Thai share prices closed 0.63 percent higher on Tuesday, as energy-linked shares extended gains on the back of soaring oil prices, which hit new highs in London and New York, dealers said.
They said investors remained confident on the Thai energy sector as crude oil prices hit record highs amid worries over possible military conflict between the United States and Iran, a major crude oil producer.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 4.75 to 764.17 and the blue chip SET 50 index gained 4.22 points to 533.29. Gainers outnumbered losers 198 to 150, with 107 stocks unchanged on turnover of 4.3 billion shares worth 17.1 billion baht (450 million dollars).
The Thai baht closed at 37.96-99 to the dollar Tuesday, little moved from Monday's 37.96-98. The Thai currency was at 46.53-58 to the euro, compared with 46.13-20.
"The energy sector pushed up the index today," said Sukhbir Khanijoh, an analyst at Trinity Securities. "I think it's basically because the oil prices hit over 70 dollar a barrel."
In Asian trading Tuesday, crude oil prices spilled over to 70 dollars a barrel following a suicide bomb attack late Monday at a Tel Aviv food stand that left nine people dead and dozens more injured.
In London and New York, crude oil prices struck new historic highs with the price of New York's light sweet crude hitting a historic peak of 70.88 dollars per barrel Tuesday.
The price of Brent North Sea crude oil also hit a record high 72.20 dollars per barrel amid rising concerns over a potential military conflict between the US and Iran.
Iran is the world's fourth biggest producer of crude oil with an output of four million barrels per day.
Shares in Thailand's top energy firm PTT gained 2.00 to 260.00 baht, and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production soared 20.00 to 624.00.
Top lender Bangkok Bank stayed flat at 116.00, and the third-biggest lender, Kasikorn Bank, also remained unchanged at 66.00.
But Thai Airways International lost 1.25 to 48.25. The flag airline, which had been searching for a new chief since last August, chose a new president, Apinan Sumanaseni, after a board meeting on Tuesday.