Thai share prices closed 1.00 percent lower on Monday on concerns about rising oil prices, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 6.84 points to 679.68 and the blue chip SET 50 index was off 4.05 points at 475.13.
Losers outnumbered gainers 265 to 45, with 96 stocks unchanged in trading of 1.6 billion shares worth 10.92 billion baht (266.48 million dollars).
Thawatchai Asawapornchai of Globex Securities said the market was rattled by renewed prospects of oil price hikes.
"Investors were concerned again over oil prices, which almost reached new highs," Thawatchai said. World oil prices actually rose above 59 dollars for the first time on Monday, fuelled by buying from speculators and funds amid concerns about possible energy shortages during the fourth quarter of 2005, traders said.
Most major indices closed lower. Communications plunged 2.49 percent to 98.16, finance and securities lost 1.55 percent at 1,189.85, and banking shed 1.09 percent to 242.88.
But energy gained 0.98 percent to close at 13,216.06.
Bangkok Bank lost 1.00 baht at 103.00 while Kasikornbank edged down 0.50 baht at 57.50.
PTT Plc rose 2.00 baht to close at 214.00 and PTT Exploration and Production jumped 10.00 baht to 360.00, but Saim Cement lost 4.00 baht at 234.00.
BFIT Securities fell 1.75 baht, or 5.65 percent, to close at 29.25 while Capital Nomura Securities slipped 1.00 baht to close at 50.00 baht.
Thai Airways International closed unchanged at 43.50 baht.
Advanced Info Service dropped 3.00 baht to finish at 98.00, and United Communications closed 0.50 baht lower to 48.25.