March 21, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai share prices closed 0.65 percent higher on Friday, boosted by overnight gains on Wall Street, dealers said.
They said trading was thin because many major markets were closed for the Easter holiday.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 5.21 points to 803.32 and the blue-chip SET-50 gained 3.29 points to 576.90.
Gainers far led losers 220 to 82, with 133 stocks unchanged on turnover of 3.12 billion shares worth 9.93 billion baht (317.56 million dollars).
The baht closed at a 10-year-high of 31.28-29 against the dollar, slightly up from Thursday's 31.30-32. Against the euro, the Thai unit was quoted at 48.27-32 from 48.48-50.
"The market was rather quiet although it rose in line with other regional markets," said Pichai Lertsupongkit, senior vice president at Thanachart Securities.
Pichai said the Thai bourse closed on the positive side but trading was thin because many markets were closed for the Easter holiday.
"Foreign investors stayed on the sideline today," he said.
Share prices rose in banking and property sectors while energy shares fell.
Thailand's biggest energy firm PTT fell 2.00 baht to 312.00 and its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production slipped 1.00 to 150.00. Major energy firm Banpu was flat at 390.00.
The kingdom's largest lender Bangkok Bank rose 3.00 to 130.00.
Thai Airways International edged up 0.50 to 28.50, while Thailand's biggest mobile phone operator, Advanced Info Service, also gained 1.50 to 97.50.
