April 24, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai share prices closed 0.40 percent lower on Thursday as investors continued taking profits in major stocks, including the energy and banking sectors, dealers said.
They said the Thai market moved in a narrow range in the absence of any positive news to lift sentiment.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 3.35 points to 834.31 while the bluechip SET 50 index lost 2.49 points to 600.23.
Losers led gainers 170 to 168, while 122 stocks were unchanged with 5.57 billion shares traded worth 21.81 billion baht (690.27 million dollars).
The Thai baht fell against the dollar, closing at 31.58-60 from Wednesday's 31.46-48. The Thai unit appreciated against the euro, finishing at 49.71-76 from 50.18-24.
"The market fell today because investors continued taking profits from major stocks that previously soared," said Kavee Chukitkasem, assistant managing director at Kasikorn Securities.
Major shares in the energy and banking sectors fell, including PTT, PTT Exploration and Production and Siam Commercial Bank.
Kavee said there was also no positive news to help spur market sentiment.
Thailand's biggest energy firm PTT fell 4.00 baht to 334.00 while its subsidiary PTT Exploration and Production lost 2.00 to 167.00. But major energy firm Banpu rose 8.00 to 440.00.
The kingdom's largest lender Bangkok Bank also rose 1.00 to 137.00 while Siam Commercial Bank slipped 0.50 to 89.50.
Thai Airways also edged up 0.25 to 27.75.
