Thai share prices closed 0.71 percent higher on Monday in line with regional gains as soaring US stocks gave a boost to the Thai market, dealers said. They said investors were not worried about any financial fallout from UN sanctions on North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear test, saying no economic side-effects were expected.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index gained 5.06 points to 717.11 and the blue chip SET 50 index rose 4.70 points to 502.05. Gainers outnumbered losers 175 to 167 with 98 stocks unchanged on turnover of 2.57 billion shares worth 14.99 billion baht (520 million dollars). The Thai baht closed at 37.44-47 to the dollar, almost unchanged from Friday's 37.44-46. Against the euro, the Thai currency further strengthened to 46.86-90 from 47.00-20.
"Stock markets rose across Asia as investors took heart from rising US stocks, especially as the Dow Jones reached a new high on Friday," said Kavee Chukitkasem, a senior stock analyst at Capital Nomura Securities. "The confidence of US consumers on the economy is improving amid falling oil prices," he said.
Kavee said Thai investors are looking ahead to the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee on Wednesday, expecting that interest rates, already at an eight-year high of 5.0 percent, would be left unchanged.
"Also, the central bank's committee is expected to revise its projected economic growth up after the improved political situation after the (September 19) coup," he said. Thailand's largest energy firm PTT gained 4.00 to 218.00 baht and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production edged up 1.00 to 107.00.
The country's top lender Bangkok Bank rose 1.00 to 116.00 while the third-largest lender Kasikorn Bank was up 0.50 at 69.50. Thai Airways International lost 0.25 to 48.00. Thailand's top mobile operator, Advance Info Service, jumped 3.00 to 94.00.
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