BANGKOK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's stock investor confidence soared in December 2023, driven by fund inflow, tourism recovery and the government's stimulus measures, a survey showed on Wednesday.
The investor confidence index, which predicts market conditions over the next three months, jumped 38.9 percent, reaching 137.00 last month compared to 98.60 in November 2023, up to the "bullish" zone from the "neutral" zone, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO).
Investor confidence across all categories improved, with retail investors up 29.4 percent, proprietary investors up 16.7 percent, institutional investors up 17.9 percent, and foreign investors up 50.0 percent, the FETCO said in a statement.
The decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold its policy rate and the Bank of Thailand to maintain its policy interest rate at 2.50 percent as expected helped boost the Stock Exchange of Thailand index in December, the statement said.
The FETCO noted that public investment, which tends to be lower than expected following the 2024 fiscal budget delay, export recovery, which is tracking an improved global trade climate, and tourism revival, which has been hampered by fewer-than-expected tourists from major markets, are factors to be monitored. ■