Oil Fuel Fund seeks loan of B40bn: Cash needed to subsidise oil prices. The Oil Fuel Fund has enough credibility for financial institutions to extend it loans to boost liquidity, enabling it to subsidise the domestic oil price, says deputy permanent finance secretary Theeraj Athanavanich. Bangkok Post
Joint sandbox to be discussed: BoT in talks with other regulators. The Bank of Thailand will discuss with other agencies setting up a sandbox to test digital ID verification via the NDID platform. The Bank of Thailand plans to collaborate with other regulatory agencies on setting up a co-regulatory sandbox to test digital identity verification through the National Digital ID (NDID) platform in the second half as part of efforts to further drive the digital economy. Bangkok Post
FTI retains car output target: Federation upbeat despite shutdowns. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has maintained its car production target of 1.8 million units this year though many manufacturers have temporarily shut down factories due to a shortage of semiconductors. Bangkok Post
Mask mandate to ease in June: Removal in open spaces to be allowed. The Public Health Ministry will ease the rules on mandatory face mask wearing from mid-June by allowing people to take them off in open spaces – provided they do not have any underlying conditions – except for places that are poorly ventilated or at big social gatherings. Bangkok Post
Finance Ministry delays stock transaction tax: The Finance Ministry will postpone enacting a financial transaction tax on individual stock investors this year until economic conditions are more favourable, says Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. Bangkok Post
The cabinet has acknowledged the extension of the 4th phase of the “We Travel Together” hotel subsidy scheme to assist the tourism sector.
The BOT may raise interest rate by 25bps in 2H22 to bridge the yield gap between US government and Thai government bonds amid soaring domestic inflation, says Chavinda Hanratanakool, chairwoman of the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC). BOT Governor just said yesterday that it’s in no hurry to raise rate.
Collection surpasses target in first 7 months: The government’s revenue collection in the first seven months of fiscal 2022 surpassed its target by 3.7% as a result of the expansion of product import volume, in line with the economic recovery, says Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office. Bangkok Post
SET takes stake in digital investment platform ADDX: The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has invested in ADDX, a Singapore-based digital securities service exchange platform, aiming to expand opportunities for the Thai capital market and glean expertise to support long-term development of the domestic digital asset market. Bangkok Post
Users face mega-hit in mega-merger: Customers predicted to see charge hike. Mobile users may face higher charges based on combined additional expenses of 1.7-13.6 billion baht per month, depending on the degree of market dominance once the merger of True Corporation and Total Access Communication (DTAC) takes place, according to the Thailand Consumers Council. Bangkok Post
