Futures Focus

The SET50 Index closed last week at 856.8 points, a decrease of 13.5 points or -1.55% from the previous week. The most SET50 Futures contract was S50Z15 (expiring in on December 2015) was settled at 868.39 points, a decrease of 22.08 or -2.48% from the previous week.

The US market moved downwards last week despite strong US economic data. Markit manufacturing PMI rose from a three-month low of 49.7 in August to 49.8 in September. Consumer price index rose from 1.6% in July to 2% in August. There was still concern over US rate rise after Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen said it may raise rates by the end of 2015 with the overall economic recovery.

The Dow rose on Friday, closing at 16,472.37, an increase of 0.97% from 16,314.67 at the end of the week before.

In Thailand, the inflation rate has remained below zero for the ninth consecutive month, at -1.07% y-o-y in September. The Bank of Thailand expects 2015 exports to contract 5.0% from -1.5%. In order to boost economic growth, the Thai government plans to introduce stimulus measures for the construction sector, including reducing transfer and mortgage fees.

For TFEX, the daily average trading volume was 213,870 contracts, a decrease of 73,878 contracts or -25.67% from the previous week. The most actively traded product was Stock Futures SET50 Index Futures with 778,345 contracts, or 155,669 contracts per day. Total market open interest was at 1,071,801 contracts, a decline of 73,878 or -25.67% from the previous week.