Key Takeaways
- Thai SET Index surged 1.2% to reach 1,483.63 points, marking its highest level since November 6, 2024, driven by post-election optimism.
- Jose Balcazar was sworn in as Peru’s interim president following the impeachment of Jose Jeri, marking the nation’s ninth leader in a decade.
- Bill Gates withdrew from his keynote address at the AI Summit in Delhi, with the Gates Foundation citing a shift in focus toward "summit priorities."
- Asia-Pacific markets showed mixed performance in thin holiday trading as several regional bourses remained closed for the Lunar New Year.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) benchmark index climbed as much as 1.2% on Thursday, reaching a multi-month peak of 1,483.63 points. This rally is largely attributed to investor confidence following recent election results that suggest a period of prolonged political stability under a new coalition government. Market heavyweights such as Delta Electronics Thailand (DELTA) and True Corp (TRUE) led the gains, while the broader market benefited from a 1.2 trillion baht increase in investor wealth over the past week.
Other notable performers in the Thai market included PTT Oil & Retail Business (OR), which rose 2.9%, and Bumrungrad Hospital (BH, up 2.4%. Analysts from Asia Plus Securities noted that the structure of the Thai capital market is returning to a "normal" state as foreign fund inflows accelerate. Infrastructure and energy firms like Gulf Energy Development (GULF) and WHA Corp (WHA) also saw significant interest as the new government signaled a focus on debt-relief and investment-led growth.
In India, the AI Impact Summit in Delhi saw a major shift in its schedule as Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates decided to forgo his planned 12-minute keynote address. While the Gates Foundation stated the move was intended to maintain focus on broader summit priorities, the cancellation followed days of intense media speculation and political debate in the region. The summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continues to host global leaders including representatives from Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) and OpenAI.
South American markets are monitoring heightened political risk in Peru after the country's Congress voted to oust President Jose Jeri amid a graft scandal involving irregular government hirings. Jose Balcazar, a left-wing lawmaker and former judge, has been named interim president and will lead the country until the general elections scheduled for April 12, 2026. This transition marks the latest chapter in Peru's chronic political instability, which has seen four of its last seven presidents impeached.
Broader Asia-Pacific markets remained mixed according to Newsquawk analysis, as trading volumes were thinned by holiday closures in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Nikkei 225 (NI225) faced headwinds from disappointing preliminary GDP data, with SoftBank Group (9984) leading some of the declines. Conversely, the ASX 200 (XJO) found support in the mining sector, bolstered by a 28% jump in half-year net profit from BHP Group (BHP).
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.