The Philippines stock market hit an all-time high on Friday, while others ended mixed as investors waited for directions from US non-farm payrolls data due later in the day. The Philippines, the region's best performer this year, gained 0.5 percent to close at a record peak of 5,794.20, after it hit a fresh intraday all-time high of 5,797.93, led by 2.4 percent gain in conglomerate SM Investments Corp.

Singapore gained 0.9 percent to a two-month high, led by banks with a 2.2 percent rise in United Overseas Bank Ltd , while Malaysia edged up 0.1 percent to a two-week closing high, led by consumer stocks. Bucking the trend, Thailand fell 0.4 percent, with energy shares dragging the overall index as top oil firm PTT Pcl and PTT Exploration and Production Pcl lost 0.6 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. Vietnam ended 0.5 percent lower, while Indonesia ended a tad weaker with a 0.04 percent fall with a $48 million net foreign outflow.

Copyright Reuters, 2012