Thai share prices closed 0.34 percent higher on Monday, led by the energy stocks but the broader market was kept in check by the ongoing political turmoil ahead of Sunday's polls, dealers said.
They said political uncertainty over the leadership of embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continued to restrict gains in the market.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 2.48 points to 733.33 and the blue chip SET 50 index added 1.71 points to 511.14.
Gainers outnumbered losers 203 to 108 with 120 stocks unchanged on turnover of 2.5 billion shares worth 10.2 billion baht (263 million dollars) traded.
The Thai baht closed at 38.93-39.00 to the dollar Monday, little changed from Friday's 39.09-12. Against the euro, the Thai unit stood at 46.79-85, compared with 46.78-83.
"The market was up due to gains in banking and energy shares. It also held firm because weekend protests were peaceful," said Wiriya Lappromrattana, a senior market analyst at Kiatnakin Securities.
Some 10,000 protesters demanding the resignation of Thaksin, under allegations of abuse of power and corruption, Sunday flooded into Bangkok's ritzy downtown shopping area.
The march came the morning after 100,000 people gathered overnight in the Thai capital in the largest demonstration against the premier so far.
Meanwhile, a box of explosives was discovered early Monday outside the offices of Thailand's leading opposition party, which is boycotting Sunday's snap polls, called by Thaksin in a bid to defuse political tensions.
Shares in Thailand's top energy firm PTT were unchanged at 240.00 baht but its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production jumped 8.00 to 532.00.
Thailand's top lender Bangkok Bank rose 1.00 to 109.00 and the third-largest lender Kasikorn Bank added 0.50 to 65.00. But the fourth-largest Siam Commercial Bank slipped 0.50 to 64.50.
Thai Airways International gained 0.50 to 47.00.
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