Global Market Reviews

Thai shares end up 0.3% at 614.24 in moderate trade.
Rises in regional markets, trading volume on local bourse not strong enough to push benchmark through 618 stiff resistance. With central bank more bullish about 2010 economy, positive sentiment likely to help SET Index extend gains Monday, says Capital Nomura Securities’ strategist Chai Chirasevenupraphand. “Investors are likely to anticipate (an improvement) in earnings of industria sectors. Most analysts share the similar view that energy, construction and property sectors will show positive results.” Resistance tipped in 625-630 zone. Support put at 605-608 area. Among top actives, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP.TH) +0.7% at THB139, PTT (PTT.TH) +0.4% at THB233, PTT Aromatics & Refining (PTTAR.TH) +0.5% at THB19.80, Banpu (BANPU.TH) +0.3% at THB337.

Moderate selling of U.S. dollars by banks near the session’s end provided support for China’s yuan, which ended unchanged against the U.S. unit Friday despite a higher dollar-yuan central parity.

On the over-the-counter market, the dollar ended at CNY6.8310 around 0930 GMT, unchanged from Thursday’s close. It traded between CNY6.8310 and CNY6.8320. Read the rest of this entry »