Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended higher on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street after US President Donald Trump said he would make a major tax announcement in a few weeks to lower the burden on businesses. The three main US stock indexes surged to record highs, while Asian shares rallied to an 18-month peak on upbeat Chinese trade data and strong gains on Wall Street.
"The US (market) was very strong last night, so that momentum has come through, and this is presumably in anticipation of Trump's reflationary promises," said Nicholas Teo, a trading strategist at KGI Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Singapore shares rose 0.7 percent to its highest close since August 2015, helped by financials and industrials. DBS Group Holdings Ltd rose 0.8 percent, United Overseas Bank Ltd climbed 0.6 percent, and Keppel Corp Ltd jumped 1.6 percent. Malaysian shares hit their highest in over nine months with financials leading the gains. Malayan Banking Bhd added 1.2 percent, while CIMB Group Holdings rose 1.6 percent.
Malaysia's industrial production in December rose 4.7 percent from a year ago, led by growth in the mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors, government data showed. Thai shares posted marginal gains, while Vietnam rose 0.5 percent to its highest close in one week. Indonesian shares pared early gains to end flat but posted their third consecutive weekly rise. Philippine shares came of early lows to close marginally down with industrials and financials leading the losses.
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