Thai share prices closed 1.38 percent higher on Wednesday as the bourse rose in line with other regional markets, following gains on Wall Street and a drop in global oil prices, dealers said. They said market sentiment was enthusiastic, with banking and property shares performing particularly well.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 9.23 points to close at 676.35, while the blue chip SET-50 index gained 8.61 points to 475.04. Gainers outnumbered losers 198 to 112, with 112 stocks unchanged on turnover of 3.23 billion shares worth 16.62 billion baht (494.67 million dollars).
The Thai baht appreciated against the dollar and finished at 33.59-61 baht on Wednesday from Tuesday's 33.60-64 baht. The Thai unit also strengthened against the euro and closed at 51.99-52.02 baht from 52.05-52 the previous day. "The market sentiment was more enthusiastic than the past two days," said Chai Chirasevenupraphand, market strategist at Capital Nomura Securities.
"Gains on the US stock market and a decrease in oil prices recently helped ease the market atmosphere, at least in the short term." Thailand's biggest lender Bangkok Bank jumped 5.00 baht to close at 117.00 baht. Kasikornbank rose 3.00 to 71.50 while Siam Commercial Bank gained 2.50 to 78.00.
The kingdom's biggest energy firm PTT rose 4.00 to 240.00 while its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production gained 3.00 to 145.00. Banpu, the country's largest coal miner, lost 6.00 to 372.00. Thai Airways edged up 0.60 to 16.20. Thailand's biggest telephone operator Advance Info Service rose 1.00 to 87.00.