Malaysian shares inched higher to a record close on Thursday amid optimism about the country's fiscal deficit while Indonesian stocks climbed to their highest close in five weeks amid foreign inflows. Malaysia's main index added 0.3 percent, extending Wednesday's rise, to a record closing high of 1,818.93, on expectations the government may unveil measures to improve the fiscal deficit.
Shares in Tenaga Nasional, the most actively traded, climbed 1.5 percent to 9.5 ringgit, its highest close for the year. Domestic institutions bought shares worth a net 31 million ringgit ($9.79 million), countering sales led by foreign investors, stock exchange data showed. Buying interest in late trading hours sent Indonesia's index 1.1 percent higher to 4,594.85, the highest close since September 19. Shares in Bank Mandiri and Bank Rakyat Indonesia were heavily bought. Indonesian equities brought in foreign inflows for a second session, with $13.75 million worth of net foreign buying reported on Thursday, Thomson Reuters data showed.