Thai share prices closed 0.49 percent higher on Tuesday, remaining at a five-month high as investors were upbeat following sustained record highs on Wall Street and falling oil prices, dealers said. They said the expected approval of the country's budget was also a positive sign for the economy.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 3.55 points to 728.53 and the blue chip SET 50 index gained 3.00 points to 511.29. Gainers outnumbered losers 234 to 112 with 91 stocks unchanged on turnover of 2.5 billion shares worth 13.9 billion baht (374 million dollars).
The Thai baht continued its one-month high of 37.22-24 to the dollar from Friday's 37.24-26 and at 46.67-72 to the euro from 46.93-98. Thailand's largest energy firm PTT was flat at 222.00 baht, while its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production fell 2.00 to 109.00.
The country's top lender Bangkok Bank gained 2.00 to 117.00, and the third-largest lender Kasikorn Bank increased 1.00 to 71.50. Thai Airways International edged up 0.50 to 48.75, and Thailand's top mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, lost 0.50 to 93.00.