SET ‘top Asean’ trading performer: The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rounded off the year as Asean’s top performer by daily trading volume, according to figures released yesterday. The index closed yesterday, the last trading day of the year, at 1,449.35, down 8.26% from last year. However, its daily trading volume averaged at 67.33 billion baht, up 28.34% from 2019 and the highest in Asean. The statistics were compiled by the SET, the Market for Alternative Investment (Mai) and Thailand Future Exchange (TFEX). Bangkok Post
Crackdown in virus ‘red zones’: 28 provinces to face tough measures to tackle covid re-emergence. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has declared stricter measures for 28 “red zone” provinces amid rising cases of the Covid-19 across the country while Bangkok has closed 25 types of businesses to contain the re-emerging spread of Covid-19. Bangkok Post
Compensation scheme kicks in for 100,000+ cast out of jobs: More than 100,000 employees have lost their jobs or been suspended from work as a result of the closure of more than 6,000 businesses in 28 red-zone provinces in the wake of the new outbreak of Covid-19. Bangkok Post
Govt mulls compensation scheme for >100,000 employees who have lost their jobs or been suspended from work as a result of the closure of >6,000 business in 28 red-zone provinces in the wake of the new outbreak.
Factories shrug at red zone label: The government’s decision to intensify measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections in five provinces, including Samut Sakhon, should not have a severe impact on factory operations if the actions last for a short period, says the Department of Industrial Works (DIW). Bangkok Post
Measures tightened in 5 areas: Only ‘essential’ travel allowed from now on. The government yesterday tightened Covid-19 control measures in the country’s most at-risk provinces, with an emphasis on screening people leaving and entering them. Bangkok Post
MPC: Growth may fall below forecast: Diminished stimulus and vaccine doubts. Thailand’s GDP growth this year could drop below the 3.2% baseline projection from plausible lower inbound arrivals amid uncertainties over vaccine efficacy and reduced fiscal stimulus, says the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) latest edited minutes. Bangkok Post
JSCCIB: 3 months to stave off job fallout: The government has been given three months to contain infections to prevent unemployment from skyrocketing countrywide as the latest outbreak prompts the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) to downgrade its economic outlook, with only 1.5-3.5% growth this year. Bangkok Post
Trump vows ‘orderly transition’ after day of chaos: Four people died and 52 were arrested after thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol to bring a violent halt to the formal confirmation of his defeat yesterday after he urged them to march on Congress and “take back the country”. Bangkok Post
New firm NT targets top three in first year of services: National Telecom (NT), the new merged entity of state enterprises CAT Telecom and TOT, aims to become one of the top three mobile service providers in Thailand by the end of this year. Bangkok Post
