The Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Friday as the US rate hike worries abate after the fed officials allayed concerns that the central bank would intensify the pace of interest rate hikes this year.
Singapore shares rose as much as 1.1 per cent to a three-week top ahead of the release of inflation data.
Financials accounted for most of the gains on the index, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp climbing 2.1 per cent to an all-time high.
The index is on track for its best week since early January, reports Reuters.
Indonesia snapped three sessions of losses to rise as much as 1.0 per cent, with Bank Central Asia up as much as 2.4 per cent and conglomerate Astra International gaining 3.1 per cent.
An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks rose as much as 1.1 per cent.
Thai shares were up as much as 0.4 per cent, led by banks, telecom and materials stocks.
The Philippine index, however, fell as much as 0.6 per cent, and is set to finish the week about 1.4 per cent lower.
