SET-listed companies reported a combined net profit of 551 billion baht in the first half, buoyed by firms operating in the petroleum, services and financial sectors.
The net profit marked a 7.6% year-on-year rise, with debt-to-equity ratio standing at 1.15 (excluding listed firms operating in the financial sector).
The combined net profit was from 554 listed companies, or 95.2% of 582 listed firms (excluding companies listed on the Market for Alternative Investment index and those that could be de-listed) that submitted financial statements for the end of June.
Of the total 554, net profit growth in the first six months was seen by 459 firms, accounting for 83% of firms that submitted financial statements.
Combined revenue totalled 5.88 trillion baht between January and June, up 9% year-on-year, with gross profit rising 10.6% year-on-year to 1.38 trillion baht.
SET executive vice-president Rungtip Charoenvisuthiwong said listed companies' gross profit margins rose to 23.5% from 23.2% registered in the first six months of 2017.
"Most industries performed better in the first six months as robust sales growth came with [improved] economic conditions along with the benefits from higher crude oil prices, which rose 30% year-on-year to US$70 per barrel," Ms Rungtip said.
The service sector, especially well-being businesses, and the financial sector also performed well, she said, thanks to Thailand's higher competitiveness and loan growth expansion.
"[But] this excludes the agricultural, food and consumer products sectors that were affected by the baht's appreciation and volatile farm prices earlier this year," Ms Rungtip said.
Although the domestic business environment can support sales growth in the second half, uncertainty in the movement of oil prices and foreign exchange could affect business operations, for which business operators should be cautious, she said.
Separately, the SET is accelerating its regulatory reform project to create a knowledge-based platform for the capital market by establishing a one-stop service centre for advising and responding to queries posted by companies, said SET president Pakorn Peetathawatchai.
The centre will have representatives from the SET and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is expected to be completed this year-end, Mr Pakorn said.
"We are working with the SEC as a team to set up a one-stop service centre to give advice and respond to questions from listed companies and companies with listing prospects," he said.
The centre will also help eliminate redundancies when seeking information from different regulators, he said.
