SET slides amid virus spread, crude tumble
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,044.19 today (March 19) for a decrease of 3.96 points or 0.38 per cent from Wednesday's.
Transactions amounted to a total of Bt61.601 billion with an index high of 1,048.80 and a low of 1,010.60.
A stock analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to slide between 1,020 and 1,030 today as the Covid-19 pandemic intensifies, sparking fears of a global economic recession and pushed crude oil price to the lowest level in 18 years, which would lead to negative sentiment for energy and petroleum stocks.
As of 5.30pm, crude price regained US$1.96 per barrel or 9.62 per cent to $22.33, while the US and most European stocks have contracted. DAX and FYSE fell by 1.04 and 1.25 per cent respectively.
The top ten stocks with the highest trade values today were BAM, PTT, ADVANC, GULF, CPALL, AOT, GPSC, PTTEP, BGRIM, and BDMS.
Elsewhere in Asia,Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 16,552.83, down 173.72 points, or 1.04 per cent.
China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 2,702.13, down 26.63 points, or 0.98 per cent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 10,019.86, down 9.71 points, or 0.097 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 21,709.13, down 582.69 points, or 2.61 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 1,457.64, down 133.56 points, or 8.39 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 8,681.34, down 537.33 points, or 5.83 per cent.
