 percent while Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam posted smaller gains. Bucking the trend, Indonesia's main share index eased 0.3 percent in turnover 1.2 times its 30-day average. Emerging market investors in Asia were still wary about commodity markets as well as eurozone debt problems, dealers said.
In Asia, stocks and commodities rose from last week's lows on Monday, with shares in Asia excluding Japan rising 0.45 percent by 1000 GMT. US crude futures rose $3 to $100.18 a barrel, helped by a weaker dollar and bargain-hunting after last week's sell-off. Among gainers, Thailand's biggest energy firm, PTT, surged 3.2 percent against a 3.9 percent drop on Friday. Indonesia's second biggest coal miner, Adaro Energy, gained 1.1 percent and the Philippines' largest power distributor, Manila Electric, jumped 5.3 percent. Banks advanced in most markets thanks to optimism about loan growth as the economy recovered. DBS shares were up 2.2 percent and Bangkok Bank gained 1.9 percent.