SE Asia Stocks-Most up; selective buying in reporting season

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets
ended mostly higher on Wednesday as buyers selectively bought
shares in a reporting season, while upbeat U.S. corporate
earnings and stronger investor confidence in Germany helped lift
the outlook for the global economy.
Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 0.4 percent to
1,635.25, ending five sessions of falls amid concerns about the
country's upcoming election.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd, the top electricity utility,
was up 0.6 percent. After the market close, Tenaga reported a
better-than-expected quarterly profit.
Nomura Equity Research said uncertainties surrounding the
election and investors' reluctance to take risk could result in
high volatility in stock prices. It preferred defensive sectors
in early 2013 and advocated selective risk-taking.
"Factoring in potential election risks, we raise the telcos
to overweight, while keeping our bullish stance on banks,
construction, plantation and oil & gas," Nomura's Malaysia
Equity Strategy report said.
Bangkok's SET index rose 0.4 percent to 1,439.20,
with industrial conglomerate Siam Cement Pcl gaining as
much as 3.6 percent to an all-time high on expectations of
strong quarterly results boosted by cement and paper earnings.
Siam Cement is expected to report the fourth quarter
earnings next week.
The Philippine Composite Index extended its loss for
a second session, ending down 0.2 percent at 6,092.53. It set a
record finish of 6,171.70 on Monday.
The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange's VN Index edged up
0.12 percent to 443.37 after losing a combined 4.9 percent over
the past four sessions.

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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on day
Market Current Prev Close Pct Move
TR SE Asia Index* 432.76 430.72 +0.47
Singapore 3231.23 3219.86 +0.35
Kuala Lumpur 1635.25 1628.66 +0.40
Bangkok 1439.20 1434.09 +0.36
Jakarta 4418.73 4416.55 +0.05
Manila 6092.53 6104.90 -0.20
Ho Chi Minh 443.37 442.85 +0.12

Change on year
Market Current End prev yr Pct Move
TR SE Asia Index* 432.76 424.10 +2.04
Singapore 3231.23 3167.08 +2.03
Kuala Lumpur 1635.25 1688.95 -3.18
Bangkok 1439.20 1391.93 +3.40
Jakarta 4418.73 4316.69 +2.36
Manila 6092.53 5812.73 +4.81
Ho Chi Minh 443.37 413.73 +7.16

* The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a
highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Stock Market Volume (shares)
Market Current Volume Average Volume 30 days
Singapore 217,792,100 272,313,503
Kuala Lumpur 162,450,500 140,109,200

Bangkok 40,041,300 18,418,460
Jakarta 3,066,339,000 3,632,493,917
Manila 162,118 91,858
Ho Chi Minh 50,656 73,261