NBTC committee called TOT to clarify its contract with DTAC to provide 4G LTE-TDD service on 2300 MHZ, saying there are many issues of concern. TOT will discuss this with the committee on Nov 27 after which it will be sent to the full NBTC’s board to consider on Dec 6. NBTC also ordered DTAC to adjust DTAC’s Line Mobile service to be in line with the law. (Khao Hoon, 23/11/17)
GDP surges 4.3% in Q3, strongest economic growth in 18 quarters. Thai GDP in the third quarter grew at its fastest pace since the first quarter of 2013, driven by exports, personal spending and private investment. (Bangkok Post, 21/11/17
Cabinet approved a bill to protect consumers. This bill is about letting consumers ask for sellers to take responsibility for quality or damages. This includes cars and mobile phones. ( Matichon, 22/11/17
Latest plan furthers expiring EEC incentives. The Board of Investment yesterday approved a two-year extension of investment privileges in the special promotion zones of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). (Bangkok Post, 24/11/17
Export strength continues. Shipments post eighth straight gain in October. Exports rose for an eighth straight month in October, bringing the total for the first 10 months to a slightly higher level than expected and raising hopes that full-year growth could approach 10%, says the Commerce Ministry . (Bangkok Post, 22/11/17)
FTI sees rosy outlook for car sales as gloom lifts. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has increased its projection for domestic car sales this year, saying market sentiment has improved more than expected . (Bangkok Post, 2 2/11/17)
ECB’s Villeroy plays down talk of taking over from Draghi. The Bank of France’s member on the European Central Bank’s Governing Council played down talk on Thursday he was in the running to take over from Mario Draghi as the central bank’s president in 2019. “This is not a subject of discussion,” Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said during a Q&A session at a French Chamber of Commerce lunch in London. (Reuters, 24/11/17)
UK Q3 GDP Growth Improves On Spending. The UK economy expanded at a faster pace in the third quarter, largely driven by private consumption, second estimate from the Office for National Statistics showed Thursday. Gross domestic product grew 0.4 percent sequentially, slightly faster than the 0.3 percent expansion posted in the second quarter. The rate matched the estimate released on October 25. (Market Insiders, 24/11/17)
Fed officials fear financial market ‘imbalances’ and possibility of ‘sharp reversal’ in prices. Federal Reserve officials expressed largely optimistic views of economic growth at their most recent meeting but also started to worry that financial market prices are getting out of hand and posing a danger to the economy. Minutes from the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Federal Open Market Committee meeting indicate members with almost universally positive views on growth — the labor market, consumer spending and manufacturing all were showing solid gains. While there were disagreements on the pace of inflation, and even a discussion about changing the Fed’s approach to price stability, the sentiment otherwise was largely positive. (CNBC, 22/11/17)
ECB Is Said Likely to Take Small Steps in QE Exit Guidance. The European Central Bank is likely to make multiple small adjustments to its guidance on monetary policy next year rather than any major change in language as it ends quantitative easing, according to euro-area officials familiar with the thinking of policy makers. Incremental shifts in the wording used to describe the expected path of its policy would make sense and be consistent with a gradual exit from unconventional stimulus, said the people, who added that the issue hasn’t been formally discussed by the Governing Council. They asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. An ECB spokesman declined to comment.
Bo Stenberg
Anyone else just a tad bit dubious in the case of GDP, export numbers?
Pon
Not really, and I can see the GDP #’s going higher next year should the full disbursement of government funds occur, it’ll be a 6x increase from ’17