Quiet Motor Expo — A number of 39,125 orders were placed at Motor Expo 2015, 26.2 per cent below the 53,000 target. The number of orders was also 7.4 per cent below the figures recorded last year. The 13-day show which was wrapped up yesterday welcomed 1.5 million visitors. (The Nation, 14/12/2015)
Japan invests in Dawei — The multibillion-dollar Dawei special economic zone (SEZ) and related projects will go ahead at full scale after Japan yesterday agreed to take a one-third equity stake in the associated special purpose vehicle (SPV) jointly set up by Myanmar and Thailand. (The Nation, 15/12/2015)
Green light for Bt100-bn Thailand Future Fund – The Cabinet yesterday approved the launch of the country’s first infrastructure fund, dubbed the Thailand Future Fund, with Bt100 billion in initial capital to help ease the government’s financial burden from the expected investment on infrastructure next year. (Bangkok Post, 16/12/15)
Kingdom, China agree to bolster trade and investment ties – Thailand and China have agreed to strengthen ties in trade and investment, while the Chinese have been urged to invest more in the Kingdom, particularly in the focused super-clusters and 10 special economic zones (SEZs). (The Nation, 18/12/15)
Fed rate hike likely to have small impact on Thailand: deputy PM – Thailand’s deputy prime minister said on Thursday the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise U.S. interest rates was likely to have only a small impact on Thailand and he was not concerned about capital outflows. (Reuters, 18/12/15)
Revenue collection Bt6 bn above expectation — The government’s net revenue collection came 1.8 per cent or Bt6.08 billion higher than expected to Bt345.24 billion for the first two months of fiscal 2016. (The Nation, 18/12/15)
Business bankruptcies up 31% in November – The Minister of Commerce said 2,722 companies with total registered capital of around Bt87bn filed for bankruptcy in November. (Thai Post, 16/12/15)
Fed Ends Zero-Rate Era; Signals 4 Quarter-Point Increases in 2016 — The Federal Open Market Committee unanimously voted to set the new target range for the federal funds rate at 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent, up from zero to 0.25 percent. Policy makers separately forecast an appropriate rate of 1.375 percent at the end of 2016, the same as September, implying four quarter-point increases in the target range next year, based on the median number from 17 officials. (Bloomberg, 17/12/15)
US Markit flash manufacturing PMI slips to three-year low in December — The Markit US manufacturing PMI slipped to 51.3 in the flash December reading (previous: 52.8), below consensus expectations (52.6). it is the weakest reading since October 2012. Output declined to 52.7 (previous: 54.8) and new orders remained above neutral at 50.5 (previous: 53.1). (Econotimes, 16/12/15)
Draghi Says ECB Stimulus Will Raise Inflation Without Delay — European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said he expects current stimulus will be enough to return euro-area inflation to the goal of just under 2 percent, though officials stand ready to boost stimulus if needed. (Bloomberg, 15/12/2015)
