Thailand Opens Fund Investment to Housing Bank Savings Bonds
Thailand's securities regulator is expanding mutual fund investment options by allowing Government Housing Bank savings bonds as eligible assets, opening a second public comment period through early September to standardize investment crite
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is accepting comments on a draft announcement to add Government Housing Bank (GHB) savings bonds as an eligible investment asset for mutual funds, expanding portfolio management options and fund liquidity. The regulation would standardize investment criteria for GHB savings bonds across state financial institutions while maintaining safeguards against concentration risk. Following the Capital Market Supervisory Board's approval in June 2026 to allow retail mutual funds, institutional investor funds, and provident funds to invest in GHB bonds, the SEC opened a first public comment period from June 18 to July 18, 2026, which received unanimous support. The SEC is now holding a second comment period on the draft announcement, classifying GHB bonds as "deposits or deposit-equivalent instruments" to ensure consistent investment standards and greater flexibility in portfolio management, while keeping fund managers subject to existing investment rules, risk diversification requirements, asset suitability assessments, and disclosure obligations. Fund managers must continue following concentration risk controls, including limits on exposure to individual issuers and restrictions on investments within the same business group, to protect investor interests. The public can submit comments through the SEC website or by email to tonyada@sec.or.th or pattarav@sec.or.th until September 2, 2026.
