Thai stocks seen range-bound, banks may be bought

BANGKOK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Thai stocks are likely to trade
in a narrow range in cautious trade on Monday, a day ahead of
an Election Commission ruling that could lead to the
dissolution of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), analysts
said.

The commission was due to rule on whether the party itself
was implicated in the electoral fraud of which a senior party
leader has been convicted. It will pass its findings to the
Constitutional Court, which will then decide how to proceed.

"Domestic politics should keep investors sitting on the
ringside, while lower oil prices should help draw some buying
of property firms .SETPR and banks .SETB," KTB Securities
strategist Charoen Iampattanatham said.

The main index .SETI is expected to move in a range
between 700 and 710, analysts said.

On Friday the benchmark SET index closed up 0.27 percent at
a five-week closing high of 707.48. Click [TH/TRADING01] for
cumulative trading value by investor type.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 0135 GMT ------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1298.2 0.41% 5.270
USD/JPY JPY= 110.28 -0.21% -0.230
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.8556 -- 0.008
SPOT GOLD XAU= 795.45 1.27% 9.950
US CRUDE CLc1 114.66 0.78% 0.890
DOW JONES .DJI 11659.90 0.38% 43.97
ASIA ADRS .BKAS 137.18 -0.72% -1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
MARKET SUMMARY > Oil rises over $1 on Gulf of Mexico storm
threat [O/R] > Wall St Week Ahead: Oil's fall, dollar's
rise key to gains[.N] > Dollar hits 6-mth high vs euro on
growth worry, oil [USD/] > TREASURIES-Yields at 1-mth low as
inflation fears recede [US/] > Gold advances after sell-off but
bear mood stays [GOL/]

STOCKS AND FACTORS TO WATCH

- Total Access Communication PCL DTAC.BK

The second-largest mobile phone firm told the stock
exchange it had won approval from the National
Telecommunications Commission to import equipment for upgrading
its existing networks to third-generation mobile services (3G);
it is expected to start operating a 3G business soon.

- Thailand's central bank said there was room for further
monetary policy tightening this year, but the decision at the
next meeting on Aug. 27 would depend on oil prices.
[ID:nBKK277477]

- Kuwait signed more than $27 billion of investment
agreements with nine Asian countries, including Brunei and the
Philippines, during an Asian tour this month, its finance
minister said. [ID:nLH495151]

- For the Thai press digest click on [ID:nBKK101496]

- For Thailand's IPO diary click on <TH/IPOMENU>

- For Thailand's stock exchange news click on [TH-SET]

- For Thailand corporate earnings: [TH-RES-RTRS]

- For Thailand economic forecast: [POLL-ECI-TH-RTRS]
($1=33.81 Baht)
(Reporting by Arada Therdthammakun; Editing by Alan Raybould)