Mr. Sornchai Suneta, First Executive Vice President of the Wealth & Investment Product at Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), stated that the outlook for Asian equities remains positive, supported by signals of interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). This move opens the way for central banks in the region to lower their rates accordingly. Simultaneously, the weakening U.S. dollar serves as a significant positive factor, enhancing the attractiveness of Asian capital markets compared to those in developed countries.
Regarding the Thai baht, SCB EIC stated that Thai currency has appreciated by more than 8% since the beginning of the year, marking its highest level in four years and surpassing regional competitors. By the end of this year, the baht is expected to fluctuate within the range of 31–32 per U.S. dollar. SCB CIO views the “baht appreciation period” as a golden opportunity for Thai investors planning to use the U.S. dollar in the long term.
SCB is preparing to launch the SCB Asia Pacific Equity Absolute Return USD Fund (SCBUSDABSAP) for the first time during October 7–15, 2025. With a risk level of 6, the fund is suitable for investors who can tolerate relatively high risk and offers an opportunity to invest in the U.S. dollar with a minimum starting investment of only USD 30.
This fund was established by SCB Asset Management Company Limited (SCBAM) to invest solely in a single master fund: BlackRock Systematic Asia Pacific Equity Absolute Return Fund (Class D2 U.S. Dollar), managed by BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A. The strategy uses active management aiming to generate positive returns in any market condition, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles through both Long and Synthetic Short positions in companies located in the Asia-Pacific, including Australia and Japan.
From the establishment of the master fund on February 22, 2017, to August 31, 2025, the fund has achieved positive monthly returns in 70 out of 102 months, surpassing the MSCI AC Asia Pacific benchmark which achieved this in only 61 months. Additionally, it has produced higher average annual returns than the overall market, reflecting the capability of BlackRock’s management team employing in-depth data and AI technology to analyze more than 4,500 regional companies, aiming for consistent and sustainable long-term returns.
