Aean stocks:Indonesia leads regional gains

BANGKOK: Southeast Asian stocks rose in line with broader Asia on Monday, with Indonesian shares outperforming the region and the Singapore index hitting its highest level in more than a week after upbeat trade data for October.

Investors piled into emerging markets, thanks to the prospect of extended stimulus in the United States and real economic reform in China.

Singapore's key index was up 0.24 percent, adding to its gain over the past two sessions, while Malaysia edged up 0.2 per cent.

Vietnam rose one per cent, partly helped by positive earnings from some big-cap firms while the Philippines was nearly unchanged, after having climbing to a one-week high earlier in the session.

Jakarta's Composite Index was up 1.3 per cent, rebounding from a 0.7 per cent loss on Friday and a 3.2 per cent drop last week, when it was Southeast Asia's worst performer.

Shares of coal miner Adaro Energy jumped 4.3 per cent, the most-actively traded by turnover on the blue-chip index.

Shares of auto firm Astra International gained 4.8 per cent after a slide last week to a nine-week low as the central bank's surprise rate hike weighed on the outlook of auto sales.

Broker Danareksa rated Astra a 'buy', citing its extensive distribution network, including growth of its low-cost green car section.

"For Astra International, its market share has actually improved on the back of low-cost green car segment... Astra shares had been in a declining trend and I think investors are now looking at signs of resilience," said Danareksa analyst Helmy Kristanto.

Annual auto sales growth in Indonesia slowed sharply in October, driven by a significant decline in domestic purchases of Nissan cars, industry data (Gaikindo) showed on Monday.

Thai stocks were up 0.3 per cent, paring some earlier gains, as weaker-than-expected economic data for the third quarter and political uncertainty kept investors wary.

"Upside will remain limited as investors wait for the ruling of the Constitution Court on the Thai charter amendment on November
20," strategists at broker KGI Securities wrote in a report.

Shares in construction firms including Italian Thai Development and Ch Karnchang rose as the Senate is scheduled to debate the government's proposed 2.0 trillion baht (US$63.23 billion) infrastructure loan bill later in the day