Bangkok  - Thai shares fell 3.85 per cent Wednesday on worries about a global economic slowdown and fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand index closed at 481.5, down 19.27 points.

"Investors were concerned that the US bail-out measures will result in a global economic slowdown," said Mongkol Phuangphatha, an analyst at Adkinson Securities.

"Then there was news of fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border, which didn't help any," he added.

Thai and Cambodian troops briefly exchanged rifle fire Wednesday afternoon, resulting in at least one minor casualty on the Thai side.

The border area has been tense since Monday when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised there would be fighting unless Thai troops withdrew from a disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Neither country has withdrawn from the area, which is claimed by both sides, but beefed up their troop presence in the area Wednesday morning. (dpa)