The Stock Exchange of Thailand index plunges, while other Southeast Asian stock markets ended on a weak note on Thursday ahead of a long weekend.
The SET index ended 18.07 points or 1.01% lower to close at 1,766.92, in trade worth 84.24 billion baht. Most sectors took a beating, with only healthcare stocks hitting positive territory.
Natural gas provider PTT Plc ended 2.14 % lower, followed by Airports of Thailand Plc which lost 2.6%.
Singapore shares breathed life into otherwise subdued regional markets, bouncing back from losses in the previous session after data showed a rise in bank lending last month.
Total bank lending in the city-state rose 3.8% in February from a year earlier and 0.1 % from January.
The gains were driven by financials such as Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, DBS Group Holdings and United Overseas Bank, each rising over 1.5%.
For the month, however, the benchmark was down 2.5%.
Indonesian shares rose 0.78%, gaining traction in late trade as consumer staples lifted the index, with all sectors ending in positive territory.
Astra International Tbk PT provided the biggest boost, ending up 2.8%.
Vietnam shares finished 0.44% lower with consumer staples leading the losses, as investors seemed to shrug off a 7.38% growth in its economy for the January-March quarter.
The index snapped three straight session of gains, but was headed for a monthly rise of over 4%.
The Philippine market is closed on Thursday and Friday for holidays, while markets in Singapore and Indonesia will be closed on Friday.
|
Southeast Asian stock markets |
|
||
|
|
Current |
Previous |
% change |
|
Thailand |
1,766.92 |
1,784.99 |
-1.01 |
|
Indonesia |
6,188.98 |
6,140.83 |
+0.78 |
|
Malaysia |
1,856.35 |
1,857.87 |
-0.08 |
|
Philippines |
|
|
Closed for holidays |
|
Singapore |
3,427.97 |
3,382.78 |
+1.34 |
|
Vietnam |
1,167.03 |
1,172.24 |
-0.44 |
