SET buoyed by US-China trade talks, Thai lockdown timeline

The volume of total transactions was Bt44.086 billion with an index high of 1,270.54 and a low of 1,256.74.
A stock analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to rebound to between 1,270 and 1,280, with the US and China set to discuss the first phase of a trade agreement next week.
“Meanwhile, economic activities and investment will benefit as Thailand prepares to ease more lockdown measures on May 17, after the number of new Covid-19 cases dropped significantly,” the stock analyst said.
“However, applications for unemployment welfare in the US rose by 3.17 million to 33.5 million, while mass sell-offs due to uncertainty following the decline in companies’ first-quarter performances will drag down the index.”
The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were CPALL, PTT, ADVANC, BAM, AOT, PTTGC, BDMS, PTTEP, GPSC and BBL.
As of 5pm, the price of crude oil rose by US$0.63 or 2.68 percent to $24.18 per barrel, while gold rose by $6.70 or 0.39 percent to $1,732.50 per ounce.
Meanwhile, global indices were on the rise:
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 20,179.09, up 504.32 points, or 2.56 percent.
China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 2,895.34, up 23.82 points or 0.83 percent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 11,001.58, up 138.29 points or 1.27 percent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 24,230.17, up 249.54 points, or 1.04 percent.
South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 1,945.82, up 17.21 points, or 0.89 percent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 10,901.42, up 58.50 points, or 0.54 percent.