Banking
33% of Thais have less than 500 baht on their bank account
A study by Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research has identified just over 30 million Thais with savings accounts, altogether responsible for over 10 trillion baht in deposits.
One-third of Thai depositors have a deposit balance below 500 baht, and 50% of them have a balance below 3,124 baht.
Meanwhile the combined deposits of the largest 10% of depositors account for 93% of commercial banks’ total deposits, according to the Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research (Pier), the Bank of Thailand’s think tank.
This means a high concentration of deposits and low savings for many Thais, as 0.2% have deposits of more than 10 million, said Atchana Lamsam, head of networking and communications for Pier.
Asean
12 Things to Know about the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF)
The ACGF is an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund initiative managed by ADB’s Southeast Asia Department Innovation Hub. It helps Southeast Asian governments prepare and finance infrastructure projects promoting environmental sustainability and contributing to climate change goals.
Southeast Asia faces an infrastructure investment shortfall of more than $100 billion a year, which may have worsened amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Banking
Thai cabinet approves 350 billion baht Aid for COVID-hit Businesses
Thailand unveiled new measures to help small and medium COVID-hit businesses in the tourism industry hit by a liquidity crunch.
The Thai cabinet has approved assistance worth 350 billion baht($11 Billion) to help businesses affected by COVID-19 with soft loans and asset warehousing.
Banking
APAC Banks to Face Portfolio Valuation Losses As Yields Rise
The latest data suggest that Fitch-rated banks in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan have the largest AFS securities portfolios, and display particular sensitivity to changes in yields.
Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong/Singapore-21 March 2021: A rise in yields for long-dated sovereign bonds will result in near-term losses for Asia-Pacific (APAC) banks as they recognise valuation changes on their available-for-sale (AFS) bond portfolios, but the capital impact should be manageable for most rated banks, says Fitch Ratings.
Thai fruit exports to FTA markets up 107 percent
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Digital Revolution and Repression in Myanmar and Thailand
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Will Thailand’s plan for quarantine-free tourism set a global trend?
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Thailand Approves Latest Economic Relief Package for Businesses
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Southeast Asia remains a hot spot for plastic pollution
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