The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) revealed that 2014 average daily trading value was THB 45.47 billion (approximately USD 1.38 billion), considered the highest in ASEAN for three consecutive years, while the average daily derivatives trading volume reached 147,025 contracts. Market capitalization from newly-listed companies was THB 304 billion (USD 9.21 billion). As a regional financial hub, SET’s quality has increasingly been recognized by various international organizations. SET joined the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, becoming the first exchange in ASEAN to pledge commitment to the promotion of sustainability within its capital markets. In 2015, The Thai capital market continues to increase diversification and internationalization of products and services.
SET President Kesara Manchusree said that despite impact of internal political situation in the first half of 2014, SET posted satisfactory performance in 2014, reflecting in trading value and volume in both equities and derivatives. At the end of the third quarter, the number of trading accounts reached new high for the first time at more than one million accounts. This resulted from investors’ demand and SET’s activities to enhance investors' knowledge, collaborated with asset management firms and financial institutions to expand quality investor base nationwide. In addition, the Internet trading accounts jumped almost 30 percent from end of 2013 to 779,318 accounts (as of end-November), and likely to continue growing. In 2015, SET will enhance information channels via its website and social media to respond to investors’ digital lifestyle.
In terms of fundraising, THB 304.8 billion was raised in 2014 through 45 initial public offerings (IPOs). Among these, IMPACT Growth Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) was listed on SET as the first REIT on SET in October, under the ticker symbol "IMPACT", with total value of THB 15.71 billion. Moreover, Five exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking SET50 as well as four global indices covering S&P 500 Index, MSCI EMU Index, MSCI Japan index and MSCI Emerging Index were launched last year. For 2015, SET aims to diversify into government infrastructure fund and international products to serve investor needs, specifically accommodating Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) firms to fundraise on the Thai capital market.
As for sustainable development, SET has become an outstanding bourse with high potential in the region in many aspects. In 2014, MSCI added four Thai stocks into MSCI Global Standard Indices, the highest number of additions in Asia. Dow Jones included ten Thai listed companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), the highest number of additions in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN CG Scorecard showed that average corporate governance (CG) score of Thai listed companies at 75.39 scores, has topped off all other ASEAN companies, for two consecutive years. It was significant that SET has joined the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, becoming the first exchange in ASEAN to pledge commitment to the promotion of sustainability.
SET has continuously developed its IT system. In 2014, its new derivatives trading and clearing system were implemented under the same platform with the “SET Connect” security trading system. In the second quarter of 2015, SET will launch new clearing system for equities with cutting-edge technology, efficiency for international transactions and SET’s business expansion.