Higher Open Called For Thai Stock Market

(RTTNews) - The Thai stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, adding almost 15 points or 1.2 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just above the 1,265-point plateau and it may extend its winning streak again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were modestly higher and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The SET finished slightly higher on Monday following gains from the food, consumer, finance, industrial, property and service sectors. For the day, the index was up 1.31 points or 0.10 percent to finish at 1,266.11 after trading between 1,264.79 and 1,276.15. Volume was 10.729 billion shares worth 54.546 billion baht. There were 278 gainers and 195 decliners, with 182 stocks finishing unchanged. Among the actives, Advanced Info skidded 1.02 percent, while Thailand Airport tumbled 1.95 percent, Banpu fell 0.40 percent, Bangkok Bank collected 0.66 percent, Bangkok Dusit Medical sank 0.95 percent, Bangkok Expressway soared 4.76 percent, B. Grimm retreated 1.54 percent, BTS Group rallied 4.24 percent, CP All Public jumped 1.58 percent, CP Axtra skyrocketed 14.14 percent, Charoen Pokphand Foods surged 4.44 percent, Energy Absolute stumbled 2.84 percent, Gulf plummeted 4.74 percent, Kasikornbank climbed 1.18 percent, Krung Thai Bank advanced 0.99 percent, Krung Thai Card dropped 0.85 percent, PTT Oil & Retail strengthened 1.39 percent, PTT improved 0.79 percent, PTT Global Chemical slumped 0.90 percent, SCG Packaging added 0.56 percent, Siam Commercial Bank shed 0.40 percent, Siam Concrete spiked 2.28 percent, TTB Bank skidded 1.05 percent and Asset World, True Corporation, PTT Exploration and Production and Thai Oil were unchanged.

The lead from Wall Street is cautiously optimistic as the major averages opened mixed on Monday but all finished with modest gains.

The Dow climbed 114.09 points or 0.25 percent to finish at 45,514.95, while the NASDAQ advanced98.31 points or 0.45 percent to close at 21,798.70 and the S&P 500 rose 13.65 points or 0.21 percent to end at 6,495.15.

The strength on Wall Street reflected optimism about the outlook for interest rates following last Friday's weaker-than-expected U.S. employment data.

Following the release of a closely watched report showing employment increased by much less than expected in the month of August, CME Group's FedWatch Tool is currently indicating a 90.2 percent chance the Fed will lower rates by a quarter point later this month.

Overall trading activity was subdued, however, as traders looked ahead to the release of consumer and producer price inflation later this week, which could also impact the outlook for rates.

Crude oil moved higher Monday on the threat of sanctions hanging over Russia on its oil exports, although the upside was limited by OPEC's decision Sunday to increase output. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery was up $0.53 or 0.86 percent at $62.40 per barrel.