Lipper data shows equity funds sold in the market led gains, posting an average return of more than 30% for the year.
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Mutual funds registered for sale in Thailand posted an average return of 16.71% in 2007, up sharply from an average gain of 1.80% in 2006.
Equity funds produced strong gains last year amid intensifying risk exposure, with pure equity funds and mixed-asset funds posting average returns of 33.72% and 22.19%, respectively.
Due to low domestic interest rates and the fallout from US subprime credit woes, bond and money-market funds posted losses of 4.31% and 3.60%, respectively.
On the local front, the rebound of the Thai SET index in the last week of 2007 helped funds investing mainly in equities post returns. The average returns of equity funds and mixed-asset funds in December were up 0.73% and 0.56%, respectively, far better than for the month before. Low-risk funds such as bond and money-market funds posted returns last month of 0.29% and 0.27%, respectively.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand ended 2007 with a 26.22% gain, a sharp turnaround from a 4.71% loss in 2006 when it was among the worst performing markets in the region.
Average 2007 performance of fund groups registered for sale in Thailand, by asset types:
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