Random thoughts: A bit of media, A bit of pomp, and a break
A bit of media
For a rare moment I actually appeared in some media outlets over the past 2 months.
Longtunman
Longtunman – Great shop, lovely folk, think they’re the best at what they do in the region – why? They made me sound half intelligent through the wonders of editing in this interview (from a 2 hour conversation to a 1 hour conversation). Plus they have some 14 million subs throughout all the social media platforms. It’s incredible what they’ve built in such a short time.
Dr Amonthep is fantastic, he has great analyse, loved his viewpoints, if you’re working with CIMB in some manner, his work is worth your time.
The interview itself was recorded back in mid July and published sometime in August.
From memory I said a politer version of “Thailand has been run by a bunch of corrupt donkey kongs that any slight improvement in the outlook is going to give us decent returns” And thanks to Mr. T, I’m sorry his daughter, announcing a few policies, it happened.
Bloomberg
Thai Stocks Set For Best Day Since 2020 as Policy Risks Fizzle – Bloomberg
Wow, ok I’ve peaked, career is done – one joke I read decades ago is that my goal is be profiled in the Economist obituary section, still some decades to go for this.
Unsolicited advice
Though if you’re a younger fellow entering into the industry this is how the Bloomberg reporter and I got know one another. During covid, I saw a fellow on twitter, Michael (https://x.com/MikeFritzell) posting great comments and promoting his substack AsianCenturyStocks (https://www.asiancenturystocks.com). He and I had a conversation online, and now I’ve been a paying subscriber to his substack for 3 years, its fantastic. Subscribers get access to a telegram group chat and there’s a gentlemen nicknamed Leo (https://x.com/leomironov) who led great insights and long conversations in there, and so I reached out to him and we had a few conversations and he’s kindly educated my monkey brain about the commodity space and China. Next is Bloomberg, the reporter is a school friend of Leo and voila that’s the world we live in, just reach out and say hello. Beautiful things can happen.
A bit of Pomp
And just like that, Thailand went from being -13-15% in USD terms for the year to being flat. Unless something happens, it’ll probably end up +5-10% for the year.
That’s the power of a slight change in the outlook, plus a little bonus of the latest Vayupak fund that may begin buying some USD 4 bn worth of Thai equities on 1 Oct.
https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/trading-investment/40041217
And a break
I’ve had quite the 18 months, and those whom know me personally understand that I need a break from several things. Thaicapitalist is one. I started this 13 years ago for shits n giggles, I think my longest break has been the usual week over xmas/new years. To the 2,000 on the email list (1/3 are probably russian bots…) I’m not shutting it down. I’ll be back, there’s too many stupid amusing events in Thailand that suit my sarcastic tones. But I need a break. See y’all soon.
don mcmahon
thanks, Pon, for all of your energy, satire and the humor needed, so as to live and invest here in the big T. ‘break a leg’, as they say. I’m a contrarian right now. The prospect of lower Fed rates is pushing up the price of yield instruments, including my DIF. I am cashing in 50%, (10% cap gain) due to a vague discomfort about (i) the political stability of the new PM & her cabinet, (ii) the prospect of a pissed off Pawit in opposition, (iii) a vengeful, narcissistic personality disordered Thaksin stepping over the red line, (iv) and, finally, my lack of understanding of the Thai psyche and its reaction to the likelihood of the 40 MFP executives being banned from political life. That’s what kissing the Blarney Stone can do to you 😉