BANGKOK, Oct 28 — Malaysian stocks ended slightly higher today amid optimism about the government’s proposed budget for 2014, while Thai stocks fell for a second session as weak factory output for September worried investors about the pace of economic recovery.
Malaysia’s main index ended up 0.05 per cent at 1,818.39, near a record close of 1,818.93 hit on October 24, with local institutions buying a net US$19 million (RM60 million) against selling by foreign and local retail investors, stock exchange data showed.
Energy-related shares advanced, led by shares of Tenaga Nasional and Petronas Chemicals Group, while property shares underperformed after the government announced measures to cool the sector’s surge.
Thai stocks ended down 0.4 per cent after investors sold shares in large caps, including PTT Pcl and Shin Corp, after the country’s factory output fell for a sixth straight month in September.
Indonesia’s key index rose 0.2 per cent, led by a 4.6 per cent rise in shares of Telekomunikasi Indonesia. Danareksa rated Telekomunikasi a “buy” after it posted nine-month earnings in line with the broker’s forecast.
The exchange brought in inflows of 51,796 million rupiah on the day, Thomson Reuters data showed. — Bernama
