The Stock Exchange of Thailand's benchmark SET Index has climbed more than 25% in the first half of 2026, ranking second or third among major Asian markets — trailing only South Korea and running roughly level with Taiwan. The index closed the first half at 1,591.24 points, up 26.3% from the end of 2025; by August 4 it had risen further to 1,623.64.
Foreign investors were net buyers of more than $211 million in June alone, bringing first-half net purchases to $881 million. In baht terms, foreign investors accumulated net buying of roughly 70.68 billion baht from the start of the year through July 22, a sign of steadily returning capital.
By sector, the electronics segment gained 12.2% in May alone as the global AI boom lifted related stocks, while construction shares rose 14.7% and tourism-linked stocks gained 7.93% over the same period. Analysts say the recovery in domestically-oriented stocks has been broadly supported by tourism, electronics, power generation and government stimulus measures.
A relatively stable baht, trading in a range of roughly 32 to 33.6 per US dollar, has also been a factor drawing foreign capital: with geopolitical volatility unsettling parts of the Middle East, Thailand's market has increasingly been viewed as a comparatively safe destination for regional investors.
The Thailand Focus 2026 investment forum, set for later this month, is expected to be a further catalyst for foreign inflows.
Several brokerages have raised their earnings forecasts, and leading strategists now expect the SET Index to surpass 1,700 points this year as improving corporate earnings, stronger economic momentum and renewed foreign inflows reinforce confidence in the market.