Although the Stock Exchange of Thailand composite index did not pass a 600-point mark on mid-year ending as many had expected, stock brokers has already upbeats with the result.

The index gained 32.78 percent in first half of the year, adding 1.18 trillion baht to the market value.

Foreign investors are net buyer of 30.19 billion baht with an average daily turnover of 17.5 billion baht.

Analysts remarked it is obviously not easy to make profit during the downturn amid foreign investors dumping the energy and banking stocks for profit-taking, as well as the regional markets slump.

They said 600-point mark for the second half should be easy passed and the index now is in the upward trend.

“We expect to see the economy fully recovered in the next year. It means stocks prices should be higher,” a new source quoted comments of people involved with the stock market administration.

Kasikorn Thai Securities Plc estimated that the SET index will be able to reach 700 point by the yearend on a condition that crude oil price stayed around $80 a barrel. It suggests holding shares of energy companies such as PTT, PTTEP or their affiliates.