Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,573.01 points, decreasing by 2.87 points or 0.18%, with a trading value of THB 58.48 billion. The analyst stated that the Thai stock market edged lower following a global tech downtrend.
However, the benchmark later pared some losses as investors accumulated banks and hospital stocks ahead of the holiday.
For next week, the analyst recommends investors closely monitor the U.S. PPI figures, bond yields, and tech firms’ earnings reports, as well as Thai banks’ financial statements.
Asia remains the primary engine of the global economy, projected to generate 68% of global growth despite facing a volatile backdrop of energy price shocks, tariff frictions, and high debt levels.
Speaking at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok during the release of the regional outlook, Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, outlined an economy shaped by three powerful forces: an energy shock stemming from Middle East tensions, a massive artificial intelligence tech boom, and ongoing global trade realignments.
The IMF forecasts that Middle East conflict disruptions will push the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP)’s economy into a 1.3% contraction in 2026 before a 6.6% rebound in 2027, with directly affected oil exporters hit hardest and oil importers showing greater resilience.
Meanwhile, Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) growth is expected to moderately slow to 5.2% in 2026 and 5% in 2027, supported by remittances and investment.
The United Kingdom’s economy recorded a modest expansion in August, with gross domestic product increasing by 0.1% compared to the previous month. This result surpassed economists’ predictions, who had anticipated a 0.1% contraction, as robust gains in manufacturing and technology compensated for relatively stagnant performance elsewhere.
