Singapore's FTSE Straits Times Index closed 0.7% higher, after shedding 2.2% in the previous three sessions. Keppel Corp rose 1.7%, while Sembcorp Industries gained 1%. Meanwhile, investors waited to see if the United States and China could find a way at upcoming trade talks to end their more than year-long tariff dispute. Earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials had narrowed down the list of topics they were willing to negotiate on in talks, adding to market uncertainties.
Indonesian shares dropped over 1%, dragged mainly by the consumer and banking sectors. Consumer goods maker Unilever Indonesia lost 3%, while lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) dropped 1.3%. Thai shares advanced in thin trade, with banking stocks leading the gains. Lender Kasikornbank rose 2%.