The Thai stock market has finished higher in two of three trading days since the end of the three-day slide in which it had fallen more than 30 points or 2 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now rests just above the 1,470-point plateau, and the market draws another firm open on Friday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is positive thanks to a recovery among the Chinese markets, as well as optimism that an accord may be reached in the Greek debt situation. The European and U.S. markets finished higher, and the Asian markets are expected to open in similar fashion.
The SET finished slightly higher on Thursday following mixed performances from the financial shares and the energy producers.
For the day, the index added 2.32 points or 0.16 percent to finish at 1,472.57 after trading between 1,461.57 and 1,479.28. Volume was 8.521 billion shares worth 38.138 billion baht. There were 417 decliners and 378 gainers, with 269 stocks finishing unchanged.
Among the actives, coal miner Banpu dropped 1.62 percent, while Bangkok Bank was unchanged, Kasikornbank collected 0.83 percent, energy giant PTT shed 0.59 percent, PTT Exploration and Production lost 1.94 percent, PTT Global Chemical climbed 0.88 percent, Siam Commercial Bank slipped 0.67 percent and Siam Concrete added 0.39 percent.
The lead from Wall Street is cautiously optimistic as stocks opened sharply higher and then remained in the green on Thursday, recovering from the sell-off in the previous sessions.
The Dow crept up 33.20 points or 0.2 percent to 17,548.62, while the NASDAQ rose 12.64 points or 0.3 percent to 4,922.40 and the S&P 500 edged up 4.63 points or 0.2 percent to 2,051.31.
The initial strength followed a substantial rebound by Chinese stocks with the Shanghai Composite Index surging 5.8 percent as authorities unveiled fresh support measures.
Early buying interest was also generated by optimism about a deal between Greece and its creditors after the debt-laden nation promised to implement pension and tax reforms to win fresh aid.
However, the positive sentiment was tempered by news that the International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast for global economic growth in 2015.
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