US Treasury mulls putting Thailand on its ‘watchlist’ as a currency manipulator Thailand’s trade surplus with the US has now exceeded US$20 billion. Bloomberg reports that this could trigger the Thai currency to be added to the US Treasury’s watchlist of “currency manipulators”. According to US Census Bureau data, the surplus reached US$20.05 billion in…
Corporate debt market in Thailand well positioned for further growth Brazil, China, South Africa and Thailand are best-placed for corporate debt market growth says Moody’s Investors Service in a report that analyzed trends in 35 emerging markets. Corporate debt markets in Brazil (Ba2 stable), China (A1 stable), South Africa (Baa3 negative) and Thailand (Baa1 positive)…
Bank of Thailand cuts rate by 0.25% to 1.25 per cent The latest cut brings the Bot’s policy rate to an historical low, which the bank maintained from April 2009 to July 2010 during the subprime global financial crisis. On 6 November 2019, the MPC voted 5 to 2 to reduce the policy rate by…
Thailand’s loss of trade privileges with US is credit negative The development is credit negative because Thailand’s export-oriented economy is in a difficult external environment given that a broad-based export slowdown and strong Thai baht are weakening the competitiveness of goods exporters and the country’s tourism industry. Thailand’s loss of trade privileges with US is…
Large Thai business feeling the effects of US-China trade war, rise of the baht So what do Thailand’s big banks say? The ongoing US-China trade war and the appreciation of the Thai baht against other currencies is now starting to impact larger corporates in Thailand. Wasin Saiyawan, senior executive vice president and chief of wholesale…
Thailand prepares for cryptocurrency challenges Thailand is moving toward a cashless society. Bank notes and coins are set to become obsolete while transactions via electronic payments have increased over recent years. The plan to launch a new currency next year is ambitious and controversial, as Libra is scrutinized by central banks around the globe, including…
Thailand’s soaring baht reaches six-year high In early 2019, the BOT did not seem concerned about the Thai baht’s appreciation, as a strong currency can actually benefit Thai importers and those who have foreign currency debts The Thai baht has been the best performing currency in emerging Asia since 2018. On a year-on-year basis, it…
Thailand’s dangerous debt addiction Thailand is now a top-ten highest household debt country among 89 countries worldwide and third highest among 29 Asian countries. Thailand’s household debt has steadily increased to 78.6% of the country’s gross domestic products (GDP), or Bt12.8 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year, according to figures from the National…
Thailand’s four challenges : Debt, inequality, plastics and climate change Thais tended to get into debt faster, for longer and for higher amounts. Indebtedness starts as soon as they begin to work at age 25 and can increase until 56 years old. Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob, in his speech entitled “Formulating for the…
BOT cuts key rate from 1.75 to 1.50 percent The Thai economy was expected to expand at a lower rate than previously assessed and below potential due to the slowdown of trading partner economies and global trade For the first time since 2015, the Bank of Thailand cut its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, by…