1. Federation of Thai Capital Mkt Org (FETCO) mulls proposing the PM with new LTF-style tax-saving funds.
2. Government will allow bars and nightclubs to operate until 4am in tourist areas starting from the NewYear holiday period onwards in an effort to stimulate the economy.
3. Supreme Admin Court’s decision to overrule the Central Admin Court’s dismissal of a consumer group’s complaint against the NBTC’s resolution on the merger of TRUE and DTAC is not expected to affect the proposed takeover of TTTBB by ADVANC, advisor to NBTC’s commissioner.
4. SAIC Motor opens 1st EV battery plant in TH comprise of fully automated assembly area & battery std testing, aims to support MG vehicles production for regional & global exports.
5. EV board approved various incentives, including cutting duties and excise taxes for imported EVs, lower cash subsidies for new EVs to Bt20K-Bt100K from max of Bt150K previous, extending deadline for EV incentives eligibility from registration by end of Dec 23 to purchase date within Dec 31,23 and register by end of Jan 24. Pending Cabinet approval.
6. Local FX broker, Superrich, sees demand for Japan spiked after JPNTHB plunged to 26 year low, 33 years low compared to USD, expects momentum continue thru holiday season.
7. MSCI to announce Ins and Outs on Nov 14, WHA, TU, and CENTEL are expected to be added, while EGCO, RATCH, MTC and BGRIM are expected to be booted out, Tabloid.
8. Panel calls for Pao Tang app for stimulus money: The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) supports the government using the Pao Tang app for the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme. Bangkok Post
9. Rethink urged: The National Rice Policy Committee told the Commerce Ministry to redo its measures aimed at stabilising prices. The National Rice Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday rejected the Commerce Ministry’s proposed measures worth 69 billion baht to stabilise rice prices for the 2023/24 harvest. The committee instead instructed the ministry to revise the spending budget and hold off on a proposal to offer 1,000 baht per rai to farmers, which requires spending of up to 56.3 billion baht. Bangkok Post
10. Bangkok land price index up 3% in Q3: The land price index in Greater Bangkok for the third quarter of 2023 increased 3% year-on-year, the lowest growth rate in seven quarters. Vichai Viratkapan, acting directorgeneral of the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), said the previous low for growth was in the fourth quarter of 2021 at 1.7%, which was the smallest in more than a decade. Bangkok Post

Bonus 10 as there’s just too much good stuff:

1. Ministry to set up panel to allay concerns over sugar prices: The Commerce Ministry has agreed to set up a working committee to manage a balance between the sugar cane and sugar industries, aiming to placate angry cane farmers following the government’s decision to regulate domestic sugar prices. Bangkok Post
2. Thai deposits fall for first time in a decade: Value of deposits decline by 1.32%. The value of deposits under the Deposit Protection Agency (DPA) fell by 1.32% year-on-year, the first decline in a decade, attributed to a fragile economy and war in the Middle East, says DPA president Songpol Chevapanyaroj. Bangkok Post
3. Taiwanese, Indians get free entry: The cabinet has given the green light to a visa exemption policy for tourists from India and Taiwan to stay in the kingdom for 30 days, in a bid to draw more revenue as the high season approaches. Bangkok Post
4. Manufacturing index set to fall by 4.5%: Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI), which indicates the health of domestic industries, is expected to contract by 4% to 4.5% this year as tourism growth is lower than expected and geopolitical conflicts are weighing on the global economy, says the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE). In July, the MPI was projected to contract by 2.8% to 3.8%. GDP contraction in the industrial sector is expected to tally 2.5% to 3% this year, said the office. Bangkok Post
5. Handout plan faces seven-month delay: The digital wallet scheme, the government’s flagship policy, will face a seven-month delay and is expected to be launched around September next year, according to a prime minister’s adviser. Bangkok Post
6. Minister considers cutting debt burden: One way to ease household debt would be to reduce the amount owed for those who are ready to solve their problems, says Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana. He said the reduction of the burden for debtors at state-owned financial institutions is one option to ease high levels of household debt in the country, allowing them to be delisted from the National Credit Bureau’s bad debtor list. Bangkok Post
7. BoT backs fiscal consolidation amid rising debt: The Bank of Thailand supports fiscal consolidation in line with recommendations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to strengthen Thailand’s economic resilience in the long term amid higher global uncertainties. The IMF recently told several countries to undertake large fiscal consolidations given their elevated fiscal deficits and the need to reduce public debt from unprecedented levels. Bangkok Post
8. Bridging the gap: The government claims it is finally on course to build a southern link between the coasts after decades of debate and delay, but opinion is still divided over whether it is worth it. Among the many large economic projects promised by past governments that were never developed, the southern land bridge stands out, in part because it was approved in 1989 as a strategic part of the Southern Economic Corridor. Bangkok Post
9. Growth outlook revised down to 2.7%: Tourism and private consumption continue to drive the economy. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has revised its forecast for economic growth down to 2.7% this year and 3.2% next year, while domestic and international risk factors need to be monitored, according to director-general Pornchai Thiraveja. Bangkok Post
10. Home price growth slows as steel dips: The construction price index for standard homes increased by 1.5% year-onyear in the third quarter of 2023, continuing a four-quarter slowdown, with a major contributor being lower prices of steel and sanitaryware. According to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), the construction price index in the third quarter of 2023 was 134.2, a 0.1% increase from the second quarter of 2023 and a 1.5% increase from the third quarter of last year. Bangkok Post