Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, with the Stock Exchange of Thailand index rose and Philippine shares bouncing back to their highest close in nearly three months.
The SET index gained 14.38 points or 0.84% to end the day at 1,721.64, in turnover worth 54 billion baht. The index rose as much as 1% to their highest since June 13.
PTT Plc gained 1.4 %, while Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc climbed 3.9%.
The Monetary Policy Committee held its benchmark interest rate near record lows, as expected, saying Southeast Asia's second-largest economy continued to face little inflationary pressure as growth pace improved.
The key Philippine stock index closed 1.6% higher, with holding firms and property plays leading the charge.
Inflation surged in July, but the rise in US stock markets on Tuesday as well as the positioning ahead of second-quarter GDP data bolstered investor confidence, said Manny Cruz, an analyst with Manila-based Asiasec Equities Inc.
The Philippine central bank looks certain to raise interest rates for a third time this year at its meeting on Thursday, which comes after government data showed annual inflation moved further above its 2%-4% target range for 2018.
The economy likely expanded at a slightly slower pace in the second quarter, according to a Reuters poll.
However, imports in June grew at the fastest pace this year while exports dipped, bringing the trade deficit to more than US$3 billion for a third straight month, government data showed.
Among top gainers on Wednesday, property developer SM Prime Holdings rose 2.9% to its highest close since Jan 29.
Malaysian shares climbed 0.8% to a two-and-half-month closing high, while Indonesian stocks erased early gains to end slightly higher.
Singapore shares declined 0.4%, dragged by financials. DBS Group Holdings fell 3% to a two-week closing low, while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp edged lower.
Asia shares ex-Japan rose in the middle of a strong second-quarter US earnings season and on expectations that China will ramp up fiscal stimulus to cushion the impact of its trade dispute with the United States.
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