2026 Kaohoon

• Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met in Wellington on August 21, 2026, to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. • The two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, a move designed to formally strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two nations. • In economic news, South Korea reported a significant surge in trade, with total exports reaching $55.2 billion during the first 20 days of August 2026.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,609.99 points on August 20, 2026, marking a slight increase of 0.23 points (0.01%) with a total trading value of THB 82.36 billion. • The market experienced an early surge driven by positive overseas trends and investor reactions to declining bond yields following U.S. Treasury movements. • This activity highlights the Thai market's sensitivity to global macroeconomic shifts and U.S. monetary indicators.

• On August 14, 2026, the Thai and foreign stock markets experienced a period of selective speculation as investors focused on individual company earnings results. • The market lacked major driving factors, leading investors to adopt a cautious strategy based on specific corporate performance rather than broad trends. • Analysts predict the Thai market will continue to move sideways into next week due to the absence of strong catalysts.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,612.00 points on August 7, 2026, marking a decrease of 2.64 points or 0.16%. • Total trading value for the session reached THB 63.39 billion, though the market primarily traded sideways within a narrow range. • Analysts attribute the decline and weaker trading volume to a lack of new supporting factors to drive market momentum.

• The Bank of Thailand reported that the overall Thai economy experienced a clear slowdown during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter. • This development was highlighted in the July 31, 2026, market roundup by Kaohoon International, which tracks significant shifts in both domestic and foreign stock markets. • The decline in economic momentum signals potential challenges for Thailand's growth trajectory and may influence investor sentiment in the regional stock market.

• The Federal Reserve committee maintained stability in a split 9-3 vote on July 30, 2026, despite opposition from the Cleveland, Dallas, and Minneapolis banks. • Three committee members advocated for a quarter-point interest rate increase, signaling internal discord regarding the current trajectory of the global economy. • South Korea’s KOSPI index experienced a sharp correction, plummeting approximately 40% from its peak on June 22.

• The Thai government maintained the VAT rate at 7% on 27 July 2026 to reduce living costs and boost consumer spending. • Thai exporters face a 2.5% price gap due to the U.S. 12.5% import levy on Thai products under Section 301. • This price gap puts Thai exporters at a disadvantage compared to rivals in Indonesia and Malaysia, who are taxed at 10%.