Regional equity markets advanced at the end of the week following remarks by United States Federal Reserve officials, which eased market apprehension regarding potential interest rate hikes during their upcoming policy meeting. The cooling expectations contributed to a declining dollar and lowered pressures on government bond yields across international markets. In Thailand, the benchmark SET Index staged a noticeable recovery, supported by a strengthening domestic currency, steady inflation figures, and renewed net purchases by international investors, despite concluding just shy of the 1,600-point threshold. Meanwhile, global economic developments presented mixed signals, including elevated inflation in the Eurozone and South Korea, strong growth in South Korean semiconductor exports, and an expanding trade deficit in the United States driven by resilient domestic consumption.
Source : Bangkok Post
