The volume of total transactions was Bt56.253 billion with an index high of 1,277.36 and a low of 1,252.20, while an analyst at Krungsri Securities expects the index to fluctuate between 1,265 and 1,290 owing to the lack of new factors to stimulate investment.

“The index will remain under pressure now that the US has threatened to punish China for the spread of Covid-19 by imposing new tariffs on its imports,” he said.

“This move is having a severe impact on the US economy, especially in terms of unemployment, which is expected to rise higher than 20 percent.”

He also said that uncertainty following the drop in companies’ first quarter performance will further bring down the index, “though it is likely to rebound once the price of crude oil price rises to US$24 per barrel and the number of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand drops to near zero”.

The top 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were BAM, CPALL, PTT, PTTEP, INTUCH, BBL, KBANK, AOT, ADVANC and GPSC.

As of 5pm, the price of crude oil rose by $1.35 or 5.63 percent to $25.34 per barrel, while gold rose by $8 or 0.47 percent, to $1,696.50 per ounce.

Meanwhile, US and Europe indices were on the rise, but Asian indices had a mixed day:

Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 19,674.77, up 55.42 points, or 0.28 percent.

China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 2,871.52, down 6.62 points, or 0.23 percent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 10,863.28, down 19.93 points, or 0.18 percent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 23,980.63, down 156.85 points, or 0.65 percent.

South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 1,928.61, down 0.15 points, or 0.0078 percent.

Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 10,842.92, up 67.94 points, or 0.63 percent.