1. EC to push ahead with formula : FFP looks set to take biggest list-seats hit . The Election Commission (EC) will press ahead with its controversial method to calculate and allocate partylist seats. Bangkok Post

2. Central bank’s net loss shrank to B154bn in 2018 : The Bank of Thailand’s net loss narrowed to 154 billion baht in 2018 from 271 billion in the previous year, largely due to interest earned from foreign reserve investment surpassing interest paid for the first time in several years. Bangkok Post

3. Cabinet OKs extending visa fee waiver : The cabinet yesterday gave the nod to extending the waiver of visa-onarrival fees for visitors from 21 nations for another six months to ward off an economic slump during the transition to a new government. Bangkok Post

4. Dhanin exits CPF chair to address other duties : Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont has resigned as chairman of the board from SET-listed Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc, Thailand’s largest agriculture conglomerate, citing how other business is keeping him from performing his CPF duties. Bangkok Post

5. Govt seeks talks with Hopewell over court compensation order : Transport ministry and SRT told to pay bt11.88 billion over scrapped contract . The government said yesterday that it would consider negotiating with Hopewell (Thailand) Co to settle the Bt11.88 billion compensation awarded by the Supreme Administrative Court. The Nation

6. Fall in March export leads to 1.6% contraction for first quarter : Thai exports in March were down 4.9 per cent year on year (YoY), leading to a 1.6-per-cent contraction in exports in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Commerce Ministry. The Nation

7. Mingkwan stands by Pheu Thai ally : New Economics Party leader Mingkwan Sangsuwan yesterday insisted the party would not jump ship and join the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) in a coalition government, as the party dismissed a claim by several party members it was being dominated by outsiders. Bangkok Post

8. Stimulus package vowed within weeks : Cabinet will consider seven measures to jump-start slowing economy. An economic stimulus package containing seven measures worth a combined 20 billion baht will seek the cabinet’s approval in the next two weeks with the aim of preventing the economy from losing momentum and growing below its potential. Bangkok Post

9. Central bank mulls new methods to curb DSR : The Bank of Thailand has floated the idea of curbing the debt service ratio (DSR) by requiring lenders to change the computation method based on a borrower’s overall debt repayment ability instead of each lending product as a means to control household debt and eliminate financial stability risks. Bangkok Post

10. Critics slam aid for big three : Academics and consumer groups voiced strong opposition yesterday to Section 44 assistance for the three major telecom operators, saying the move would cost the state 19.7 billion baht and enrich the three firms through reduced financial costs stemming from an extension of their last 900-megahertz licence payment. Bangkok Post