How to Buy Stocks in Thailand in 2024

Investing in Thailand has grown significantly, and many people new to the market are wondering how to get in on the action. Investing can be a simple process if done through a regulated stock trading platform. We have provided an in-depth guide on how to buy stocks in Thailand with a regulated broker.

Our reviews detail exactly what each stockbroker offers, their special features and how investors use regulated stock trading platforms on a daily basis. On top of that, we provide a list of popular shares that investors may want to check out.

Where to Buy Stocks in Thailand in 2024

Knowing where to buy shares in Thailand is crucial for investors to ensure they are trading with a regulated broker.

1. Capital.com

Capital.com is a popular CFD trading platform. Traders can take advantage of the free tutorial on the platform, and advanced traders has access to dynamic charts and indicators.

This platform charges a 0% commission for trading. If that wasn’t enough, Capital.com also doesn’t charge deposit and withdrawal fees. It generates revenue from the bid/ask spreads, and traders should note the overnight fees for specific instruments. Capital.com makes investors’ lives easy by converting foreign currencies not supported by the selected payment methods.

Traders can use the 1:5 leverage, which the platform offers. That means traders can potentially increase their profits by 5x, but it also increases the losses by that much. If an investor funds an account with $100, that enables them to control a position of $500. The platform enables traders to invest in more than 5,000 shares.

We were glad to see that Capital.com is serious about abiding by high ethical standards. Capital.com is regulated by FCA, CySEC, FSA, ASIC and NBRB. Investors needing more information about the platform’s regulatory bodies or any other queries answered can use the 24/7 support.

If investors are uncertain about how to buy stocks in Thailand, Capital.com offers a demo account. Traders can test it out to get the hang of it before depositing funds. Pro traders can check out advanced tools that the platform offers. A mobile version is available, and traders can also opt for trading indices and ETFs.

Your capital is at risk. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

2. Alpaca Trading

Alpaca Trading provides stock investments with a difference. Investors keen on using API for algorithmic trading for stocks and ETFs will find this platform to be ideal. This is another regulated broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Investors should also note that Alpaca Trading protects up to $500,000 worth of securities in accounts because it’s a SIPC member.

A key difference that this trading platform offers is that traders can take advantage of pre-market and after-market trading. The platform supports premarket hours of 4 am to 9:30 am ET, and after hours from 4 pm to 8 pm ET. Traders have access to more than 8,000 shares and ETFs. Alpaca offers commission-free trading and enables the purchase of fractional shares for $1.

Traders who are uncertain about using API for algorithmic trading can test the platform in a sandbox environment, which simulates real-time markets and operates as a paper-trading feature. The platform also enables margin trading, so the intra-day margin is 4x, and overnight trading has a 2x leverage.

3. Easy Equities

The platform is basic and steers users to open trades, so traders shouldn’t struggle to find their way around it. Beginner traders can try the free $10,000 demo account before they go live. A mobile app is also available.

As for funding accounts, Easy Equities allows users to fund any amount. Considering this is a South African exchange, Thai investors will have to transfer funds via SWIFT. Depositing funds with this method will incur a minimum charge of $10 when funding a USD account. Investors can deposit funds via bank transfers, cards and EasyFX. Cards incur a fee of 2.3% and EasyFX is charged at 0.5%

Trading on this platform incurs a 0.25% fee. The platform enables investors to fractional share ownership and ETF trading.  Beginner investors who are uncertain about anything regarding trading or the platform can access numerous free tutorial guides and videos.

4. TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade has designed its platform for beginners and advanced traders. Beginners will find that the platform is basic to use, and advanced traders can incorporate various strategies and indicators to enhance their technical analysis. The platform is available in several versions as a web version, a mobile version and a thinkorswim version, each providing distinct features and benefits.

Getting started with TD Ameritrade requires opening an account and funding it via ACH, wire transfer or check. A wire transfer and check don’t have a minimum deposit, but an ACH minimum is $50. Trading is commission-free online. Otherwise, placing trades is also possible via IVR phone system, charged at $5, and broker-assisted, charged $25. Investors who are trading over-the-counter (OTC) stocks online incur a commission of $6.95. OTC stocks are not listed on a US exchange.

More than 3,500 stocks are available for trading on TD Ameritrade.

5. Passfolio

Passfolio is situated in more than 170 countries and enables investors to trade more than 6000 securities on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Passfolio has more than 180,000 users because it designed its platform for beginners. Passfolio Pro is a separate platform developed especially for advanced traders to position themselves well in the market by using advanced tools. Mobile users can download the app in iOS and and Android.

Passfolio is a regulated broker, being a member of FINRA and SIPC. Since it’s a SIPC, Passolio has ensured equities in investor accounts for up to $500,000. It’s also FDIC insured for up to $250,000.

Getting started with Passfolio is possible with funding via a US checking account and international debit cards. Wire and ACH deposits are free and so are Transfer and Revolut. International cards incur a 5% fee and wire withdrawals are $35. Trading on this platform is commission-free only for the first 10 trades in a month, then a commission of 0.25% applies.

This platform enables the Smart Portfolio feature. Users state their investment goals and risks, and managers use that information to pick out a portfolio to meet investor needs. A management fee of 0.75% annually is charged.

6. XM

XM is a popular stock market brokers in Thailand. The reason beginners like it is that it offers 24/7 support to enable traders access to more than 1,200 stocks. Traders can also opt for equity indices. Investing in US shares means incurring a commission of $0.04 per share, with a minimum of $1 commission per transaction. Opting for UK stock trading is charged at 0.10% commission, with a minimum of $9 per transaction.

This platform enables investors to access equities in numerous markets, some including are Russia, Brazil, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Greece. Investors don’t need to fund their account to start trading as there is no minimum deposit and XM offers a $30 sign-up bonus. Investors who want to top up their accounts can do so via bank wire, cards, Neteller, Moneybookers and several other options.

XM is licensed by ASIC, CySEC, FSC in Belize and the DFSA.

7. IQ Option

Although IQ Option has designed a platform with advanced tools to help pro traders optimize their strategies, it’s also suitable for beginners and offers 24/7 support. A demo account of $10,000 is available to test out the platform, and advanced platforms are available for windows, MacOS, web and mobile.

Traders can fund their accounts via wire transfer, cards, Advcash, Skrill, Neteller and Webmoney. A minimum deposit of $10 is required to trade 192 stocks on the platform. Investors can also opt for trading ETFs and indices.

The spreads differ for each stock, and traders can use leverage of 1:20. IQ Option can charge traders for the inactivity of 90 consecutive days. The fee is €10. Also, a swap fee may be applicable of 0.01% to 0.5%.

Popular Thailand Stock Brokers Compared

Investors who are wondering where to buy stocks in Thailand can check out our table comparison of regulated brokers.

The Basics of Buying Stocks in Thailand

Before we get to how to know what stocks to buy, investors need to know how to buy shares in Thailand. Investors can follow a few simple steps to ensure they’re buying stocks safely. Here’s how to invest in stocks:

1. Choose a regulated broker: The first thing investors must ensure is that their preferred broker is regulated. That ensures the broker complies with high ethical standards and abides by a financial code. Once that’s established, investors can open an account and fund it.

2. Research stocks: Investors must do their due diligence on stocks. Just because a company is big doesn’t mean that its stock is valuable and justifies the price. It’s important that investors know as much as possible about the company, the share’s history and the company’s future. Those are some of the factors that will help investors decide if a stock is worth investing in.

Some investors may prefer to invest only in stocks that pay dividends. Other investors are concerned about stocks in a particular region. Stock selection contains many variables and depends on each investor’s goals.

3. Determine the number of shares to buy: After selecting stocks, investors will need to decide the number of shares to buy. That usually depends on the available funds, the share price and the degree to which an investor wishes to diversify.

How do I Find Popular Shares to Watch in Thailand?

To invest in shares, investors need to know how to find popular shares to buy in Thailand. Each share has key statistics and analyst ratings. That data reveals a lot about how the stock has performed and the future analysts see for it.

Investors can consider a company’s price-to-earnings ratio, which is the current share price relative to its per-share earnings. This ratio helps investors determine if a company is overvalued or undervalued. As an example, if a company’s price-to-earnings ratio is $10, it means that the buyer is investing $10 for every dollar of annual earnings. Price-to-earnings ratios vary among industries.

Companies that pay dividends share profits with their shareholders. It’s a passive income stream for investors who don’t just want to rely on capital gains.

Another statistic that some investors examine when deciding to invest in shares is the company’s beta. That measures a stock’s volatility and its price action over the last five years. Beta helps investors determine a stock’s risk level when compared to the rest of the market.

Apart from doing technical analysis, some investors conduct fundamental analysis. That includes a company’s stability, innovative products in the near future and the company’s long-term goals. It’s also important to study a company’s financial statements to see how it’s performing.

10 Popular Stocks to Watch Now in Thailand

Determining the 10 popular stocks to watch now varies from one investor to the other, and that’s a decision each investor needs to make. What we can do is provide a list of stocks that have proven to provide investors significant returns.

1. Amazon

Investors who are wondering what stocks to buy right now might wonder if Amazon is one of them. The thing about Amazon is that it’s one of the biggest companies in the world, and it has a successful history. Although Amazon’s stock had lost 90% of its value during the dot-com bubble, the company managed to pull through the tough period and recovered extremely well.

The stock has been on an upward trend for the last twelve years, reaching an all-time high (ATH) in July 2021. Investors who bought the stock in 2010 made more than 3,000% returns. On June 6, 2022, Amazon held a stock split of 20 for 1 to make the share price lower.

Since reaching the ATH, Amazon’s stock has lost just over 40% of its value. Could more downside be on the cards for Amazon’s price before buyers eventually step in?

2. Apple

Apple is the second-largest company by market capitalization in the world. It’s a multinational technology company that specializes in consumer electronics and software. During the 2008 global financial crisis, most stocks plummeted and so did Apple, but that proved to be the bottom.

Since then, Apple stock has rallied more than 5,500%, setting an ATH of $182 in January 2022. It has had a retracement of 23% since the ATH, and it’s possible that more downward movement could follow. Investors should analyze the market and determine a possible bottom to make sure they’re not buying a stock when it’s overpriced.

3. Airports of Thailand

Airports of Thailand is a Thai company that manages 6 international airports. It has become the most valuable airport operator in the world, employing almost 9,000 people. This is another stock that plummeted during the 2008 crisis but has rallied since.

Investors who bought the stock then watched it surge almost 5,000% to reach its ATH of $81 in November 2019. That was just before global lockdowns, which grounded planes in March 2020. Although the stock lost 44% of its value at the start of the lockdowns, it has managed to recover significant lost ground. The price has ranged since March 2020, but it is making higher lows.

4. Moong Pattana

It’s difficult to determine what stocks to watch right now since the market has experienced severe volatility. One of the Thai shares that have shown significant price action is Moong Pattana. It’s an international company offering family products for personal care, babies and mothers.

Moong Pattana’s price action has been extreme in the last few years, setting an ATH in May 2017, then losing 65% of its value in May 2020. Since then the price has surged 180%, with strong buy sentiment at the time of writing the article.

5. Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google, the world’s biggest search engine. It also owns YouTube and several other subsidiaries. Google was another company that pulled through the dot-com bubble and then went on to become the fourth-biggest company in the world by market cap. Alphabet Inc. is valued at over $1.4 trillion.

Its stock has rallied just over 2,300% since 2008 and topped out in January 2022 at $3,032. Since the ATH, the stock lost 32% but has recovered slightly.

6. Tesla

For about nine years, the Tesla stock consolidated and didn’t make any significant price movements. But the company’s novel products such as the Cybertruck and the Tesla Roadster, with record-setting acceleration, have propelled the stock to new highs.

It was toward the end of 2019 that the Tesla stock began to surge and rallied almost 3,000% by November 2021, when it set an ATH of  $1,246. The bad news for Tesla investors who didn’t cash out at the top is that the stock has lost 50% 0f its value. But could upcoming Tesla products cause the price to go higher?

7. PTT

PTT is a Thai state-owned oil and gas company, formerly known as Petroleum Authority of Thailand. The company was founded in 1978 and owns several submarine gas pipelines. It transports and distributes natural gas vehicle petroleum products throughout Thailand and overseas markets.

PTT patient investors watched the price surge from $3 in 2002 to almost $60 in 2018. The stock has proven to provide returns over long periods, but it is also volatile. PTT investors have experienced 60% losses, but the stock has corrected since then and recovered some lost ground.

8. Microsoft

There’s no denying that Microsoft has been on an upward trajectory for many years. After the dip in 2009, Microsoft stock rallied just over 2,100% to reach an ATH of $350. Much like many big corporations recently, Microsoft has lost significant value. Its stock price has dropped 30%.

Despite that, Microsoft is the third biggest company in the world by market cap, valued at $1.8 trillion. It’s the world’s largest software maker, known for Microsoft Windows operating systems. The company has also dabbled in mobile phone production and has been successful with gaming consoles.

9. Nvidia

Nvidia is a multinational technology company based in the US. It develops interactive graphics for laptops, workstations, mobile devices and also provides a PC gaming experience. Much like Tesla, Nvidia’s stock was dormant for many years.  But the stock picked up significant momentum in 2016.

Investors who bought the stock in 2016 watched it rally more than 4,500% to reach an ATH in December 2021. The stock then plummeted 55%.

10. Shell

Shell is a global group that consists of petrochemical and energy companies. It produces energy products such as fuels, oil, lubricants and natural gas. The company is present in 70 countries, employing more than 87,000 people.

Its stock price has faced volatility, but generally, it has ranged since 1997. Although the bottom and top of the range vary drastically in price, it’s still a range at the end of the day.

How to Buy Penny Stocks in Thailand

What are penny stocks? That’s one question investors are asking and how to buy fractional shares. In a way, fractional shares are similar to penny stocks because investors buy a fraction of a share, not a whole one.

• Most markets trade them over-the-counter (OTC), so Thai investors have to find a broker specializing in penny-stock trading.
• Penny stock companies usually have a small market capitalization, making them riskier than large-cap companies.
• Companies offering penny stocks aren’t as strictly regulated as companies on major stock exchanges, so they’re required to make less information public.

Large-cap companies, like the ones we mentioned, are less riskier and available on most regulated stock brokers.

Are Shares Taxed in Thailand?

The first thing that beginner investors want to know is what stocks to watch right now. Then, they want to know are shares taxed.

If investors receive dividends from a company incorporated in Thailand, they’re subject to a withholding tax of 10%. Residents and non-residents in Thailand who receive income are subject to tax in Thailand, whether the income is paid within or outside of Thailand.

Thailand taxes most types of capital gains, but a few exemptions apply. Investors who are residents and earn capital gains and investment income outside Thailand are not taxable unless remitted in the receipt year. Investors cannot offset capital losses against gains.

Conclusion

Investors wondering what shares to watch now in Thailand need to know everything about investing in shares before the purchase. Our guide has covered in detail share investments and how to buy international shares in Thailand. We have also detailed where to invest in shares in Thailand and how to invest in shares in Thailand.

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