Bangkok - Thai shares rose 2.53 per cent in value Friday on a wave of regional optimism that US President Barack Obama's stimulus plans will be passed by the US Senate.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 444.49, up 10.95 points or 2.53 per cent.

"We're just up with the region today on optimism that the Obama stimulus programme will pass," said Phuwadol Larpudomsuk, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities. (dpa)