Southeast Asia: Malaysia at 1-week low; Vietnam rebounds

[BANGKOK] Malaysia's key stock index hit a more than one-week low, while the Thai benchmark fell for a second day on Friday as a strong US dollar dented sentiment in the region but Vietnam rebounded after a trade surplus in the first quarter of 2016.

Kuala Lumpur composite index ended the day down 0.68 per cent at the lowest close since March 17. It posted a weekly decline of 0.7 per cent after three straight weeks of increases.

Among top index losers, Sapurakencana Petroleum shed 4.5 per cent after the oil and gas services firm posted its first quarterly net loss in at least five years due to impairment from a slump in global oil prices.

The Thai key SET index was down 0.6 per cent at 0910 GMT, heading for a gain of about 1 per cent on the week. Thailand reported an export growth in February, the first time in 14 months, thanks to two unusual items.

Vietnam's key index rose 0.3 per cent on the day, trimming losses on the week to 0.7 per cent after the country's trade balance swung to a surplus in the first quarter of 2016.

Stock markets in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines were closed for a public holiday.

REUTERS