Kaohoon

• Foreign direct investment in Thailand’s high-tech manufacturing surged to $16.11 billion (530 billion baht) in the first half of 2026. • The growth is driven by global supply chain diversification and an increasing regional demand for AI hardware and data center infrastructure. • Dr. Prong Kongsubto of Lumentum International highlighted a critical shift from copper to optical signaling, creating opportunities for Thai plants to scale photonics production.

• Capital market leaders and financial executives gathered at the 20th anniversary of the Thailand Focus conference to discuss strategies for reigniting foreign investor confidence. • Experts including Asadej Kongsiri of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and representatives from UBS, CLSA, and DBS highlighted that attractive valuations and emerging growth engines place the country in a "sweet spot" for investment. • The panel emphasized that achieving sustained growth depends heavily on political stability and the effective execution of government policies.

• The Bank of Thailand has unanimously decided to maintain its policy interest rate at 1% to continue supporting the country's economic recovery. • While overall credit has increased due to lending to large corporations for investment and working capital, loans to SMEs continue to contract as banks remain cautious. • Thai government bond yields have remained stable, resisting the upward trend seen in the bond yields of other major global economies.

• Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas presented a strategic roadmap to revitalize the Thai economy and mitigate global uncertainties during the Thailand Focus 2026 conference. • A significant investment surge is targeting Thailand, with over $10.1 billion (THB 331 billion) allocated across 224 projects. • Roughly one-third of this capital is focused on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic components to support the global scaling of AI hardware and semiconductor packaging.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,601.05 points on August 24, 2026, marking a decrease of 12.73 points or 0.79%. • The total trading value for the session reached THB 60.9 billion. • This decline reflects broader volatility and significant developments within both the Thai and foreign stock markets.

• 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.

• Asian stock markets trended higher, led by a significant surge in export-reliant economies across the Asia-Pacific region. • South Korea’s KOSPI index jumped over 4% as institutional investors returned to heavily discounted semiconductor stocks. • Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose more than 2%, reclaiming critical technical levels alongside gains in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese benchmarks.

• 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%.

• Asian financial markets experienced a sharp decline on Tuesday, led by a selloff in semiconductor and technology stocks. • The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell 3.61% to 62,584.24, while the KOSPI in South Korea dropped 7.60% to 6,221.81, with companies like Tokyo Electron, Advantest, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix facing heavy selling. • A reported breakthrough in Chinese extreme ultraviolet lithography manufacturing contributed to the decline, raising fears of structural changes in the tech industry.

• The White House issued a Presidential Memorandum on July 23, 2026, establishing penalties for economies that fail to prohibit or enforce laws against goods produced with forced labor. • The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will determine which nations are penalized based on their effectiveness in combating forced labor imports. • In separate economic news, Thailand reported a strong surge in trade, with June 2026 exports increasing by 20.8% compared to June 2025.

• Deloitte Thailand's "2026 M&A Trends" survey reveals a "tale of two markets" where corporate confidence in mergers and acquisitions is returning alongside increased caution. • Organizations are increasingly integrating AI into critical deal phases, including target screening, due diligence, risk assessment, and post-merger integration planning. • This shift matters as AI allows deal teams to analyze larger data volumes and identify risks faster, though human judgment remains essential for final decision-making.

• Investors are monitoring the Thai stock market on July 14, 2026, focusing on domestic earnings reports to guide trading strategies. • TISCO’s upcoming financial results are expected to be a primary driver of activity and sentiment within the banking sector. • Maybank Securities (Thailand) predicts early market consolidation as rising crude oil prices, triggered by renewed Middle East geopolitical risks, increase investor caution.

• Thailand has secured over $4.1 billion (approximately 137 billion baht) in investment pledges for its electric vehicle supply chain. • These investments aim to solidify Thailand's position as the primary automotive manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia as global carmakers shift toward clean energy. • Analysts expect the Thai stock market to move sideways next week as investors await U.S. inflation data and a decision on a THB 400 billion loan decree.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,591.24 points on June 30, 2026, marking an increase of 13.43 points or 0.85%. • The market saw a total trading value of THB 91.87 billion, driven by strong buying pressure in large-cap stocks. • This growth is attributed to significant fund inflows into specific sectors, allowing the Thai market to extend its recent gains.

• SCBX has enhanced its frontier research capabilities after having its AI research papers accepted at four prestigious global conferences, including ICLR, ACL, and EACL. • The research focuses on deepening foundational capabilities in reasoning for large language models (LLMs), which are the core technologies behind systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. • This achievement signals SCBX's growing influence in the fields of Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine learning, and deep learning.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,542.34 points on June 26, 2026, marking a decrease of 16.21 points or 1.04%. • The total trading value for the session reached THB 66.47 billion, reflecting significant activity despite the downward trend. • This decline highlights current volatility within the Thai stock market amidst broader global economic developments.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,540.90 points on June 23, 2026, marking a significant decline of 33.23 points or 2.11%. • The market saw a total trading value of THB 114.17 billion during the session. • This downturn reflects broader volatility within the Thai and foreign stock markets and the global economy.

• On June 22, 2026, Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,574.13 points, marking a slight increase of 1.63 points (0.10%) with a total trading value of THB 66.89 billion. • The banking sector served as the primary market driver, fueled by an uptrend in interest rates and expanded loans resulting from increased investment. • Positive sentiment regarding South Korean chip exports provided a significant tailwind for the electronics parts sector, contributing to the market's stability.

• The Thai Ministry of Finance, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) held a joint discussion on June 12, 2026. • The meeting focused on exchanging proposals to strengthen collaboration between the government and capital market entities. • The primary objectives of the partnership are to drive sustainable economic growth and enhance the development of the Thai capital market.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,572.32 points on June 11, 2026, marking an increase of 8.73 points or 0.56%. • The market saw a total trading value of THB 52.25 billion during the session. • This growth reflects positive momentum within the Thai stock market amidst broader global economic developments.

• On June 5, 2026, Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,582.60 points, marking a decrease of 12.19 points or 0.76% with a total trading value of THB 67.94 billion. • Market analysts attribute this decline to consolidation and profit-taking by investors after the index failed to maintain its position above the key resistance level of 1,600 points. • In separate research, Deloitte found that Thai Gen Z and Millennial populations are increasingly prioritizing financial stability in response to ongoing economic pressures.

• Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas reported positive economic signals for Thailand, noting that both private sector analysts and government bodies have begun raising their GDP forecasts. • Despite this growth, the Thai economy remains volatile due to ongoing geopolitical tensions that have triggered an energy crisis and increased operational costs. • These external pressures are significantly dampening consumer purchasing power and negatively impacting overall household well-being.

• Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,568.97 points on May 28, 2026, marking a slight decrease of 1.98 points or 0.13%. • The total trading value for the session reached THB 62.57 billion. • Market losses were partially offset in the afternoon session due to increased buying activity in stocks categorized under the "Domestic Play" theme.