SET-listed companies posted net profits of 285 billion baht in the first quarter, up 21.4% year-on-year and 42% from the previous quarter, in the wake of improving oil and petrochemical prices. Companies in the consumer products sector continued to do well, according to a Stock Exchange of Thailand statement on Friday. Three-quarters of them, or 75.3%, posted net profits, led by those in the energy and utilities sector and the petrochemicals and chemicals sector. Excluding firms in these sectors, overall performance was still good, especially the consumer products sector, with sales rising 4.9% and net profits were up 2.3% from the previous year. In the first quarter, MAI companies posted net profit of 1.2 billion baht, up 4.1% year-on-year, on sales of 34.6 billion baht, up 12.4% from the same period last year.

Source: Bangkok Post May 19, 2017 12:45 UTC