BACC to propose three measures worth Bt95bn to cabinet for low-income farmers who registered for welfare policies previously. (Thai Post, 8/1/18
Ministry of Finance has no plans to intervene in the strong THB. It believes the BoT will be able to handle it without problem, suggesting this is a good opportunity to import goods. (Thai Post, 9/1/18)
Thai exports seen rising 5.5 pct in 2018 – shippers’ council. Thailand’s exports, which shrank for three years before a solid rebound in 2017, are likely to rise 5.5 percent this year, a group of Thai shippers said on Tuesday. The Thai National Shippers’ Council said exports are climbing, thanks to improved global demand, but a strong baht is a threat. (Reuters, 1/10/18
Maximum low-cost air tickets to be adjusted to Bt9.40/km from Bt13.0/km, regulator said. This is to be fair to passengers. However, whether tickets prices will be reduced or not depends on each airline. (Thai Post, 10/1/18
Department of Highways to open two motorway auctions: Bang-Pa-In – Nakorn Ratchasima and Bangyai – Karnchanaburi in March. The contracts are to be signed by the end of 2018. (Thai Post, 11/1/18)
Private investment to spur 2018 growth. THE MINISTRY of Finance expects private investment to lead growth in the Thai economy this year, after 10,411 business operators exercised a 1.5-times tax deduction on investment worth about Bt281 billion, an all-time high. (The Nation, 12/1/18)
Eurozone inflation down to 1.4 pct in December. The inflation in eurozone fell to 1.4 percent in December from 1.5 percent in the previous month, flash estimate from Eurostat showed on Friday. The inflation continues to stay well below the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target of “below, but close to 2 percent”. Looking at the main components of eurozone inflation, energy price inflation slowed to 3 percent from 4.7 percent compared with November. Food, alcohol and tobacco prices increased 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent in November . (Xinhua, 8/1/18
Williams paints benign picture of Fed rate hikes, strong US economy. The Federal Reserve should raise interest rates three times this year given the already strong economy will get a boost from tax cuts, and can tighten more or less aggressively if needed, a key U.S. rate-setter said on Saturday. (CNBC, 7/1/18)
China is reportedly thinking of halting US Treasury purchases and that’s worrying markets. China, the biggest buyer of U.S. sovereign bonds, could be slowing down or even halting its purchases, according to a report. Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter, that officials in Beijing have recommended the Chinese government lower — or even stop — its buying of U.S. sovereign debt. (CNBC, 11/1/18)
Fed’s Evans says China has rebalanced portfolio in past, no strong opinion. Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans on Wednesday said he has no strong opinion on a report earlier in the day that China is considering slowing or halting its purchases of U.S. Treasuries. “Over the last couple of years China has taken various approaches of how they are rebalancing, balancing their portfolio of international bonds,” he told reporters after a talk, adding that he had not seen the recent report. (Reuter s, 11/1/18)
