Thai share prices closed 1.41 percent higher on Monday, lifted by US markets amid hopes for a recovery in the world economy, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index gained 7.46 points to close at 535.18, while the blue chip SET-50 index rose 5.84 points to 380.78.
Gainers led losers 185 to 159 and 109 stocks closed unchanged on turnover of 6.8 billion shares worth 30.2 billion baht (877.5 million dollars). Pichai Lertsupongkit, senior vice president at Thanachart Securities, said the market opened up in morning trade in response to last week's spring on Wall Street following the release of banking "stress test" results. "Investors are confident the economy will recover as the tests show US banks are still strengthening," he said.
There was some profit-taking in afternoon trade in big-cap shares, he said. Thailand's top energy firm PTT Plc rose 8.00 to 220 baht, while subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production was unchanged at 117.00 baht. Coal producer Banpu jumped 11.00 to close at 311.00. Bangkok Bank gained 0.75 to 90.75 and Siam Cement was up 0.50 to 122.50 but Thai Airways International edged down 0.20 to 15.00.