Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended higher on Thursday after a rangebound session ahead of the European Central Bank's policy decision, with Singapore led by gains in developers such as Capitaland Ltd supported by strong property demand. Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.8 percent to 2,971.47, marking its seventh straight day of gains and its longest winning streak in one year. Capitaland, Southeast Asia's largest property developer, advanced 2.8 percent.
The Thai SET index gained 0.6 percent while Malaysian shares closed up 0.04 percent, topping Wednesday's record closing high. The Philippine index inched up 0.3 percent, hovering near its all-time intraday high hit on Wednesday. Vietnam shares added 0.8 percent after three sessions of losses. Indonesia bucked the trend, ending 0.15 percent lower.
The emerging region posted foreign inflows this week, with Indonesia taking in $156 million in the week to Wednesday, ahead of $94 million in inflows by Manila, Thailand's $40 million and Vietnam's $1.53 million, according to Thomson Reuters data