BANGKOK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's stock investor confidence improved further in February, driven by fund inflows, the domestic political situation, and government stimulus measures, a survey showed on Tuesday.
The investor confidence index, which predicts market conditions over the next three months, stood at 181.16 last month, up from 165.37 in the January survey and remaining in the "very bullish" zone, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO).
Investor sentiment increased across most categories, with retail investors up 16.9 percent, proprietary investors up 22.2 percent, and institutional investors up 53.4 percent, while foreign investors remained unchanged, the FETCO said in a statement.
Optimism over the new government's stability following the February general election, coupled with the central bank's policy rate cut aimed at bolstering economic recovery, spurred the fund inflows, said FETCO Chairman Kobsak Pootrakool.
However, concerns about geopolitical risks and the global economy, specifically tensions in the Middle East, continue to weigh on overall market sentiment, Kobsak said.
Looking forward, he noted that the domestic political developments warrant close attention, as they will determine the direction of economic stimulus measures, public investment, and the level of confidence among both domestic and international institutional investors. ■
