Futures Focus

The SET50 Index closed last week at 1,130.91 points, an increase of 1.25 points or 0.1% from the previous week. The most traded SET50 Futures contract S50M18 (expiring in June 2018) was settled at 1,129.30 points, an increase of 2.2 points or 0.2%.

US stock markets began last week on an upbeat note following strong job figures. However, shares fell on Tuesday amid concerns about a trade war after Washington slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium from Canada, Mexico and the EU. Banking shares led the rebound on Wednesday, as investors believe the Fed will raise its interest rate this week. But investors were also keeping a wary eye on the weekend G7 meetings and the coming Trump-Kim summit. The Dow closed up 75 points on Friday to finish the week at 25,316.53, up 2.7% from the week before.

In Thailand, the SET rose on Monday as political concerns eased after Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed the election would take place in February. However, shares fell on Thursday and Friday as investors monitored international developments including growing friction between President Trump and key trading partners ahead of the G7 meetings. The SET fell 11.01 points on Friday to finish the week at 1,722.04, up 0.1% from 1,719.82 the week before.

On the TFEX, daily trading volume averaged 474,651 contracts, an increase of 119,756 contracts or 33.7%. The most actively traded product was Single Stock Futures with 1,558,348 contracts, or 311,670 per day. Total open interest was 3,618,442 contracts, a decrease of 121,707 or 3.25%.