SET becalmed by worry over US virus surge

During the morning session, a Krungsri Securities stock analyst forecast the SET Index would move between 1,300 to 1,310 points amid investor concern over a second wave of Covid-19, especially in the US, where businesses in Texas and Florida have been ordered to shut again after the contagion surged.
Worries were also sparked by Beijing’s warning to Washington not to interfere in relations between China and Taiwan, otherwise China may not purchase US agricultural products under a trade agreement.
The analyst expected the index to rebound in line with “window dressing” of stock in the second quarter, as well as purchases of the Super Savings Fund Extra (SSFX).
The 10 stocks with the highest trade values today were KBANK, AOT, PTT, CPALL, GPSC, OSP, ADVANC, GULF, TASCO, and KCE
As of 5pm, the crude oil price rose to US$38.51 per barrel or 0.02 per cent, while the gold price increased by $3.70 or 0.21 per cent to $1,784 per ounce.
Asian indices, meanwhile, were mixed:
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 21,995.04, down 517.04 points or 2.30 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 24,301.28, down 248.71 points or 1.01 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 2,093.48, down 41.17 points or 1.93 per cent.
China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 2,961.52, down 18.03 points or 0.61 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 11,752.36, down 61.17 points or 0.52 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 11,542.62, up 118.05 points 1.01 per cent.