Most Southeast Asian shares edged higher on Thursday tracking broader Asia while Singapore rebounded as lenders gained after index heavyweight DBS Group Holdings reported strong earnings. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was trading up 0.1 percent at 566.60 at 1009 GMT, while the S&P e-mini futures were largely flat in late Asian trading hours.
Singapore shares ended 1 percent higher, snapping four sessions of losses with DBS Group Holdings surging 5.3 percent after posting a 33 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit. United Overseas Bank and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation rose around 1 percent each.
Philippine shares closed 0.3 percent lower as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the outcome of a central bank meeting. Index heavyweights SM Investments Corp and Universal Robina Corp dragged the index lower, falling 1 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Vietnam shares closed down 1.7 percent marking their third losing session in four.