NBTC amends TV ratings rule : The broadcasting regulator has amended its rule governing the process of seeking a body to run TV viewership ratings after it was blamed for favouring a particular organisation. Bangkok Post
State maintains B1,000 handout quota at 10m : The government will not allow registration for the 1,000-baht cash giveaway scheme to exceed the quota of 10 million people and is prepared to disqualify merchants who fail to comply with stipulated conditions. Bangkok Post
Stakeholders prepared for B10 shift in January : The Energy Business Department and fuel traders are ready for the mandatory diesel shift from biodiesel B7 to B10 in January. Bangkok Post
THAI may stick to renting after B156bn plane purchase axed : The scrapping of Thai Airways International Plc’s (THAI) plan to buy 38 new planes may force the national flag carrier to stick to renting. Bangkok Post
Shippers expect gloom with 2019 forecast slash : Economic weakness seen into next year . Shippers have again trimmed their annual export growth forecast to -1.5% from -1% in July, mainly due to the ongoing Sino-US trade row and weak global demand. Bangkok Post
Third phase of Map Ta Phut port sealed into PPP contract : The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has signed a public-private partnership (PPP) contract with Gulf MTP LNG Terminal to develop the third phase of Map Ta Phut seaport, worth 55.4 billion baht, on 1,000 rai. Bangkok Post
Fitch upbeat on nation’s short-term prospects : Political stability key to improving score . Despite uncertainty from a potential global economic slowdown and USChina trade tensions, Fitch Ratings has a positive outlook on Thailand’s credit rating and economy in the near future and could possibly upgrade the country’s ratings in the next few years if positive economic fundamentals are maintained. Bangkok Post
Panel slashes GDP forecast yet again : The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has downgraded Thailand’s GDP growth outlook for 2019 a third time to 2.7-3% and cut the export projection to a 0-2% contraction amid the US-China trade war, Brexit woes and baht appreciation. Bangkok Post
PM issues warning over budget : Prayut says bill veto will hurt the nation . Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday warned the public at large including farmers will face grim consequences if the crucial 3.2-trillion-baht budget bill for fiscal 2020 is shot down in parliament. Bangkok Post
Handout’s 2nd phase in the works : Scheme set to induce turnaround in Q4 . The second phase of the 1,000-baht cash handout scheme will launch this quarter in a bid to rev up economic growth momentum in the remaining months of 2019. Bangkok Post
