Each week, we provide an overview of the percent returns of the primary indices in Southeast Asia and their currency appreciation or depreciation relative to the US Dollar. We provide this information below. We also capture this information, as well as the trailing four and year-to-date movements, and plot the data in charts, which you can find on the “index charts” and “currency charts” pages.
Indices
During the week of 8 January, seven of the ten indices in Southeast Asia advanced, with the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange index, which jumped 3.70%, again leading all indices. Myanmar’s Myanpix Index had the greatest decline, falling 2.65%.
In Malaysia, the political coalition Pakatan Harapan announced that former premier Mahathir Mohammad would be its candidate for prime minister if the alliance wins control of the government in this year’s election, according to The Star Online. The election must be held by August, according to Reuters.
Weekly gains
- Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange Index (VNI), 3.70%
- Hanoi Stock Exchange Index (HNX), 1.55%
- Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI), 0.89%
- Stock Exchange of Thailand index (SET), 0.82%
- Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi), 0.51%
- Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI), 0.26%
- Jakarta Stock Exchange index (JSX), 0.26%
Weekly declines
- Cambodia Securities Exchange index (CSX), -0.45%
- Lao Securities Exchange index (LSX), -0.87%
- Myanmar’s Myanpix index (YSX), -2.65%
Currencies
Seven of the nine Southeast Asian currencies advanced relative to the US Dollar the week of 8 January, with the Myanmar Kyat having the greatest appreciation, rising 1.09%. In Thailand, where the Thai Baht gained 0.71% this week and 1.93% year-to-date, the private sector expressed concern that the Baht’s strength is weakening exports and tourism, according to The Bangkok Post.
The Philippine Peso fell 1.16%, possibly in part because the Philippine Statistics Authority released data on Wednesday that showed the country’s trade deficit hit a new record high in November following a significant growth in imports, according to The Manila Times.
Weekly appreciations
- Myanmar Kyat (MMK), 1.09%
- Thai Baht (THB), 0.71%
- Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), 0.69%
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), 0.69%
- Cambodian Riel (KHR), 0.39%
- Singapore Dollar (SGD), 0.24%
- Lao Kip (LAK), 0.01%
Weekly depreciation
- Vietnamese Dong (VND), -0.02%
- Philippine Peso (PHP), -1.16%
