* Thailand hits highest in nearly a month
* Indonesia up for fourth straight session
* Philippines rises to near two-week high
By Shreya Mariam Job
Dec 27 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose
on Friday, with Philippine shares leading the pack, as investor
sentiment was boosted by hopes that China and the United States
would sign a Phase 1 trade deal early next year.
China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday Beijing was in
close contact with the United States about the initial
agreement, after U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday talked
up a signing ceremony for the recently struck deal. Increased trade optimism helped MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rise 0.55% to
555.25, a level not seen since mid-2018.
Boosting investor sentiment further data out of China, the
region's biggest trading partner, showed profits at industrial
firms in November grew at the fastest pace in eight months and
snapped a three-month declining streak. However, an official with the statistics bureau cautioned
that the rebound was not an indication of a sustained recovery.
Philippine stocks .PSI gained the most among Southeast
Asian markets, rising as much as 0.6% to their highest in nearly
two weeks.
Industrial and real estate stocks drove the gains, with
Robinsons Land Corp RLC.PS rising 2.8%, while SM Prime
Holdings Inc SMPH.PS climbed more than 1%.
Consumer and material stocks helped Thai shares .SETI rise
to their highest in nearly a month. Index heavyweight CP All
CPALL.BK gained 1%, while Indorama Ventures IVL.BK rose
2.2%.
"However, we believe gains could be kept in check by
lingering domestic political concerns and investors'
unwillingness to make any big moves ahead of the long New Year
holidays," Phillip Capital said in a note.
Earlier this month, Thailand saw its biggest protest since a
2014 coup after authorities moved to ban a party that has
rallied opposition to the government of former military ruler
Prayuth Chan-ocha. Indonesian shares .JKSE rose for a fourth straight
session, propped up by consumer stocks. Consumer goods company
Unilever Indonesia Tbk Pt UNVR.JK and real estate firm Plaza
Indonesia PLIN.JK gained 0.7% and 13.3%, respectively.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS As at 0327 GMT
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3227.13 3222.99 0.13
Bangkok 1585.97 1579.03 0.44
Manila 7886.21 7842.28 0.56
Jakarta 6335.853 6319.443 0.26
Kuala Lumpur 1602.64 1603.55 -0.06
Ho Chi Minh 956.98 958.59 -0.17
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3227.13 3068.76 5.16
Bangkok 1585.97 1563.88 1.41
Manila 7886.21 7,466.02 5.63
Jakarta 6335.853 6,194.50 2.28
Kuala Lumpur 1602.64 1690.58 -5.20
Ho Chi Minh 956.98 892.54 7.22