Thai share prices closed 0.92 percent lower on Thursday as foreign investors held back, waiting for a fresh lead, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite shed 6.57 points to 711.20 and the blue chip SET 50 index was down 5.35 points to 502.56.
Losers led gainers 231 to 109, with 76 stocks unchanged in moderate trade of 3.4 billion shares worth 21.1 billion baht (515.9 million dollars).
The baht was easier at 40.96-99 against the dollar from 40.95-98 on Wednesday but was firmer at 50.08-13 to the euro after 50.27-31.
Sirinattha Thechasiriwan from Syrus Securities said the market opened higher before falling in the afternoon trade as foreign investors held back.
"They are waiting for the result of an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting next Monday and the meeting of the US central bank on Tuesday," she said.
Major indices were lower with communications down 1.56 percent, finance and securities lost 1.52 percent and banking dropped 1.29 percent.
Siam Commercial Bank fell 1.50 baht to 50.00, Bangkok Bank closed 1.00 lower to 105.00 and Kasikornbank shed 0.50 to 61.50.
PTT dropped 2.00 to 240.00 while its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production closed unchanged on 472.00.
Capital Nomura Securities and BFIT Securities both closed 1.00 lower to 53.50 and 31.50 respectively.
Matichon rose 1.20 or 8.28 percent to 15.70 but Post Publishing lost 1.00 or 9.52 percent to 9.50. Both are a take-over target of a Grammy group subsidiary, which fell 2.20 or 14.38 percent to 13.10.
Siam Cement and Siam City Cement both lost 2.00 to close at 226.00 and 280.00 respectively.
Advance Info Service dropped 2.00 to 103.00, United Communication closed 1.00 lower to 49.50 and Thai Airways shed 0.25 to 38.25.