Thai share prices closed 0.43 percent lower on Monday as investors fretted over higher oil prices, an expected rise in interest rates, and possible minimum wage increases, dealers said. They said an interest rate rise could be announced by the central bank this week while last Friday's gains on Wall Street had failed to impact here.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index dropped 2.79 points to 652.67 points and the blue chip SET 50 index lost 1.91 points at 458.41.
Losers overwhelmed gainers 225 to 71 and 100 stocks were unchanged on trading of 1.79 billion shares worth 10.0 billion baht (239.5 million dollars).
"The market was affected by old factors like the oil price which maintained a high level, together with domestic factors like today's demonstration asking for an increase in the minimum wage," Thawatchai Asawapornchai from Globex Securities said.
While economists have said an increase by six baht to about 181 baht (4.33 dollars) a day would not affect the economy, higher increases may hinder it, Thawatchai added.
About 3,000 people demonstrated outside Thailand's Government House calling for an increase to 233 baht (5.58 dollars) a day from 175 baht (4.19 dollars) effective October 1.
The energy sectoral index gained 0.33 percent to 13,255.86 and the banking sector fell 0.24 percent to 227.94.
Picnic Corporation gained 0.30 baht to close at 3.04 baht, PTT Plc added 2.00 baht at 218, and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production was unchanged at 388.00 baht.
Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank were unchanged at 97.50 baht and 53.50 baht respectively. Siam Commercial Bank was off 0.50 baht to 43.75 baht.
Capital Nomura Securities was unchanged at 42.75 , while Kim Eng Securities lost 0.60 to close at 20.90.
Siam Cement shed 2.00 to 220.00, but Thai Airways International closed down 0.25 to 40.75.
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