Thai stocks declined another 1.1% on Friday as investors saw few signs of anti-government protests ending anytime soon.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index fell 15.06 points to close at 1,361.57, a decline of 0.7% from the previous Friday's close of 1,371.13. Turnover was 30.14 billion baht, with 4.95 billion shares traded.
The local market is down 2.15% from the end of 2012 and 17% from the year-high of 1,643.34 reached in mid-May.
Foreign investors were net sellers on Friday of 3.76 billion baht worth of Thai shares, bringing their net sales for the month to 18.8 billion baht in just four trading days. For the year to date they are net sellers of 172.2 billion baht.
The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand index closed at 1,361.57 points, a decline of 0.7% from the previous Friday's close of 1,371.13. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Local institutions were net buyers of 121.4 million baht and retail investors bought 4.42 billion. Brokers were net sellers of 815.1 million baht.
Most world stock markets advanced on Friday but gains were held in check as investors awaited a US jobs report that could solidify expectations about when the Federal Reserve will start reducing its expansive stimulus.
In Europe, Germany's DAX gained 0.6% in early trade, France's CAC-40 rose 0.4% and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.4%. On Wall Street, Dow and S&P 500 futures were both up 0.3%.
Belief that the Fed will decide to begin "tapering" its $85 billion in monthly asset purchases at its Dec 18 meeting increased after the US government reported that the economy grew at an annualised rate of 3.6% in the third quarter, its fastest pace since the first quarter of 2012.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.8% to 15,299.86 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.1% to 23,743.10. China's Shanghai Composite dropped 0.4% to 2,237.11 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2% to 5,186.
Benchmarks in Taiwan, South Korea and Southeast Asia fell.
In Bangkok, the SET50 index of blue chips ended at 928.98 points, down 10.44, with total trade value of 27.6 billion baht. The SETHD index of high-dividend shares declined 13.52 points to 1,118.95, with turnover of 9.5 billion baht. The Market for Alternative Investment lost 4.54 points to 372.18, with transaction value of 614.53 million baht.
The five most active shares by value were ADVANC, falling 3 baht to 220; KBANK, down one baht to 166.50; SCB, down one baht to 155; JAS, down 15 satang to 7.75 baht; and TRUE, unchanged at 9.05 baht.
In the currency markets, the baht steadied but remains weak after falling 3.7% since anti-government demonstrations began on Nov 1.
Only Indonesia's rupiah has slipped more than the baht in Asia outside Japan since October as foreign investors pulled a net $3.2 billion out of Thai stocks and bonds.
The baht was trading late Friday in Bangkok at 32.27/29 to the dollar, compared with 32.26/30 on Wednesday and 32.08/10 a week earlier.
With the baht weaker than 32 per dollar, it may attract Thai exporters looking to convert dollars at a favourable rate, according to Kasikornbank.
"We can expect some exporter flows" supporting the baht, said Pareena Phuangsiri, an analyst at KBank. "The dollar versus the baht is unlikely to go much higher from the current level."