Southeast Asian stock markets mostly ended higher on Monday after weaker-than-expected US jobs data raised doubts the Federal Reserve would hike interest rates any time soon.

The Philippine stock index led the region with a 0.8 per cent gain, hitting a record close at 8,053.74, the first time it ever ended above the 8,000 mark.

Investors remain optimistic about the Philippine market given corporate expansions, such as in power and property, and are positioning their portfolios ahead of first-quarter results, said Astro del Castillo, managing director at First Grade Finance Inc in Manila.

Shares of SM Investment Corp, the country's biggest conglomerate by value, rose 2.1 per cent, its biggest one-day gain since February 9.

The company said in a filing to the stock exchange on Monday that it is expecting 10-12 per cent growth in recurring net income this year.

The Indonesian stock index closed 0.4 per cent up, led by a 2.5 per cent gain in biggest bank by value Bank Central Asia Tbk.

"The dollar index has corrected and it gave the Indonesian market some positive support," said Muhamad Alfatih, an analyst with Samuel Sekuritas Indonesia in Jakarta.

The Indonesian rupiah advanced as much as 0.6 per cent to 12,920 per dollar, its strongest since March 25. Malaysian stocks rose 0.5 per cent, while Vietnam was 0.9 down and Singapore ended marginally lower.

The Thai stock market was closed on Monday for a public holiday and will resume trading on Tuesday.

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