The Stock Exchange of Thailand and the FTSE Group will launch the FTSE SET Shariah Index on Monday, a new market benchmark aimed at attracting Muslim investors to the Thai market.
Santi Kiranand, group head of market development for the SET, said Muslims make up one-fourth of the world's population, and that Islamic financing has grown steadily in recent years.
Funds complying with shariah, or Islamic law, have grown to 153 worldwide in 2007 from 22 five years earlier, he said. This number is expected to increase to 950 by 2010.
"The shariah index will help serve Islamic investors who are interested in investing in the local market," he said.
Full details of the FTSE SET Shariah Index Series are at http://www.ftse.com/thailand