The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is confident the Thai stock market can rise to 1,700 points if foreign conflicts do not intensify and new investment capital flows into the economy as expected. Foreign investors continue to show strong interest, evidenced by cumulative net purchases of over 75,000 million baht and July's average daily trading value hitting 87,397 million baht, the highest in over four years. The exchange plans to host Thailand Focus 2026, featuring 87 listed companies worth over 15 trillion baht in total securities value, with participating ASEAN firms to boost global investor confidence.

On August 6, 2025, Asadej Kongsiri, board member and managing director of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, stated that the Thai stock market shows positive momentum for the remainder of 2025 and has potential to reach 1,700 points if international conflicts do not severely impact the global economy, particularly regarding oil prices potentially rising above $100 per barrel, and provided global investment conditions remain stable.

Kongsiri noted that Thailand's economic fundamentals are steadily strengthening, including foreign direct investment (FDI) gradually shifting from investment promotion applications to actual investment through government Fast Track and Fast Pass measures. State policies promoting investment and infrastructure development are expected to encourage increased private sector investment, as Thailand's investment-to-GDP ratio has declined from over 40% historically to merely 15-20% over the past decade.

"If these fundamentals remain unchanged, the Thai stock market remains attractive, with foreign direct investment serving as important additional support," Kongsiri said.

However, he acknowledged global economic volatility remains a risk factor, particularly if Middle Eastern conflicts intensify and push oil prices higher, or if tech stock and AI correction fears trigger global investor panic, reducing risky asset investments that could affect the Thai market. Thailand's diverse industrial structure spanning finance, energy, and domestic-focused businesses provides some insulation from direct impacts.

Regarding foreign capital flows, Kongsiri noted that throughout the year foreign investment has moved with global conditions. Following Thailand's elections, inflows reached approximately 60,000 million baht before declining about 40,000 million baht during Middle Eastern tensions, subsequently rebounding. Latest cumulative net purchases stand at approximately 75,864 million baht, reflecting increased foreign investor weighting in Thai equities.

The exchange has also received positive signals from multiple foreign brokerage firms and institutional investors upgrading to Overweight recommendations on Thai stocks and publishing more Thailand-focused analysis, reflecting confidence in the economic outlook and government policies.

Kongsiri stated that foreign investors will focus on sectors linked to FDI, including data centers, electrical power, clean energy, utilities, and water, alongside sectors benefiting from domestic consumption and government target industry promotion such as healthcare and the seven new economic clusters.

For July 2025, the SET Index closed at 1,623.64 points, up 2% from the previous month and up 28.9% from year-end.

Carabao, the primary sponsor of the English FA Cup and organizer of the Carabao Cup, is proceeding with the fifth year of its 7-a-side football tournament, offering the Thai champion an opportunity to watch football in England. On August 6 at Football Superstar Arena, Mol Disathaporn Samutkoraphrom, Vice Managing Director of Carabao Group Public Company Limited, chaired the press conference for the Carabao 7-a-Side Cup 2026.

Mol Disathaporn said: "The Carabao 7-a-Side Cup 2026 is not just another football tournament. We intend to create a platform of opportunity for every Thai person who loves football to demonstrate their abilities and progress from local neighborhood fields to a world-class experience at Wembley Stadium, because we believe dreams should not be confined to professional footballers."

"This year's competition has been designed under a local pride concept to foster participation from football communities across all regions. Our 16 partner stadiums will serve as regional competition centers and help identify representatives to advance to the national championship round."

"Carabao has also raised competition standards by selecting high-quality, well-prepared stadiums and will build on our support for the Carabao Cup, bringing world-class experience to Thai football. In the 16 qualifying rounds, we will accept 16 teams competing in a full league system where every team plays every other team, replacing the previous knockout format where only the champion of each stadium advanced to the national finals. This year's national finals will still be held in Phuket."

For the Carabao 7-a-Side Cup 2026, a total of 192 teams can register. Registration opens August 7, qualifying rounds run from August 31 to December 20, and the national finals will be held on January 10, 2027.

Thailand's Department of International Trade is negotiating with the United States to expand tariff exemptions under Section 301 measures announced by the U.S. Trade Representative on July 24, 2025, which imposed a 12.5% tariff rate on Thai goods. Currently, 2,120 Thai product categories—representing more than half of Thailand's U.S. exports—have been granted exemptions from the additional tariff.

The Commerce Ministry is now preparing to negotiate and submit a proposal requesting that the United States add 13 more product categories to the exemption list. These products have a combined export value of $4.95 billion, representing 8.81% of Thailand's total exports to the United States.

The 13 proposed product categories include handicrafts such as silver and gold jewelry worth $1.34 billion; packaged dog and cat food valued at $973.6 million; polished rice worth $850.2 million; medical rubber gloves worth $622 million; processed tuna and mackerel at $545.5 million; non-vacuum-packed shrimp at $174.3 million; cooked or frozen shrimp at $100.4 million; sauces and condiments at $74.3 million; non-alcoholic beverages at $72.4 million; processed cassava flour at $62.3 million; candies and sweets without cocoa at $51.8 million; canned or prepared salmon at $47.9 million; and dried pasta without eggs worth $39.9 million.

Regarding structural excess capacity concerns, the department director predicts the United States may use this issue to pressure faster negotiations on reciprocal tariff agreements, with clearer results expected in September or early October.

Residents of Huai Kha Khaeng are living in terror, rushing to seal their homes with corrugated metal sheets after a tiger fatally attacked a wildlife official. Many are locking themselves indoors as soon as darkness falls, refusing to venture out. August 6, 2025 – Following the death of Sakarin Wichajarn, a wildlife officer at Huai Kha Khaeng Sanctuary in Uthai Thani Province, who was killed by a tiger while on duty, the incident has sparked widespread panic among local residents.

A reporter recently spoke with Nam Phung, 51, a resident of Tambon Rabam in Lan Sak District, whose home sits just meters from the sanctuary fence. She revealed that since learning of the official's death, she has been unable to sleep, dozing fitfully and waking in terror. She only sleeps during early dawn hours because at night, whenever dogs bark, she imagines it could be the tiger or an elephant.

Last year, she discovered tiger paw prints leading out of the forest and crossing near her house. Now, with the recent tragic news, her fear has intensified. Since her home has many gaps and openings, she has urgently begun sealing all the walls and gaps with metal sheets to make it completely secure.

She worries that if officials can be attacked while working in the upper forest areas, why couldn't the tiger jump into her home? Now she locks her house as soon as darkness falls and refuses to leave. Even when she hears dogs barking, she is too frightened to open her door. She is urging authorities to urgently capture the tiger, warning that since the animal has now tasted human flesh, residents living near the sanctuary boundary are no longer safe if the tiger remains at large.

Bangkok, 6 August 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today welcomed TransNusa Airlines flight 8B381 from Jakarta on its inaugural arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, marking the successful launch of a new twice-daily direct service between the Indonesian and Thai capitals. The flight arrived at full capacity with 174 Indonesian passengers, signalling strong demand for the route.

The arriving passengers, including H.E. Mr. Hari Prabowo, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Thailand, who travelled on the inaugural flight, were warmly welcomed by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor; Datuk Bernard Francis, Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer of TransNusa Airlines; Miss. Pranuengnuch Bamphensamai, Advisor and Acting Vice President, Customer Service Department, Suvarnabhumi Airport; Miss Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South Pacific; TAT executives; and tourism partners. The reception featured a traditional Thai welcome and commemorative gift, reflecting Thailand’s warm hospitality.

“The new service reflects TAT’s Airline Focus strategy and supports the Thai Government’s Ease of Travelling policy by expanding air connectivity, making journeys within Southeast Asia more convenient,” Miss Thapanee said. “The additional capacity will help attract quality Indonesian travellers, particularly independent travellers, Muslim families and millennials, while advancing ‘Healing is the New Luxury’ through Thailand’s food, culture, wellness and diverse destination experiences.”

Operated with a 174-seat Airbus A320-200, the Jakarta–Bangkok service offers 14 flights per week, providing around 2,500 inbound seats weekly and more than 130,000 annually. Flights depart Jakarta at 08.20 and 16.40 Hrs., arriving in Bangkok at 11.45 and 19.55 Hrs. Return services depart Bangkok at 12.30 and 20.40 Hrs., arriving in Jakarta at 16.10 and 00.20 Hrs.

The route strengthens links between two major Southeast Asian business and tourism hubs while expanding access to Bangkok for Indonesian travellers. Driven by the strong appeal of Thai cuisine, shopping, culture, wellness and beauty, the twice-daily flights are expected to reinforce Thailand’s position as a preferred short-haul destination in the Indonesian market.

The launch builds on the separate Memorandums of Understanding signed by TAT with TransNusa Airlines and Traveloka on 4 August 2026, covering destination marketing, travel product development and stronger air links between Indonesia and Thailand. Under the TransNusa Airlines agreement, a direct Bali–Phuket service is planned for late 2026, supported by integrated marketing and public relations activities to raise destination visibility, expand route opportunities and reach Indonesian travellers more effectively.

From 1 January to 2 August 2026, Thailand welcomed 378,881 Indonesian visitors. They stayed an average of six days, with 85 per cent travelling independently and 53 per cent repeat visitors. Leading destinations included Bangkok, Songkhla, Chon Buri, Phuket and Krabi, while popular activities included Thai dining, historical attractions, community-based tourism, spa treatments and beach experiences.

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