4G auctions set to generate B1.3tn – The imminent fourth generation (4G) spectrum auctions could stimulate direct and indirect investment valued at 1.3 trillion baht over the next five years. (Bangkok Post, 13/10/15)
Tris Rating downbeat on GDP growth prospects next year – Thailand’s economy will expand between 2.5% and 3% next year, says Tris Rating Co, indicating that economic recovery may be slow. (Bangkok Post, 14/10/15)
Cabinet approves five measures – The cabinet yesterday approved the Finance Ministry’s five proposals to boost business sentiment, accelerate the government’s venture-capital scheme, help low-income earners buy their first home and rev up the economy in the near term. Somkid said the measure to make permanent the temporary decrease of the corporate income tax from 23 per cent to 20 per cent was meant to relieve the uncertainty surrounding its extension. The temporary measure was due to expire at the end of this year. (The Nation, 14/10/15)
Manufacturers ramp up car production to beat excise tax rise – New excise tax rates due to take effect early next year have prompted car makers to rev up production, particularly for passenger pickup vehicles (PPVs). Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said the country’s output of PPVs started rising significantly in July. (Bangkok Post, 15/10/15)
Lockhart still sees 2015 rate hike despite recent red flags – A U.S. interest rate hike is still probably coming in October or December despite some conflicting economic signals, a top Federal Reserve official said on Friday, reinforcing the central bank’s message over the last few weeks. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart, a well-respected centrist and a voter on the Fed’s monetary policy committee this year, said an international slowdown and last month’s weak U.S. jobs report show there is “a touch more downside risk” to the U.S. economy. (CNBC, 9/10/15)
ECB’s Coeure says too early to decide on more stimulus – Oct 12 It is too early for the European Central Bank to decide on expanding or extending its asset-purchase programme, a member of the ECB’s executive board said on Monday, even after inflation in the currency bloc turned negative. (Reuters, 12/10/15)
FDI in China rises 7.1 pct in September – Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland rose 7.1 percent year on year to 59.5 billion yuan (9.56 billion U.S. dollars) in September, the Ministry of Commerce said Monday. (Xinhua, 12/10/15)
China’s NDRC approves RMB1.8 trln fixed investment projects in Jan.-Sept. – The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planning body, gave the green light to 1.8131 trillion yuan of fixed-asset investment projects in the Jan.-Sept. period, secretary general of NDRC Li Puming said at a press conference on Thursday. (Xinhua, 15/10/15)
China approves 10 bln USD in infrastructure projects – China’s top economic planner said Thursday it has approved the construction of six infrastructure projects, with an estimated investment of 68.54 billion yuan (10.81 billion U.S. dollars) in total. (Xinhua, 15/10/15)
China’s Sept. new yuan loans hit record high at RMB1.05 trln – Banks in China extended RMB1.05 trillion of new yuan loans in September, data released by the country’s central bank showed on Thursday. (Xinhua, 15/10/15)
