SET rebounds ahead of Cabinet decision on lockdown

Total transactions amounted to Bt49.584 billion, with an index high of 1,272.75 and a low of 1,258.45.
A stock analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to fluctuate between 1,250 and 1,270 points.
“The market gained positive sentiment after US President Donald Trump signed a $484-billion [Bt15.68 trillion] bill to help small enterprises and hospitals, while [the US state of] Georgia eased its lockdown measures by allowing small enterprises to reopen,” the stock analyst said.
“Meanwhile, investors expect the Thai Cabinet to ease our lockdown in a meeting on Tuesday after the rate of new Covid-19 cases in the country continued to fall, sparking positive sentiment for economic activity and the stock market.”
The analyst said uncertainty following the decline in listed companies’ first-quarter performances and news that the US is suspending import-tariff privileges on 573 Thai products worth Bt40 billion would pressure the index.
“Investors expect the first-quarter performance of PTT Exploration and Production and Siam Cement will drop both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year,” the analyst said.
The 10 stocks with the highest trade values today were CPALL, BAM, GPSC, PTT, GULF, CPF, TISCO, KBANK, PTTEP and ADVANC.
As of 5pm, the crude oil price dropped by US$2.49 or 14.70 per cent to $14.45 per barrel, while gold rose by $2.40 or 0.14 per cent to $1,738 per ounce.
Meanwhile, global indices were on the rise.
Japan's Nikkei Index closed at 19,783.22, up 521.22 points, or 2.71 per cent.
China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 2,815.49, up 6.97 points, or 0.25 per cent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 10,452.17, up 28.71 points, or 0.28 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 24,280.14, up 448.81 points, or 1.88 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 1,922.77, up 33.76 points, or 1.79 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 10,567.27, up 219.91 points, or 2.13 per cent.