BANGKOK, March 5 — The Thai key stock index fell to a six-week closing low today as large caps traded ex-dividend while the Malaysian benchmark posted its worst fall in nearly two months amid broad-based selling ahead of the central bank’s decision on interest rates.

Kuala Lumpur’s composite index was down 1.1 per cent, the biggest single-day loss since January 6, with twenty six out of 30 stocks measured by the index down. The index ended at 1,806.09, the lowest close since February 13.

Malaysia’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.25 per cent today, as expected, saying inflation is only expected to trend higher after the first quarter of 2015. The announcement came after markets closed for the day.

Thai SET index eased 0.6 percent to 1,553.33, the lowest close since January 21. Large caps going ex-dividend led the losers, including shares of Bangchak Petroleum and Electricity Generating.

Shares of telecoms firm Jasmine International plunged nearly 20 per cent, reflecting an absence of the rights to receive dividends. 

Stocks in Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam ended in negative territory while Indonesia erased most of earlier gains. — Reuters