February 14, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai share prices closed 0.33 percent higher on Thursday as investors took heart from a surprise rebound in US retail sales, which lifted Wall Street and stocks across the region, dealers said.
They said investors chased gains in blue-chip stocks amid easing concern over a US economic slowdown.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 2.70 points to 832.11 and the blue-chip SET-50 added 2.16 points to 601.28.
Losers led gainers 158 to 148, with 137 stocks unchanged on turnover of 3.57 billion shares worth 29.64 billion baht (898.36 million dollars).
The Thai baht closed at 32.77-88 against the dollar, little moved from Wednesday's 33.88. Against the euro, the Thai unit was quoted at 47.89-94 from 47.86-93.
"The market was in line with gains across the region," said Viriya Lappromrattana, senior vice president at Kiatnakin Securities.
Sentiment was upbeat across Asia after Wall Street rose Wednesday on a rebound in US retail sales in January, Viriya said, adding the Thai bourse also held firm on easing concern over the state of the US economy.
But overall gains were modest as investors were cautious over the fate of Thailand's controversial capital controls aimed at halting the baht's rapid rise against the dollar.
The country's new government has said it will review the currency measures.
Thailand's biggest energy firm PTT rose 2.00 baht to 332.00 and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production gained 2.00 to 153.00.
Major energy firm Banpu was unchanged at 472.00.
Thailand's largest lender Bangkok Bank was also flat at 125.00, but the kingdom's biggest mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, fell 2.00 at 105.00.
Shares in Thai Airways International slipped 0.25 at 33.50.
