The Commerce Ministry reports that Thailand’s export in May picked up 17.6 percent from the same period last year. Despite risk factors like political instability in Thailand and in the Middle East, the strengthening baht and rising oil prices, the ministry believes this year’s export will grow by 15 percent as targeted. Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai stated that export for May was worth 19.4 billion US dollars, or a 17.6-percent rise year-on-year, while import saw a 33.8-percent expansion, worth 19.1 billion US dollars, leaving a surplus of 278 million dollars.

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Thai Export Grows 17.6% in May

A severe drought and a decline in rice prices in early 2010 do not bode well for agricultural production and consumption, although increased employment in manufacturing will partly offset the impact to agriculture.
The continuation of certain government policies, especially the pension to the elderly and free education should also support higher consumption levels for the poor. The longer-term goal of reducing reliance on external demand will take time, especially given political uncertainties that hinder the government’s ability to implement not only its investment program but also needed structural reforms.

Thailand’s equity market bounced back strongly from the global crisis in 2009, with a total shareholder return (TSR) of 91% for the year 2009 against a 36% decline the year before. Ultra-lax monetary policies and massive public spending across the globe helped spur a quick turnaround from the worst global downturn since the Great Depression.
The 2009 market rally reflects the perception that valuations are about long-term potential, and that political crises in Thailand rarely have a dramatic impact on the fundamentals of the economy. If we look at the EV/EBITDA multiples of the oil and gas sector, for example, valuations are still low compared to regional peers : this is partly a reflection of regulatory risks and political instability in Thailand.
Introduction The modern Thai Capital Market traces its origins back to the early 1960s. In 1961 Thailand implemented its first five-year National Economic and Social Development Plan to support the promotion of economic growth and stability as well as to develop the Kingdom’s standard of living. Following upon this, the Second National Economic and Social Development Plan (1967-1971) then proposed for the first time that an orderly securities market be established in order to mobilize additional capital for national economic development.

The creation of Thailand’s first officially sanctioned and regulated securities market was initially proposed as part of the Second National Economic and Social Development Plan (1967-1971). In outlining its proposal for the creation of a supervised securities market, the Second National Development Plan stressed that the market’s most important role would be to mobilize funds to support Thailand’s industrialization and economic development.