Futures Focus

The SET50 Index closed last week at 985.96 points, a decrease of 4.79 points, or 0.48% from the previous week. The most traded SET50 Futures contract S50H22 (expiring in March 2022) was settled at 977.30 points, a decrease of 9.5 points, or 0.96%.

Global shares fell as investors assessed the economic fallout from the rapid spread of Omicron. As well, US Federal Reserve meeting minutes indicated it could start raising interest rates as soon as March, further eroding risk appetites. US job data fell short of estimates but wages rose more than anticipated, potentially adding to inflationary pressures. The Dow closed down 0.01% on Friday to finish the week at 36,231.66, a decrease of 0.3% from 36,338.30 the week before.

The SET tracked the decline in Asian markets responding to the Fed, while worsening prospects for Thai tourism added to the gloom. The index staged a small rally on Friday, rising 4.59 points to finish the week at 1,657.62, unchanged from the previous week.

On the TFEX, daily average trading volume was 604,302 contracts, a decrease of 171,870 contracts, or 22.14% from the previous week. The most actively traded product was Single Stock Futures with 1,329,277 contracts, or 332,319 per day. Total market open interest was 4,134,816 contracts, an increase of 352,886 or 9.33% a week earlier.