February 5, 2008
BANGKOK - Thai share prices closed 0.48 percent lower on Tuesday, ending five consecutive days of gains and falling in line with other regional markets, dealers said.
They said that investors remain cautious over concerns about the US economy, while trading was light ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday across much of Asia.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 3.88 points to 807.68 and the blue-chip SET-50 fell 2.94 points to 584.78.
Gainers slightly led losers 160 to 156, with 121 stocks unchanged on turnover of 3.78 billion shares worth 21.50 billion baht (6.51 billion dollars).
The Thai baht closed at 32.90-91 against the dollar, little changed from Monday's close of 32.91-92. Against the euro, the Thai unit was quoted at 48.39-41 from 48.75-77.
"The Thai market slowed down and the momentum turned negative as investors sold their shares to take profit on recent gains, like other regional markets," said Viriya Lappromrattana, senior vice president at Kiatnakin Securities.
Investors' fears over a recession in the US economy remained, while trading was light ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, Viriya said.
Thailand's biggest energy firm PTT lost 2.00 baht to 326.00 and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production was unchanged at 148.00.
Thailand's largest lender Bangkok Bank lost 1.00 to 121.00, and the kingdom's biggest mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, fell 3.00 to 97.00.
Shares in Thai Airways International rose 0.25 to 34.00.
