Thailand’s SET Index closed October 2026 at 1,518.59 points, down 2.6 percent from the previous month, in line with the broader decline across regional markets, but still 20.6 percent higher than at the end of 2025. Global equity markets experienced heightened volatility, particularly a sell-off in technology and AI-related stocks, amid concerns over valuations, returns on substantial investments in AI and data centers, and regulatory uncertainty. These developments prompted investors to increasingly rotate from growth stocks toward value stocks. Despite pressure from AI supply chain-related stocks, the SET Index declined less than many regional peers, while net foreign selling remained relatively limited.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Executive Vice President and Head of Research Department, Chatchai Thisadoldilok, CFA, FRM, said that despite the market correction driven by the technology sector sell-off in October, high-dividend stocks, particularly in the banking and energy sectors, as well as ESG-related stocks, demonstrated relative resilience amid market volatility. Domestic economic fundamentals also continued to provide support.
The Bank of Thailand raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 2.4 percent, supported by strong exports and investment, particularly in technology and AI-related industries, alongside a substantial increase in applications for the Board of Investment (BOI) promotion during the first nine months of the year. Meanwhile, revisions to the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) have improved its coverage of activity in emerging industries. Other key developments to watch include the ongoing release of listed companies’ third-quarter earnings, which will provide greater clarity on the full-year earnings outlook; the recovery of tourism during the high season; U.S. inflation trends and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy; as well as geopolitical risks and potential shifts in U.S. fiscal and trade policies following the midterm elections.
Key highlights for October 2026
- The SET Index ended October at 1,518.59 points, down 2.6 percent from the previous month but up 20.6 percent from the end of 2025.
- Resources and Financials outperformed other industry groups in October, while Industrials, Resources, and Financials outpaced the market year-to-date.
- Combined SET and Market for Alternative Investment (mai) average daily trading value in October 2026 jumped 68.2 percent year-on-year to THB 66.39 billion. For the first 10 months, average daily trading value surged 63.2 percent year-on-year to THB 69.61 billion.
- Foreign investors were net sellers of THB 6.67 billion in October, reducing their net buying to THB 18.19 billion for the first 10 months.
- Foreign investors represented 58.7 percent of total trading value, followed by local retail investors at 27.4 percent, proprietary trading by securities companies at 7.0 percent, and local institutional investors at 6.9 percent.
- Two companies were newly listed in October: Thai Packaging Industry pcl (TIPAK) on SET and Quick Transformation pcl (QUICK) on mai.
- SET’s forward P/E ratio at the end of October 2026 was 13.3 times, above the Asian stock market average of 12.1 times. Its historical P/E ratio was 14.4 times, on par with the Asian stock market average.
- SET’s dividend yield at the end of October 2026 was 4.6 percent, above the Asian stock market average of 3.1 percent.
Derivatives Market for October 2026
- Thailand Futures Exchange’s (TFEX) average daily trading volume in October 2026 was 366,065 contracts, down 33.0 percent from the previous month, mainly attributable to lower trading in SET50 Index Futures and Single Stock Futures. For the January-to-October period, TFEX average daily trading volume increased 24.7 percent year-on-year to 526,527 contracts.
