Somkid orders price hike curbs. The Commerce Ministry is being ordered to take more effective measures to combat unreasonable consumer product price hikes, while continuing to boost the grassroots economy. (Bloomberg, 24/10/18)

Remaining 35MHz to be auctioned next year. The telecom regulator plans to sell leftover bandwidth on the 1800-megahertz spectrum in February — the last slot from the concession regimen before the pivot to 5G. (Bloomberg, 24/10/18)

Experts advise higher FAR for affordable living costs in city. Floor area ratio (FAR) should be higher in line with rising land prices and feeder networks should be provided to connect mass transit lines if the government really wants to promote affordable living in Bangkok, say property experts. (Bangkok Post, 25/10/18)

China plans to deepen EEC focus. China plans to further invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the country’s agricultural technology as part of its effort to support the Thailand 4.0 policy while furthering its own One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. (The Nation, 26/10/18)

Germany urges global minimum tax for digital giants. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in an interview for publication Sunday he backed a global minimum fiscal regime for multinationals as Europe looks to levy tax notably on US tech giants. (AFP, 21/10/18)

EU rejects Italian draft budget, setting up standoff with defiant Italy. The European Commission rejected Italy’s draft 2019 budget on Tuesday, saying it brazenly broke EU rules on public spending, and asked Rome to submit a new one within three weeks or face disciplinary action. (Reuters, 23/10/18)

Indonesia holds key rate as run of hikes helps stabilize rupiah. Indonesia’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Tuesday as a more stable currency gives policy makers some breathing room after five hikes since May. (Bloomberg, 23/10/18)

Russia will target European countries if they host U.S. nuclear missiles. President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would be forced to target any European countries that agreed to host U.S. nuclear missiles following Washington’s withdrawal from a landmark Cold war-era arms control treaty. (Reuters, 25/10/18)

China and Japan are expected to ink ‘a lot’ of deals as their leaders meet in Beijing. China and Japan are expected to sign a raft of deals during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Beijing. Beijing and Tokyo are both looking to warmer economic relations amid U.S. President Trump’s protectionist trade policies, analysts say. (CNBC, 25/10/18)

New Zealand becomes 4th nation to ratify CPTPP deal. The New Zealand government on Thursday announced that it formally ratified a US$10 trillion Pacific-wide free trade agreement involving 10 other countries. (Bangkok Post, 25/10/18)