Govt backs off for now from single Internet gateway idea – ICT minister rules out infringement on the right to privacy after online attacks on state websites. The government has partly retreated from its controversial plan to merge the country’s Internet connections into a single gateway after widespread criticism and heavy pressure from netizens. (The Nation, 2/10/15)
Dual-track project (Klong19-Kang Koi) valued at Bt10.6bn will open for contractors to submit technical qualification reports today. (Khao Hoon, 30/09/15)
Glimmer of hope discerned amid dismal August figures – Overall recovery momentum remained fragile in August, although capital goods imports and tourism showed improvement, says the Bank of Thailand. (Bangkok Post, 1/10/15)
Cabinet delays aid for new projects – The cabinet has delayed for 15 days its approval of financial assistance to tambon-initiated projects, pending a scrutiny process. The financial assistance scheme, initiated by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, involves disbursing 5 million baht each to 7,255 tambons to carry out local projects. (Bangkok Post, 1/10/15)
NBTC settles on pair of 15 MHz licences – After months of uncertainty, the fourth-generation (4G) auction of two licences for the 1800-megahertz spectrum in November has finally ended up with 15 MHz of bandwidth each for bidding instead of 12.5 MHz. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday announced it will sell a total of 30 MHz of bandwidth on the 1800-MHz spectrum on Nov 11, with each licence of 15 MHz. (Bangkok Post, 26/9/15)
IMF to cut global GDP view on EM slowdown – The International Monetary Fund is likely to cut its target for world gross domestic product growth for this year and next due to slowing growth in emerging market countries, the head of the fund tells a French newspaper. “This phenomenon should lead us to revise our growth forecast. World GDP (growth) at 3.3% this year is not realistic anymore. A forecast of 3.8% (growth) for next year is not either. We will remain above 3%, though,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde is quoted as saying by Les Echos. The IMF is due to release new macroeconomic outlook later Monday. (Marketwatch, 28/9/15)
Fed’s Dudley: Still Likely on Track for 2015 Rate Rise – One of the Federal Reserve’s top officials said Monday the central bank is likely to raise short-term interest rates this year, echoing Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s message last week. William Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said the decision on when to start lifting rates will be driven by a broad array of considerations, including the health of the U.S. economy, financial conditions and overseas events. The central bank could move at either of its two remaining scheduled policy meetings this year, in late October or mid-December, he said. (WSJ, 28/9/15)
China to unveil more than ten policies to stabilize economic growth before yearend – China is about to introduce over ten policies in the rest three months of this year to stabilize economic growth, including stabilizing investment, relax monetary policies and promoting exports, according to a report by the Economic Information Daily on Monday. With regards to monetary policies, the central bank is likely to further cut benchmark interest rates and lower required reserve ratio (RRR) for deposits in the rest of this year, and it might cut the RRR more than once. (Xinhua, 28/9/15)
China’s non-manufacturing PMI stays at 53.4 in Sept. – China’s service sector activity held steady in September, an official monthly survey showed Thursday. The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the non-manufacturing sector stayed at 53.4 in September, unchanged from August, according to a report released jointly by the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. (Xinhua, 1/10/15)
China Sep Caixin Services PMI 50.5 Vs 51.5 in Aug – The Caixin China services purchasing managers index fell to a 14-month low of 50.5 in September, compared with 51.5 in August, Caixin Media Co. and research firm Markit said Thursday, pointing to a slowdown outside the nation’s factory sector. (Nasdaq, 30/9/15)
