EEC Office and Jetro sign aid deal. Thailand and Japan have come to an agreement to aid Japanese companies looking to invest in the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme. Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana yesterday witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of intent between the EEC Office and the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro). (The Nation, 08/10/18)

Prayut tells Abe Thai election to be held in February. Gen Prayut reaffirmed in talks with Mr. Abe in Tokyo on Monday the government’s roadmap to democracy, with the new poll to be held in February, according to the Government House statement. (Bangkok Post, 08/10/18)

China slashes banks’ reserve requirements as trade war imperils growth. China’s central bank on Sunday announced a steep cut in the level of cash that banks must hold as reserves, stepping up moves to lower financing costs and spur growth amid concerns over the economic drag from an escalating trade dispute with the United States. (Reuters, 07/10/18)

US unemployment falls to 48-year low in September. The US jobless rate tumbled in September to its lowest level since December 1969, even as job creation slowed, likely due in part to Hurricane Florence, the government reported Friday. Unemployment fell to a 48-year-low of 3.7% last month from 3.9%, an unusually large drop, according to the Labor Department’s closely-watched. (AFP, 05/10/18)

Venezuela’s annual inflation hits 488,865% in September: congress. Venezuelan consumer prices rose 488,865% in the 12 months ending in September, a member of the opposition-run congress reported on Monday, as the OPEC nation’s hyperinflation continues to accelerate amid a broader economic collapse. (Reuters, 09/10/18)

IMF cuts global growth forecast to 3.7% for 2018, 2019 as risks rise. An upswing in economic risks due to rising trade tensions and debt levels has prompted the International Monetary Fund to cut its forecast for world growth for this year and next. (AFP, 09/10/18)

IMF Sees Deeper Recession in Argentina, Slower Growth in Brazil. The International Monetary Fund forecast that a deeper-than-expected recession in Argentina and slower growth in Brazil will weigh on the economic performance of Latin America this year and next. The region will grow 1.2% in 2018 and 2.2% in 2019. Both estimates are 0.4% points lower than the prior forecasts in July. (Bloomberg, 09/10/18)

Jakarta to topple Tokyo as world’s biggest city by 2030. The population in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, will reach 35.6mn as it is forecast to add 4.1mn people between 2017 and 2030, Euromonitor said in a report. In contrast, Tokyo’s population will shrink by about 2mn to 35.3mn because of aging, it said. Karachi is forecast to be at third place, followed by Manila and Cairo. (Bloomberg, 10/10/18)

Leaders need to fix broken economic models: IMF chief. World leaders need to fix global trading systems instead of trying to tear them down, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday, in a rebuke to nationalist politicians pushing tariffs and protectionism. Her comments come as a trade spat between China and the United States threatens economic growth around the world, with IMF experts warning of “new vulnerabilities” in the global system. (AFP, 10/10/18)

Philippines sees decade of 7% growth from infrastructure drive. The Philippines expects economic growth to recover to 7-8% target next year despite global uncertainties, as it pushes ahead with massive infrastructure spending plans, the country’s budget secretary said on Wednesday. (Reuters, 10/10/18)