Thai share prices closed 2.28 percent higher on Wednesday in line with the regional trend and with gains in big-cap shares, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 10.78 points to 483.50 while the bluechip SET-50 index advanced 8.36 points to 340.12. Gainers overwhelmed losers 306 to 60 with 72 stocks unchanged on turnover of 3.32 billion shares worth 14.54 billion baht (411.08 million dollars).
The Thai baht gained against the dollar, finishing at 35.35-38 baht from Tuesday's 35.43-45. But it fell against the euro to end at 46.78-83 from 46.13-17 the previous day. Pichai Lertsupongkit, senior vice president at Thanachart Securities, said the market rebounded in line with regional bourses. "The market sentiment was positive but investors were cautious in case of a spread of swine flu," he said.
A Bangkok hospital on Wednesday cleared a 42-year-old woman of swine flu after she had been quarantined there for a day following her return from Mexico and California. The number of suspected cases of swine flu rose in Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak. Investigations also continued into suspected cases in Australia, South Korea and in New Zealand, which has the only confirmed outbreak across the continent.
Thailand's top energy firm PTT Plc rose 4.00 baht to close at 185.00 baht while its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production gained 2.75 to 101.00. Siam Cement rose 9.00 to 117.50 while top coal mining firm Banpu surged 14.00 to 282.00. Bangkok Bank, the country's biggest lender, added 2.50 to 81.25. Siam Commercial and Kasikorn banks both edged up 0.75 to 59.25 and 52.00 respectively.