EQUITIES

MSCI Barra, the leading index provider, is increasing its investment weight on Thailand by adding four Thai stocks to its global indices and nine shares to its small capitalisation indices, effective Nov 30.

Charamporn: More foreigners likely

The four new shares on the global indices are Airports of Thailand (AOT), Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BGH), Central Pattana (CPN) and Siam Makro (MAKRO).

These have a combined market capitalisation of 539 billion baht.

The changes are part of the MSCI's semi-annual index review.

Once the new stocks are added, the number of Thai shares in the index will total 22.

"This reflects that Thai shares have higher liquidity and market capitalisation. The increasing weight on Thai stocks in MSCI global indices will result in more foreign investors investing in Thai shares," said Charamporn Jotikasthira, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

MSCI is a major tool used by global investors as an investment reference.

He said investment weight on Thailand in the MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan Index, the benchmark that institutional investors usually refer to, will increase to 2.93% from 2.65%.

For MSCI small-cap indices, nine new shares were added and five shares removed.

The new shares are Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BAFS), Golden Land Property Development (GOLD), Loxley (LOXLEY), Rojana Industrial Park (ROJNA), Srithai Superware (SITHAI), Sriracha Construction (SRICHA), SVI Plc (SVI), Thitikorn (TK) and Vibhavadi Hospital (VIBHA).

The five removed shares are Electricity Generating (EGCO), Minor International (MINT), Ratchaburi Holding (RATCH), Robinson Department Store (ROBINS) and True Corporation (TRUE).