Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended in positive territory on Wednesday, with Singapore recording its best close since early February led by financials. Asian peers gained while the dollar advanced as traders' near-term focus shifted to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting for hints on the future pace of US monetary tightening.
Asia shares ex-Japan rose as much as 0.9 percent to an over two-week high. Singapore shares climbed 1.1 percent, with top bank DBS Group Holdings rising 2.8 percent to a record close. Peers United Overseas Bank and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation gained 1.4 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.
Electronics services provider Venture Corporation Ltd surged 3.6 percent to its highest close since early 2000. The city-state's headline inflation rate in January was likely unchanged from a month earlier, while the annual core inflation rate rose slightly, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday. The data is due Friday at 0500 GMT. Vietnam shares resumed trade on a strong note after a five-day holiday, surging 2.6 percent to their best close since February 2. Vinamilk was the top contributor, up 5 percent in its biggest jump since November 13.
Vietnam is the best performer in the region so far this year, having risen 10.5 percent. Malaysian shares ended marginally higher, its sixth session on top out of seven, while Indonesia shares were 0.3 percent lower. Philippine shares broke a five-session winning streak and finished 1.3 percent lower with broad-based losses.
Ayala Land and SM Investments were the biggest drags, falling 2.2 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively. Universal Robina Corp dropped 2.9 percent ahead of its quarterly results to settle at its lowest since mid-December. Thai shares ended flat, with gains in oil and gas giant PTT Pcl marginally outweighing losses in most other sectors. PTT surged 6.5 percent to its all-time best close after reporting a 43 percent rise in full-year net profit.
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