Thai share prices closed 0.51 percent lower on Thursday on profit-taking after world oil prices reached a record high of 68 dollars a barrel, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand composite index dropped 3.53 points to 692.14 and the blue chip SET 50 index fell 2.64 points to 491.40.
Losers overwhelmed gainers 230 stocks to 89 and 98 were unchanged on heavy turnover of 3.0 billion shares worth 16.8 billion baht (410.4 million dollars) traded.
The Thai baht closed against the dollar on 41.03-09 to one dollar compared with 41.16-19 on Wednesday.
The Thai unit against the euro closed on 50.37-62 to one compared to 50.18-23.
Ekpittaya Aimkongeak from BFIT Securities said the market rose in the morning session before dropping off in the afternoon session.
Ekpittaya added that the market on Friday would likely follow the oil price movement.
Sirinatta Techasiriwan from Syrus Securities said the market in the past two days was active in response to recent positive news of Thailand's improving trade balance.
However, the market fell on a technical correction rather than because of negative factors such as the record oil price, she added.
All major indices closed lower, finance and securities fell 1.55 percent, communication dropped 0.98 percent, banking was down 0.54 percent and energy shed 0.30 percent.
Thai Oil was the most active value traded for the second straight day, down 0.50 baht to 65.00.
PTT gained 4.00 to 488.00 but its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production fell 2.00 to 246.00.
Kasikornbank shed 1.50 to 58.00, Bangkok Bank dropped 0.50 to 99.50 while Siam Commercial Bank dipped 0.25 to 48.75.
Siam Cement was unchanged on 224.00 while Siam City Cement jumped 8.00 to 286.00.
Capital Nomura Securities rose 0.50 to 46.75 but Globex Securities dropped 0.25 baht to 6.85.
Advance Info Service and United Communication both closed 1.00 lower to 101.00 and 49.50 respectively while Thai Airways International was down 0.25 to 37.00.