Shopping for nation to be proposed to cabinet soon. The period will be 2 weeks in December in order to stimulate consumption in yearend with the same condition like that of last year, tax break for Bt15000/person. (Bangkok Biz, 3/11/17)
Private sectors postponed EEC investment, waiting for clearer laws. The 10M2017 filing for manufacturing setting approval (Ror-Ngor 4) in The West of Thailand is -9%YoY. (Thai Post, 3/11/17)
Thailand Future Fund worth Bt44bn to be sold in beginning of 2018. This is to prepare for investment in outer ring projects in Bangkok. (Thai Post, 3/11/17)
Shopping tax break runs Nov 11-Dec 3. The Revenue Department estimates that 22.5 billion baht worth of shopping tax breaks will be claimed this year, costing the government 2 billion in revenue while spurring 10 billion baht in spending. (Bangkok Post, 8/11/17)
Panel says 2018 growth could hit 4%. The private sector expects Thailand’s economic recovery to continue, with growth of 3.5-4% in 2018 and private investment playing a large role as the stronger global economy boosts exports, according to a key panel. (Bangkok Post, 8/11/17)
BoT holds key rate steady, cites better growth outlook. Thailand’s central bank left its nearrecord-low key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, as widely expected, amid signs of a strengthening economy and benign inflation. The Bank of Thailand (BoT) said at its policy review current interest rates remain supportive of growth and it expects the economy to grow faster than previously assessed. (Bangkok Post, 9/11/17)
Growth in U.S. Manufacturing Eases From a 13-Year High. The ISM’s measure remained above the 57.1 average so far this year through September, consistent with a firming-up in the industry. Growth in manufacturing has been steady for the better part of two years, fueled by consumer spending and business investment. Exports have also rebounded this year as companies take advantage of a weak U.S. dollar that’s made American goods more attractive to overseas customers. (Bloomberg, 6/11/17)
Oil prices are surging as a Saudi political purge sparks ‘runaway market’. Oil prices surged to their highest levels since the summer of 2015 on Monday as a major political shakeup in Saudi Arabia underpinned a rally fueled by geopolitical risk, analysts said. Crude futures hit the new highs overnight after the powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman coordinated the arrest of several princes and ministers, ostensibly as part of crackdown on corruption. (CNBC, 7/11/17)
BOJ’s Kuroda says has confidence in strengthening economy, price outlook. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Monday that economic growth is gathering momentum and increasing the chances of inflation hitting his 2 percent target, reinforcing market expectations that no additional stimulus is forthcoming. Kuroda said the central bank was closely watching the economic effects of prolonged ultra-easy policy, particularly the damage it could inflict on financial institutions’ margins. (Reuters, 7/11/17)
US weekly jobless claims total 239,000, vs 231,000 expected. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, suggesting that claims processing disrupted by recent hurricanes has begun to improve. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 239,000 for the week ended Nov. 4, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims had fallen to 229,000 in the prior week, near a 44-1/2-year low, and remain well below the 300,000 level generally regarded as signaling a healthy labor market. (CNBC, 10/11/17)
