Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Research Visit to Stock Exchange of Thailand


Despite the many challenges faced by the country's "Tom Yam Kung" Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, Thailand has risen strong to build a competitive capital market in the region.  Through our collaborator, Associate Professor Dr Wachira at the University of Chullalongkorn, our researchers were granted a visit to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).  At SET, we were briefed on the development and progress of the Thailand stock market.  The Thai capital market has been increasingly recognized by international organizations along a number of dimensions, including being upgraded to be one of the 10 countries categorized in the Advanced Emerging Market group by FTSE, and ranked number three in Asia for Corporate Governance Watch 2012, which was a result of SET’s being focused on enhancing corporate governance among listed companies. Moreover, SET is ranked as one of the top markets in Southeast Asia, with as many as 23 large-sized securities that are highly liquid and with a combined market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion and daily trading volume of at least USD 10 million–characteristics that have made SET strong and attractive to international investors.  According to SET's 2012 Annual Report, among major development highlights in 2012, was SET's cooperation with business partners which has created new business opportunities, with the ASEAN Trading Link connecting the Thai stock market with those of Malaysia and Singapore, enabling local securities firms to more conveniently trade foreign stocks and serving as a solid foundation for a partnership among the exchanges in ASEAN that will fortify and draw global investors to ASEAN.  ARI wishes to thank SET for granting our members a visit.