Thai stocks ended slightly lower on Friday amid fears of attacks in Thailand's restive south, but TPI Polene bucked the losing trend after posting solid first quarter results.
The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index finished down 0.3 points, or 0.04 percent, at 691.39. The big-cap SET 50 index gained 0.04 percent to 46.22 points.
Turnover sank to 13.6 billion baht ($347 million) from 24.8 billion baht on Thursday.
The main index had been down more than one percent before bargain hunters moved in late in the session.
"It was mainly short-term speculation," Saengtham Jaranachaikul, analyst at ABN Amro Asia Securities, said of the late rebound.
Fears of an attack during the April 13-15 Thai New Year holidays have made some investors jittery.
Thai security forces were on high alert on Friday after receiving reports militants may be planning motorcycle bomb attacks in the region next week.
Britain, Australia and the United States also issued travel warnings for the region where a three-month outbreak of violence has killed more than 60 people.
"Some investors expect a kind of relief rally after the Songkran holiday if no attacks happen," said strategist Thanarat Isaragult at Bualuang Securities.
Shares in TPI Polene jumped 5.15 percent to 35.75 baht after the cement maker said net profit surged sevenfold to 2.3 billion baht in the first quarter due mainly to higher prices and strong demand.
Chief Executive Prachai Leophairatana said he expected second-quarter net profit to exceed the first quarter due to rising cement sales and prices on the back of a construction boom.
Top losing stocks include energy giant PTT, down 1.3 percent to 157 baht despite the company's upbeat estimate for first-quarter sales. Bargain hunters pushed transportation stocks up 1.01 percent, led by a 2.8 percent gain to 54.5 baht in airport operator Airports of Thailand PCL.
Shares in national carrier Thai Airways rose 0.85 percent to 59 baht after it resumed trade.
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