Thai share prices closed 0.45 percent higher on Wednesday as investors took heart from sharp gains on Wall Street and a drop in global oil prices, dealers said. They said the market held firm on buying of banking and property stocks.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 3.85 points to 861.51 and the blue chip SET 50 index gained 3.21 points to 633.55. Gainers led losers 209 to 130, with 125 stocks unchanged on turnover of 2.6 billion shares worth 18.2 billion baht (538 million dollars). Thailand's top energy firm PTT fell 2.00 baht to 378.00, and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production also lost 2.00 to 143.00.
The kingdom's top lender Bangkok Bank rose 2.00 to 121.00, and the third largest lender Kasikorn Bank added 1.50 to 85.00. Thai Airways International edged up 0.50 to 39.00, and Thailand's biggest mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, gained 2.50 to 90.00.