SET nudges up on Fed news
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,568.82 on Thursday, up 2.06 points or 0.13 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt81 billion with an index high of 1,583.30 and a low of 1,567.67.
In the morning session, a Krungsri Securities analyst expected the day’s index to hit a resistance line between 1,575 and 1,580 points after the US Federal Reserve signalled it would maintain a low interest rate of 0.25 per cent and retain quantitative easing (bond-buying stimulus) to maximise employment.
“However, investors should beware of mass sell-offs of Thai shares in response to the FTSE’s move to rebalance Thai shares from 2.3 per cent to 2.25 per cent. The rebalance will take effect on Friday [March 19],” said Krungsri Securities.
The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were OR, KBANK, STA, PTT, GUNKUL, BBL, IRPC, ICHI, IVL and CPF.
Other Asian indices responded to the Fed news with stronger rises than the SET: Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 30,216.75, up 302.42 points or 1.01 per cent.
China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 3,463.07, up 17.52 points or 0.51 per cent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 13,963.92, up 154.16 points or 1.12 per cent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed at 29,405.72, up 371.60 points or 1.28 per cent.
South Korea's KOSPI Index closed at 3,066.01, up 18.51 points or 0.61 per cent.
Taiwan's TAIEX Index closed at 16,287.84, up 72.02 points or 0.44 per cent.
