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Published on February 15, 2008

"Japanese investors are the first foreign group that the SET will visit this year. They are keen on the Thai stock market and generally invest for the long term," SET president Patareeya Benjapholchai said yesterday.

This will be the first overseas trip since the SET had to cancel a visit to Japan because of the 2006 coup.

The SET Index closed 2.70 points up at 832.11 yesterday.

The SET said in its statement yesterday that it had accepted an invitation from Capital Nomura Securities and Nomura Securities to a presentation in Tokyo from March 17-19.

As well as Japanese investors, leading Thai listed companies will attend, including Siam Commercial Bank representing the bourse's Financials Industry Group, PTT from the Resources Industry Group and Amata Corp from the Property and Construction Industry Group.

"Trading by Japanese investors has increased from Bt3.85 billion in 2005 to Bt4.71 billion in 2006 and Bt6.9 billion in 2007 - an 80-per-cent increase over the past two years," Patareeya said.

Japan has also established funds targeting the Thai stock market, such as Nomura Asset Management's Thai Aurora Fund with about Bt4.02 billion (US$122 million) in assets under management. Mitsui Sumitomo Asset Management has the Thailand High Income Equity Fund with about Bt1.7 billion in assets.

Several Japanese securities and asset-management firms have visited the SET and wish to set up a specific Thai investment fund, Patareeya said.

The general election has brought greater clarity to Thailand's political situation and that has stimulated more Japanese interest in its market, said Takeshi Nishida, president of Capital Nomura Securities.

Two other invitations to meet with Japanese investors have come from Daiwa Securities SMBC and United Securities.

The Daiwa Investment Conference in Tokyo will be held from next Monday to Wednesday, at the same time as Japanese securities firm United World Japan KK is hosting another event.

On March 20, by invitation of United Securities, SET representatives will provide information to Japanese investors at a seminar hosted by United World Japan.

The Nation