Tourism-Retail Stocks Rally on Lockdown Lifting Hopes

Stocks in the tourism and retail sectors gained in the afternoon session on August 20, 2021, on the back of a decline in the number of Covid-19 infections in Thailand today, as well as an expectation of lockdown easing.

At the closing, the share price of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited (BA) rose ฿1.10/share or 11.11% to ฿11.00/share, with a trading value of 124 million baht.

The share price of Asia Aviation Public Company Limited (AAV) rose ฿0.16/share or 6.78% to ฿2.52/share, with a trading value of 159 million baht.

The share price of Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited (CRC) rose ฿1.00/share or 3.15% to ฿32.75/share, with a trading value of 1,067 million baht.

The share price of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) rose ฿1.00/share or 1.71% to ฿59.50/share, with a trading value of 2,010 million baht.

According to KTBST Securities (KTBST), a spike in tourism and retail equities today was prompted by a continuous fall below 20,000 Covid-19 cases, bolstering hope for the country’s reopening.

Additionally, KTBST expects such Reopening Plays will continue to gain pace next week, in anticipation of the lifting of the lockdown in dark-red zone provinces at the end of the month. Thus, KTBST rates AOT and stocks in the hotel-shopping mall sectors as “BUY,” but advises investors to avoid airline stocks due to concerns about liquidity.