Thai share prices closed 0.38 percent lower on Thursday as investors locked in profits ahead of the upcoming five-day Buddhist New Year holiday, dealers said. They said sentiment was downbeat due to a mixed regional market and a lack of fresh leads. Thailand's financial markets are to close on Friday and Monday due to the Buddhist celebrations.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 2.64 points to 692.46, while the blue chip SET 50 index lost 2.29 points to 487.02. Losers led gainers 150 to 131, with 147 stocks unchanged on turnover of 771 million shares worth 6.18 billion baht (177 million dollars).
The Thai baht moved little against the dollar, closing at a nine-year high of 34.94-96. Against the euro, the Thai currency traded flat at 46.95-47.00. "Trading was very quiet as many investors were absent from the market due to Songkran," said Chai Chirasevenupraphand, a market strategist at Capital Nomura Securities, referring to the Buddhist holiday that begins on Friday.
"The market was under pressure due to a lack of positive leads and profit-taking," Chai said. The kingdom's top energy firm was unchanged at 216.00 and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production also traded flat at 92.00. Thai Oil rose 0.50 baht to 62.00. The nation's top lender Bangkok Bank fell to 112.00, and Thai Airways International was unchanged at 46.75. Thailand's largest mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, also closed flat at 72.00.
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