Budget for agricultural (via 15 measures) is estimated to add Bt100bn into the economy. Given the budget size of Bt42bn, the budget multiplier is around 2.65X. This should generate income of Bt30bn for farmers. (Kao Sod, 21/5/18)

Thai exports hit 7-year high. Ministry of Commerce says April-18 exports grew 12.3% to $19bn, extending a winning streak to 14 months. Imports grew 20.4%, bringing trade balance to a deficit of $1.3bn. (Siam Rath, The Nation, 22/5/18)

Auto market expands as demand roars. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reports the car market in April rose sharply by 25.2% to 79,206 units sold thanks to many new and refreshed models being introduced as well as the success of the latest Bangkok International Motor Show. (Bangkok Post, 24/5/18)

The National Council for Peace and Order(NCPO) yesterday invoked Section 44 to impose a three-year debt moratorium to help digital TV operators struggling to pay their license fees to the telecom and broadcasting regulator. This will benefit RS, BEC, MCOT, NMG and GRAMMY. (Kao Hoon, 24/5/18)

Department of Highways postponed the bidding for two motorway O&M contracts (Bang Pa-in – Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangyai – Kanchanaburi), which were scheduled for May 30, until further notice. (Thai Post, 25/5/18)

Ministry of Finance revised up 2018 GDP growth forecast from 4.2% to 4.5%, as actual 1Q18 GDP growth came in well above the 4.0% forecast by Fiscal Policy Office. (Prachachart Turakij, 25/5/18)

Oil slips further below $80/bbl on talk OPEC may lift output . Oil prices fell about $1 on Thursday, with expectations building that reduced supplies from Venezuela and Iran could prompt OPEC to wind down output cuts in place since the start of 2017 .The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may decide in June to lift output to make up for reduced supply from crisis-hit Venezuela and Iran, which was stung by the U.S .decision to withdraw from the nuclear arms control deal, OPEC and oil industry sources told Reuters (Reuters, 25/05/18).

US Treasuries are the biggest risk to global markets right now, the European Central Bank’s vice president warns .A potential correction in financial markets is what keeps the European Central Bank’s vice president awake at night, he said Thursday, discussing the ECB’s recently released bi-annual financial stability report )FSR .(“The main risk in the FSR is a correction in financial markets, particularly in the bond market, “Vitor Constancio told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach in Frankfurt .And this would be “coming presumably from the U.S .where indeed the 10-year bond yields increased and are touching 3 percent, “he said .“That has consequences of course for the exchange rate of the dollar, which then impacts emerging markets .That is the main risk for financial stability worldwide, with consequences for the euro area too “. (CNBC, 25/05/18)

Oil slips further below $80/bbl on talk OPEC may lift output . Oil prices fell about $1 on Thursday, with expectations building that reduced supplies from Venezuela and Iran could prompt OPEC to wind down output cuts in place since the start of 2017 .The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may decide in June to lift output to make up for reduced supply from crisis-hit Venezuela and Iran, which was stung by the U.S .decision to withdraw from the nuclear arms control deal, OPEC and oil industry sources told Reuters (Reuters, 25/05/18).

Mnuchin declares US-China trade war ‘on hold’ as talks progress. The United States and China have agreed to drop their tariff threats on billions of dollars worth of each country’s goods while they work on a wider trade agreement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday. On Saturday, Beijing and Washington said they would keep talking about measures under which China would import more energy and agricultural commodities from the United States to close the $335 billion annual U.S. goods and services trade deficit with China. (CNBC, 20/5/18)