UOB Thailand held the 2025 Investment Seminar, providing in-depth information and investment strategies amidst a volatile market. The seminar recommended building a robust investment portfolio through Core Investment strategies, diversifying investments across various assets (Multi-asset) and investment-grade bonds to meet long-term financial objectives. Additionally, the seminar highlighted investment opportunities, focusing on strategies aimed at generating income through quality stocks with dividends for stable recurring income, and leveraging President Donald Trump's policies to seize diverse investment opportunities.

Global Economic Trends in 2025 are expected to be marked by uncertainty and increased volatility due to the return of President Donald Trump. The changing policies will impact the U.S. economy and the global economy, with anticipated inflationary pressures, particularly from trade taxes. Investors should closely monitor the enforcement of import taxes, which are subject to ongoing changes and announcements from Trump. We expect to see more clarity on the details by the second quarter of 2025, with full implementation anticipated in the first half of 2026.

Thailand's Economic Growth Outlook Remains Resilient Despite External Challenges

The forecast for Thailand's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 2.9% in 2025, driven by significant economic stimulus packages and improved consumer spending expectations. Enrico Tanuwidjaya, an economist from UOB's Global Economics and Market Research group, stated, "The government's economic stimulus remains a key driver of growth. Although tourism did not perform well last year, improvements in visa policies and changes in export patterns are likely to support recovery, particularly in exports to the region instead of the U.S. We anticipate 37.5 million tourists this year, a 2% increase in exports, and a budget injection exceeding 4.5%. However, challenges such as high household debt and limited repayment capacity persist. The recovery in Thailand is primarily driven by the services sector, which is expected to lead to growth in 2025."

Strategic Investment Recommendations for Investors

During the seminar, UOB's investment advisory team emphasized the importance of creating a flexible investment portfolio to cope with volatility from policy uncertainties. They recommended that investors allocate funds to investment-grade bonds to generate stable income and reduce portfolio volatility. Furthermore, UOB suggested employing multi-asset investment strategies to diversify risks and seize opportunities for returns across various assets, regions, and industries.

Abel Lim, Head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy at UOB, provided crucial advice on managing short-term market volatility, emphasizing strategies for income generation, investment diversification to handle market fluctuations, and leveraging President Trump's policies. He stated, "In times of high market volatility, focus should be on companies with long-term stability, which are less likely to default. The three main strategies to prioritize are income generation, managing volatility, and leveraging Trump's policies."

Income Strategies include investing in dividend-paying companies with stable cash flows and strong balance sheets, focusing on profitable companies that offer strong returns on investment (ROI) while maintaining low debt levels, as these companies can withstand market volatility. Additionally, the outlook for the financial industry in developed countries remains positive, as bond yields continue to be attractive and asset quality steadily improves.

To mitigate potential market volatility, risk diversification remains key. For instance, ASEAN has opportunities to benefit from changes in international trade patterns and supply chain diversification. Moreover, gold continues to be an important safe-haven asset to help diversify risks during geopolitical conflicts.

Leveraging President Trump's Policies

The financial sector is expected to benefit from regulatory relaxations, allowing banks and financial institutions to allocate capital more efficiently through business expansions, dividend payments, and stock buybacks. Corporate tax reductions will enhance business profitability, supporting overall market growth.

Small and mid-cap stocks in the U.S. are also expected to benefit from tax cuts, as these companies typically focus on domestic operations, making them less exposed to international trade tensions and providing a safer investment profile. Additionally, the current stock prices of small companies are attractive for generating better returns compared to large-cap stocks.

The technology sector may benefit from U.S. growth policies that support economic expansion and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). However, the impacts on companies and industries will need to be closely monitored and will depend on market changes.

Digital Wealth Management

Gideon Jerome Kessel, Assistant Managing Director of Deposit Products and Personal Investment Management at UOB Thailand, emphasized UOB's commitment to integrating investment expertise with modern digital technology to provide goal-based financial advice to clients. The "My Wealth Planner" digital tool is designed to help clients create personalized investment portfolios. My Wealth Planner enables investors to understand their financial status and lay the foundation for sustainable investments. This tool processes investor data to assess risk and determine investment strategies that align with financial goals, allowing clients to receive tailored investment advice and effectively track their portfolio progress.

The wealth management feature in the UOB TMRW application allows clients to easily buy, sell, and switch mutual funds while accessing foreign funds from leading global financial institutions such as Fidelity International, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, PIMCO, and UOB Asset Management. This development enhances investment potential, enabling clients to manage their investments directly from their mobile phones.