Thai share prices closed 0.35 percent lower on Tuesday on profit-taking, having traded in a narrow range as investors consolidated recent gains, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite was down 2.49 points at 710.31 and the blue chip SET 50 index shed 2.50 points to 502.89.
Losers led gainers 128 to 178, with 100 stocks unchanged on volume of 3.3 billion shares worth 18.6 billion baht (454 million dollars).
The baht rose to 40.91-94 against the dollar from 40.99-41.02 late Monday.
After six weeks of steady gains, the market was finding resistance as it neared the 720 mark, especially against a backdrop of rising interest rates, Pat Pattaphongse of KGI Securities said.
The Bank of Thailand's decision last week to raise its benchmark interest rate by a higher-than-expected half-point was taking a toll on equities, while easing oil prices were hurting energy companies who had helped push up the market in recent weeks, dealers said.
Finance and securities gained 0.31 percent while banking lost 0.85 percent.
Kasikornbank lost one baht to 61.50, Bangkok Bank also lost one baht to 105.00, and Siam Commercial Bank slipped 0.50 baht to 51.00.
The energy sector lost 0.98 percent, with PTT dropping two baht to 238 while its subsidiary PTT Exploration shed 12 baht to 460. Thai Airways International gained 0.25 to 39.00 baht.
Siam Cement dropped 4.00 baht to 228, Siam City Cement lost 8.00 to 280 but telecom giant AIS gained 1.00 baht to 105.
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