Futures Focus

The SET50 Index closed last week at 987.44 points, an increase of 1.73 points, or 0.18% from the previous week. The most traded SET50 Futures contract S50Z21 (expiring in October 2021) was settled at 986.50 points, an increase of 3.3 points, or 0.34%.

US shares jumped on Thursday amid forecastbeating results from big banks, while employment and inflation data soothed fears over the outlook for higher interest rates. While many economists believe Covid-driven price increases may have peaked, Federal Reserve policymakers remain divided over inflation and what to do about it. The Dow gained another 382 points (1.1%) on Friday to finish the week at 35,294.76, an increase of 1.6% from 34,746.25 the week before.

The SET traded in a narrow range as investors sought out shares of firms that will benefit from the broader reopening of the economy on Nov 1 and a return of foreign tourism. The index dipped 2.63 points on Friday to finish the week at 1,638.34, almost unchanged from 1,639.41 the previous week.

On the TFEX, daily average trading volume was 640,765 contracts, a decrease of 67,993 contracts, or 9.6% from the previous week. The most actively traded product was Single Stock Futures with 1,568,883 contracts, or 392,221 per day. Total market open interest was 4,442,194 contracts, an increase of 175,732 or 4.1%.