Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday, with the Thai benchmark touching a near one-week high amid rotational plays into food and electronics exporters. Investors also bought back beaten down stocks in Southeast Asia with the start of the earnings season in many share markets. The Thai SET index climbed 1.7 percent to 1,255.30, the highest close since January 6. Gains in Thai Union Group, Charoen Pokphand Foods and Delta Electronics Thailand sent the SET 50 index 2 percent higher.

"A weak baht scenario this year is a key factor," said an analyst at broker Krungsri Securities in Bangkok. Market focus in Thailand and others in Southeast Asia also shifted to earnings announcements and indications on corporate outlook, brokers said. Thai banks kick-started the fourth-quarter earnings season this week, with Tisco Financial Group reporting its quarterly profits that came above analysts' estimates. Tisco's shares gained 2.4 percent. Vietnam marked the best single-day gain in a month, led by banks while Indonesia rebounded from a near one-month closing low on the day before as foreign investors bought shares. Bucking the trend, Singapore posted a second straight fall to a four-year closing low as weak oil prices continued to dent sentiment in energy-related stocks such as Sembcorp Marine.

Copyright Reuters, 2016