SET buoyed by rising crude oil, further easing of restrictions

Total transactions stood at Bt50.659 billion with an index high of 1,289.24 and a low of 1,278.86.
A Krungsri Securities stock analyst expects the index to rise to 1,290, as crude oil prices climbed by 9 per cent US$27 per barrel after US oil stock was reduced by 700,000 barrels.
“The International Energy Agency expects oil stocks worldwide to reduce by about 5.5 million barrels per day during the second half of this year,” the analyst said, adding that the index also gained from positive sentiment about further easing of restrictions this week. 
The government recently decided to lift more restrictions as of May 17. 
“However, the index will be under pressure as investors are selling stocks due to the drop in the first-quarter performance of corporates and uncertainty over a second wave of Covid-19 infections,” the analyst added. 
The top 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were PTT, CPALL, CBG, BAM, PTTEP, GULF, PTTGC, STA, AOT and ADVANC.
As of 4.30pm, the price of crude oil rose by $0.68 or 2.47 per cent to $28.24 per barrel, while gold rose by $3.60 or 0.21 per cent, to $1,744.50 per ounce.
Indices in the US and Europe were on the rise, though Asian indices had a mixed day: 
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 20,037.47, up 122.69 points, or 0.62 per cent.
China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 2,868.46, down 1.88 points, or 0.066 per cent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 10,964.89, up 2.74 points, or 0.025 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 23,797.47, down 32.27 points, or 0.14 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 1,927.28, up 2.32 points, or 0.12 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 10,814.92, up 34.04 points, or 0.32 per cent.