Southeast Asian stocks ended firmer on Tuesday with Malaysia edging up to a three-month high as a solid start to the United States earnings season helped boost investor sentiment. Malaysia edged up 0.1 percent to hit a near three-month closing high with a $36.53 million foreign inflow.
Singapore gained 0.4 percent, led by a 1.4 percent rise in Southeast Asia's largest telecom operator Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. An increase in quarterly profit of Alcoa Inc helped boost sentiment, easing concerns about US corporate results in the first three months of 2013.
Indonesian stocks edged up 0.04 percent, recovering from their two-week lows. Nomura Equity Research said on Tuesday a correction is likely in Indonesian stocks in the second quarter of 2013 following an expected softness in first quarter earnings due to cost and competition pressures. Vietnam, the region's best performer so far this year, gained 0.8 percent as funds added blue chips.
Bucking the trend, Thailand stock market ended 1.3 percent weaker, but the head of its bourse said buying would return after Songkran holiday from April 13-16. "Investors should not be too concerned with the market weakness. After Songkran holiday, I expect investors to resume buying again," The stock exchange of Thailand president Charamporn Jotikasthira told reporters on Tuesday.