Thai stocks fell one percent on Wednesday, in line with most Asian markets, with investors cashed in on gains by bank and finance stocks in the run up to quarterly earnings results.
Shares in ABN Amro Asia Securities fell 1.98 percent to 99 baht after reporting net profit had surged sevenfold to 218 million baht, a clear example of profit taking, analysts said.
The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index finished down 7.3 points, or 1.02 percent, at 706.65 and the big-cap SET 50 index fell 0.96 percent to 47.64 points.
Turnover rose to 26.2 billion baht ($665 million) from 19.9 billion baht on Tuesday.
"There is not much news around after banks and finance firms announced their first quarter results," said analyst Wiriya Lappromratana at Kiatnakin Securities.
National carrier Thai Airways rose 4.3 percent to 65.69 baht on expectations the company would report strong quarterly results, dealers said.
Analysts attributed poor market sentiment to weaker regional bourses after remarks overnight from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan whipped up worries about an impending US interest-rate hike.
Thailand's central bank kept its benchmark 14-day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.25 percent on Wednesday, but stressed the need to watch for signs of inflation.
Profit-taking ate into early gains for Bangkok Bank, which ended 0.99 percent lower at 100 baht after the bank posted a 74 percent year-on-year rise in quarterly net profit.
National Finance PCL, which saw first-quarter net profit rise 30 percent from a year ago, dropped 1.2 percent to 16.8 baht after gaining more than one percent in early trade.
Shares in Thai Petrochemical Industry, the country's biggest debt defaulter and the second active stock, rose 2.9 percent to 10.5 baht on market talk the company may scrap a plan to reduce capital, dealers said.
Shares in chicken exporter, Charoen Pokphand Foods, gained 2.07 percent to 3.94 baht, after it predicted a better second half of the year thanks to a recovery in chicken prices and demand after the bird flu outbreak.