SET up 6.54 to 1,421.48

Thai stocks advanced 0.5% on Friday amid general optimism in emerging markets and more foreign buying.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index rose 6.54 points on the day to close at 1,421.48, an increase of 0.9% from the previous Friday's close of 1,408.16. Turnover was 31.06 billion baht, with 4.79 billion shares traded.

The local market is now up 9.5% from the end of 2013.

Foreign investors were net buyers on Friday of 1.68 billion baht worth of Thai shares, reducing their net-selling position for the year to date to 3.23 billion baht.

Local institutions were net buyers of 968.3 million baht while brokers were net sellers of 136.3 million and individual investors were net sellers of 2.51 billion baht. 

Global markets were mixed on Friday ahead of the release of key US employment data.

In Tokyo the Nikkei slid 0.2% to finish at 14,457.51, as market players remained cautious ahead of a four-day weekend. Monday and Tuesday are national holidays in Japan. The Kospi in Sweoul lost 0.1% to 1,959.44 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.6% to 22,260.67.

Share prices fell in Singapore and Indonesia, while they rose in Malaysia and the Philippines.

In early trade in Europe, the FTSE 100 in Lonmdon was up 0.1% and the French CAC-40 edged down 0.3%. Dow Jones futures were up 0.08% ahead of the opening of trade in New York.

In Bangkok, the SET50 index of blue chips ended at 964.36 points, up 4.85, on turnover of 19.94 billion baht, and the SET100 rose 10.57 points to 2,118.70 in trade worth 23.25 billion. The SETHD index of high-dividend shares rose 1.20 points to 1,149.71, with turnover of 8.23 billion baht. The Market for Alternative Investment gained 2.01 points to 424.68, with transaction value of 1.36 billion baht.

The five most active shares by value were the green tea maker Ichitan (ICHI), rising 50 satang to 19.40 baht, 49% above the price at which it entered the market two weeks ago; KBANK, up 50 satang to 192 baht; Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BGH), up 70 satang to 15.50 baht; TRUE, up 25 satang to 7 baht; and Indorama ventures (IVL), up 60 satang to 24.40 baht.

In the currency markets,the baht was little changed even as the US dollar gained against the yen and euro on upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve and positive economic data.

The baht was trading late Friday in Bangkok around 32.38 to the dollar, compared with 32.36/38 on Thursday and 32.27/30 a week earlier.