Overall, 2009 was better than 2008 for the Thai bourse, both in terms of price levels and value of trading. Though buffeted by political and economic crises, both domestic and international, trading on SET improved over H2/2009. As of December 30, 2009, The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 734, an increase of 63% over year-end 2008. The highest level of SET Index was at 751.86 and the lowest was at 411.27. Daily average trading value was THB17.85 billion (approx. USD525.61 million), up 12.5% over 2008, said SET President Patareeya Benjapolchai.
The Market for Alternative Investment (mai) closed at 215.3, an increase of 32% over year-end 2008. A daily average trading value was at THB372 million(approx. USD10.95 million),or an increase of 50% over 2008. mai market capitalization was THB39.13 billion (approx.USD1.16 million), soaring 77% over 2008.
In 2009, foreign investors made a major shift -- from being net sellers (in 2008) to net buyers. As of December 29, 2009, foreign investors had a net buy position of THB38.50 billion (approx. USD1.13 billion); in 2008, they were net sellers, with a position of THB162.34 billion (approx. USD4.78 billion). Proprietary traders had a net buy position of THB1.85 billion (approx. USD54.47 million) in 2009. Local investors were net sellers, with a position of THB36.76 billion (approx. USD1.08 billion), joined by local institutional investors, which had a net sell position of THB3.59 billion (approx. USD105.66 million).
In 2009, there were 17 new listings (six on SET and 11 on mai). Newly-listed companies raised total funds of THB6.17 billion (approx. USD181.65 million) through the initial public offering. The market capitalization (at IPO price) of these new listings reached THB30.26 billion (approx. USD891.01 million), while existing listed companies on SET and mai had raised total funds of THB23.40 billion (approx. USD689.07 million). SET and mai's total market capitalization (as of December 30, 2009) reached THB5.91 trillion (approx. USD174.69 billion), a rise of 65 % from its peak in 2008.
In 2010, the Exchange will continue to follow its five year plan, using four main strategies:- Increasing the Thai capital market's reliability
- Increasing liquidity
- Building a strong foundation for growth, and
- Preparing for the bourse's demutualization.
These strategies will strengthen the Thai capital market, increasing the quality and quantity of transactions to develop the Thai capital market and the country's long-term economic growth At the same time, SET will continue to develop the long-term domestic capital market through the Capital Market Development Fund, said Ms. Patareeya.