Philippine shares led declines in Southeast Asia, with utilities and financial firms among the biggest drags on Manila's benchmark index which managed to post a second consecutive weekly gain. BDO Unibank and Manila Electric fell 2.6% and 2.3%, respectively.
Singapore stocks slipped 0.4% to a one-week low, hurt by weakness in the consumer and financial sectors. United Overseas Bank and Singapore Airlines lost 0.8% and 1.4%, respectively. Losses in the consumer and telecom sectors pushed Malaysia's benchmark index 0.2% lower, with food processor IOI Corporation and mobile communication service provider Digi.Com Bhd shedding 3.4% and 1.1%, respectively.
Thai stocks edged lower. Industrial and financial stocks led declines on the benchmark index, with Kasikornbank Pcl and real estate developer Asset World Pcl Corp down 2.2% and 2.9% each. Investor focus will now turn to the release of trade data next week. The trade-reliant economy's customs-cleared exports in September are likely to grow 1.2% from a year earlier, a Reuters poll showed, after falling 4% the previous month. Bucking the regional trend, Indonesia stocks rose 0.2%, with Bank Central Asia, adding 0.7% and auto manufacturer Astra International gaining 1.1%.