BANGKOK, Dec 9 — Thai stocks eked out small gains today after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved parliament and called a snap election amid anti-government protests while Malaysia rose for a second session to a record close after strong trade data.

After a choppy and light trading session, the SET index finished up 0.43 per cent amid short-covering in recently battered tourism-related stocks such as Airports of Thailand and Thai Airways International.

The index had risen 1.2 per cent in early trade after Yingluck called a snap election, but dropped when it became clear that her move had failed to defuse the tensions.

Brokers said investors cut risk exposures ahead of a market holiday tomorrow while an Election Commission official said a general election may be held on Feb 2, 2014.

“The House dissolution will provide some respite to the government ... However, it remains to be seen whether the Democrats will participate in the election,” CIMB Securities head of research Kasem Prunratanamala wrote in a strategy note.

Anti-government protest leaders pressed ahead with mass demonstrations in Bangkok today, seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her administration.

Malaysia’s main index climbed 0.8 per cent to 1,841.87, topping the record close of 1,826.95 on Friday when government data showed Malaysia’s exports in October rose by a stronger-than-expected 9.6 per cent from a year earlier.

In Singapore, the key Straits Times Index was steady after a four-day losing streak, supported by positive sentiment in the regional market after China released upbeat trade data.

Jakarta’s Composite Index rose 0.8 per cent, with shares in carmaker Astra International rising 2.4 per cent after data showed automobile sales in Indonesia grew faster in November compared with a year earlier.

Stocks in the Philippines ended a tad lower after a 3.4 per cent drop over past four sessions. Vietnam edged up 0.22 per cent, led by shares of food producer Ma San Group Corp thanks to buying by an exchange-traded fund (ETF). — Reuters