Futures Focus

The SET50 index closed last week at 740.05 points, a decrease of 16.06 points or 2.1% from the previous week. The most-traded SET50 futures contract S50H20 (expiring in March 2020) was settled at 739.40 points, a decrease of 18 points or 2.4%.

The US stock market began last week by falling 600 points as Fed efforts to support the market were overshadowed by the rapid rise in US coronavirus cases. However, shares rebounded sharply as lawmakers agreed on an unprecedented $2-trillion coronavirus rescue package, which President Trump signed on Friday.

Profit-taking set in on Friday as investors pocketed gains after three days of big advances. The Dow closed down 915 points (4.1%) to end the week at 21,636.78, up 12.8% from 19,173.98 the week before.

In Thailand, the SET began to steady and recover some lost ground, helped by news of more government aid for businesses and workers. It rose 7.80 points on Friday to end the week at 1,099.76, a decrease of 2.4% from 1,127.24 the week before.

On the TFEX, daily average trading volume was 668,710 contracts, a decrease of 136,051 contracts or 16.1% from the previous week. The most actively traded product was SET50 index futures with 2,031,496 contracts, or 406,299 per day. Total open interest was 2,019,947 contracts, a decrease of 18,778 or 0.9%.