Thai stocks rose 1.58 percent Thursday in line with other regional markets after the US Federal Reserve decided to maintain its near-zero interest rate, an analyst said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index gained 9.17 points to close at 590.60, while the blue chip SET-50 index was up 7.29 points to finish at 424.88.
Gainers outnumbered losers 220 to 105 while 115 stocks were unchanged with turnover of 3.1 billion shares worth 21.4 billion baht (628 million dollars). The baht was almost unchanged against the dollar to close at 34.13-14 compared to Wednesday's 34.12-14. But the Thai unit rose against the euro, closing at 47.61-65 compared to the previous day's close of 48.10-15.
The policymaking Federal Open Market Committee left the base federal funds rate in a range of zero to 0.25 percent, as had been widely expected. Thailand's largest lender Bangkok Bank edged up 0.50 baht to 103.50 baht and Kasikornbank went up 1.00 baht to 66.50, but Siam Commercial Bank slipped 0.75 to 74.25 baht.