Bangkok--16 May--SET
Most of the 100,000 visitors to SET’s Investment Zone at Money Expo 2007 last week said they were satisfied with services, activities, and information provided. Total purchase of mutual fund investment units during Money Expo reached a record of THB 768 million, with the weight in favor of fixed-income funds. About 15,000 people attended 50 seminar sessions during the four-day fair. The Analysts Fair held concurrently with Money Expo for the first time was also successful.
Activities by The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and its subsidiaries received very good responses from visitors. From a survey of visitors to the Exchange’s zone, it was popular as were other areas where the financial service providers exhibited, SET President Ms. Patareeya Benjapolchai said.
“Apparently, investors as well as the general public are looking for opportunities and alternatives to put their money to work and to gain a stronger financial position. There were 1,108 mutual funds accounts opened during the expo, with a record of THB 768 million in funds. It is noteworthy that people were interested in the fixed-income funds. Some people with high net worth decided to invest THB 20 — 30 million each. There were 3,179 accounts opened for trading securities, showing that people are looking for more diversified choices of savings,” Ms. Patareeya said. “Thus the Expo’s objective in bringing the financial institutions to meet with clients or service users has been met,” she said.
Expo visitors purchased SET publications, for which they received a 30% — 50% discount. They also joined in making charitable donations of as much as THB 415,899, in return for receiving SET publications. These donations indicate that there was a strong demand for investment information.
SETTRADE.Com’s booth highlighting the Clock2WIN online stock simulation game also drew a lot of crowds. The dry runs of the game, held seven times a day during the expo, were full, with nearly 2,000 people participating.
Thailand Securities Depository Co., Ltd., which is a SET subsidiary, held an activity for a good cause. It invited a renowned actor and its latest presenter for e-Dividend service, Mr. Ravit Therdwong, to paint T-shirts and put them up for auction. Total proceeds of THB 64,918 will go to Baan Gerda in Lopburi Province, a home for the care of orphans infected with HIV.
For Thailand Futures Exchange PCL (TFEX), the Expo was a great opportunity to introduce SET50 Index Options to the public at large before the product launch. A futures and options simulation game--TFEX Futures Camp Challenge 2007—also attracted numerous applicants. The Bond Electronic Exchange (BEX) and Market for Alternative Investment (mai) had a lot of visitors and gave away special gifts to people interested in bonds and small capitalization stocks.
A final highlight was the distribution of free annual reports of listed companies. Expo visitors acquired about 120,000 copies of these reports in hard copy, plus 48,500 CDs containing annual reports.
For more information, please contact the Corporate Communications Dept.:
Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 / Sarinluck Jitkawong Tel: 0-2229-2037 /
Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049 / Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797