The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) began trading on 30 April 1975 (B.E. 2518) and serves as the center for capital raising and share trading for Thai companies.
Two markets in Thailand
- SET is for large and mid-sized companies that meet the exchange's listing criteria
- mai (Market for Alternative Investment) is for small and mid-sized companies with growth potential. Its listing requirements are more relaxed
Indices to know
| Index | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SET Index | All common stocks on the SET market, weighted by market capitalization, with a base of 100 points on 30 Apr 1975 |
| SET50 | The 50 large-cap stocks with high liquidity, used as the reference for futures contracts (SET50 Index Futures) |
| SET100 | The 100 large-cap stocks with high liquidity |
| sSET | Small and mid-sized stocks outside the SET100 |
| mai Index | All stocks on the mai market |
The constituents of the SET50 and SET100 are reviewed every 6 months. Stocks added to an index often see buying pressure from index-tracking funds.
Trading hours (business days)
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Morning session | Approximately 10:00 – 12:30 |
| Afternoon session | Approximately 14:30 – 16:30 |
Before each session opens and before the market closes, there are Pre-open / Pre-close periods during which orders can be submitted to determine the opening and closing prices. Check the exact times on the Stock Exchange of Thailand's website.
What moves Thai stocks up and down
- Foreign capital flows Foreign investors account for a high share of trading, so their net buying or selling can strongly influence market direction, and it is often correlated with the Thai baht
- Global interest rates and the Fed When US interest rates are high, money tends to flow out of emerging markets, including Thailand
- Oil prices Energy stocks carry a large weight in the SET Index
- The Thai economy Tourism, exports, domestic consumption, and government policy
- The Bank of Thailand's policy rate Read more at Major central banks of the world
The SET Index is heavily weighted toward energy, banking, retail, and communications stocks, unlike US indices, which are dominated by technology. As a result, Thai stocks often move differently from US stocks.
For education only, not investment advice. Figures change over time, so check official sources before making decisions.