Thai share prices are expected to fall next week amid concerns over further US interest rate hikes and uncertainty over the kingdom's new elections, dealers said.
"We don't have many positive factors. Foreign investors will likely continue to sell shares due to worries over US interest rates," said Kanang Duangmanee, a senior economist at Kasikorn Research Center.
Asian stocks fell over the past week as US inflation data rattled Wall Street and raised the spectre of further interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve.
Kanang said the Thai market would also likely face pressure due to political uncertainty after the country's three most powerful courts rejected a proposed October 22 date for new elections.
The rejection followed a ruling earlier this month by the Constitutional Court that declared troubled polls on April 2 invalid and ordered the government to hold new elections.
The April polls were called by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bid to silence his critics demanding his resignation over alleged abuse of power and corruption. His ruling party won the election, but the victory was undermined by an opposition boycott that succeeded in persuading many Thais to cast protest votes.
For the week to May 19, the Stock Exchange of Thailand composite index dropped 36.17 points or 4.6 percent to close at 746.33.
Kanang said the market was expected to trade around the 740.00-point level next week.
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