Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday after two straight sessions of gains, while Thailand posted its highest close in nearly two weeks with energy stocks leading the rise. Investors were watchful before the final US presidential debate in the early session, and will keep an eye out for the ECB policy meeting later in the day. The debate was judged to have given no clear boost to Republican Donald Trump's hopes of winning the White House race.
A win for Democrat Hillary Clinton next month - now predicted clearly by polls - is also seen as opening the way for a rise in interest rates which a number of US Federal Reserve policymakers have all but promised for December. Thai shares closed 0.4 pct higher in their third straight session of gains, led by energy stocks. Energy companies PTT Exploration and Production Pcl and PTT Pcl were the biggest gainers in the sector.
Other Southeast Asian markets fell, with Vietnam declining the most, led by financials and consumer non-cyclicals. Real estate company Vingroup JSC and Vietnam Dairy Products JSC lost the most in their respective sectors. Indonesian shares declined for the second straight session, while Philippine stocks fell as investors booked profits after two consecutive sessions of gains. The industrial sector fell the most, with Ayala Corp and DMCI Holdings shedding over 1 percent each.