In brief
Thailand’s investor confidence index dropped to 100.86 in October, slipping into a neutral zone, as geopolitical tensions and domestic slowdown weighed on sentiment. The decline spanned all investor categories, with retail and foreign investors reporting the largest drops. Despite the negative trend, investors cited listed company earnings, government stimulus and a tourism rebound as key positive drivers.
Thai market sentiment fell sharply in October, with the investor confidence index sliding to 100.86 from 148.72 in September, marking a shift from a bullish to a neutral stance, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) said the decline was felt across all investor types: retail investors sank 13.2 percent, proprietary investors 19.2 percent, domestic institutional investors 7.4 percent, and foreign investors 49.2 percent. The index is a gauge of market expectations for the next three months.
FETCO officials highlighted that listed companies’ earnings remained the strongest driver of recent positivity, followed by government‑backed economic stimulus and a recovery in the tourism sector. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index traded within a narrow band in October, pressured by Middle East conflict, high energy costs, and U.S. Treasury yields, FETCO chairman Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn explained, yet said continued growth in Thai exports—especially digital and electronic products—lent the market support.
Looking forward, Paiboon noted that investors are tracking the implications of the U.S. midterm elections, federal reserve policy, and geopolitical tensions, while domestically the focus remains on third‑quarter earnings, flood‑relief and consumption stimulus measures, and the high‑season tourism recovery.
