Thai Equities May Face Headwinds as Markets Navigate Mixed Signals

The Stock Exchange of Thailand demonstrated resilience on Tuesday, halting a three-day downtrend that had eroded over 1.6 percent from the benchmark index. The market recovered to a level just below the 1,260-point mark, yet uncertainty persists regarding Monday’s opening performance across the region.

Market Performance and Individual Stock Activity

Trading volume reflected active participation with 5.328 billion shares exchanging hands, valued at 32.547 billion baht. The day saw 291 advancing issues against 148 declining ones, while 217 stocks closed without movement. Among the prominent movers, Bangkok Expressway surged 1.90 percent, PTT Oil & Retail vaulted 2.31 percent, and Thai Oil soared 2.13 percent. Energy Absolute and Banpu declined 0.74 and 0.81 percent respectively, while Siam Concrete plunged 3.17 percent. Other notable performers included BTS Group up 1.79 percent, Krung Thai Bank improving 0.89 percent, and Siam Commercial Bank climbing 1.09 percent. Advanced Info rose 0.32 percent, Bangkok Bank collected 0.59 percent, and Kasikornbank gained 0.52 percent, demonstrating sector-wide strength in finance.

The index added 5.64 points or 0.45 percent, concluding the session at 1,259.67, trading within a range of 1,251.35 to 1,260.47. Financial, resource, and technology companies provided the primary support for the modest recovery.

Global Market Context and Regional Outlook

U.S. equities closed with slight gains on Friday, with the Dow climbing 319.09 points or 0.66 percent to 48,382.39, the S&P 500 advancing 12.97 points or 0.19 percent to 6,858.47, and the NASDAQ declining marginally by 6.37 points or 0.03 percent to 23,235.63. For the broader week, however, the NASDAQ dropped 1.5 percent, the S&P retreated 1.0 percent, and the Dow lost 0.7 percent, reflecting underlying market caution.

Crude oil prices softened, with West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery slipping $0.12 or 0.2 percent to $57.30. Energy markets have struggled throughout 2025, posting an approximate 20 percent decline for the year.

Outlook for Asian Markets

The broader Asian outlook remains uncertain, with geopolitical tensions weighing on investor sentiment. Thai and regional equities are expected to open in mixed fashion on Monday, with some bourses appearing overbought following recent gains. The absence of traders following the New Year holiday contributed to muted volume in recent sessions, and sentiment remains cautious as markets navigate external pressures and economic signals.