BANGKOK, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's stock investor confidence remained bullish in October, mainly thanks to the government's economic stimulus measures and a policy rate cut by the central bank, a survey showed on Monday.
The investor confidence index, which predicts market conditions over the next three months, stood at 160.66 last month, easing from 175.64 in September but remaining in the "very bullish" zone for the second straight month, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO).
Investor morale across most categories weakened, with retail investors down 6 percent, proprietary investors down 14.3 percent, institutional investors unchanged and foreign investors down 10 percent, the FETCO said in a statement.
Confidence was undermined by concerns over inflation, international tensions and local political uncertainty, said FETCO Chairman Kobsak Pootrakool.
In the first half of October, the Stock Exchange of Thailand index traded within a narrow range until the benchmark responded positively to the central bank's 25 basis point rate cut to 2.25 percent. However, foreign investors began profit-taking as the market expected a slower pace of interest rate reductions, Kobsak told a news conference.
He noted that inflation, economic growth and financial stability trends, as well as the rebound in tourism and exports, which is expected to strengthen the Thai economy and impact the central bank's next rate decision, are key factors to keep an eye on. ■
