SE Asian stocks up

Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Thursday ahead of a likely policy move by the US Federal Reserve, with stocks in Malaysia outperforming and Singapore hitting a more than one-week high as a big jump in global oil prices boosted energy stocks. Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur composite index was up 2.1 per cent on a rally in oil-related stocks. The index touched 1,691.93. Shares of oil and gas services firm Sapurakencana Petroleum Bhd was up 7 per cent and Tenaga Nasional Bhd was 2.3 per cent higher, among top gainers. Singapore's Straits Times Index climbed 1 per cent to the highest since Sept. 9. Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production Pcl rose 2.1 per cent and Philippine Energy Development Corp was up 3.7 per cent. Indonesia's Perusahaan Gas Negara was up 3.2 per cent, outpacing the key Jakarta composite index's 0.8 per cent gain. The Thai SET index rose for a second day, the Philippines' key index headed for a fifth straight gain and Vietnam posted modest gains, its second, according to Reuters.

--Shuvo--