Currencies
Measures to fight surging baht and labour shortage
Mr Kittiratt said cabinet members were confident that the BoT will be able to stabilise the baht, adding that the private sector wants to see the baht movement stabilise at Bt29-30 against the dollar.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today outlined an urgent seven-point measure to rein in the surging baht and tackle Thailand’s labour shortage.
According to a government spokesman, Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong was instructed to carry out the proposed measures, including a push for the baht as a regional trading currency, expanding vocational education to solve the labour crisis, promoting the use of domestic raw materials for local industries, especially in auto production, and exemptions of value added tax (VAT) for export industries and permission for exporters to pay in foreign currencies without having to change into baht.
Private sector wants the baht to stabilise at Bt29-30 against the dollar
The finance minister was instructed to find loan sources for local manufacturers and reduce tariff on the import of jewellery to be exhibited in Thailand. The prime minister also asked that the Bank of Thailand (BoT) provide currency comparisons between the baht and other currencies without exclusively pegging itself to the US dollar. Mr Kittiratt reportedly informed today’s cabinet meeting of the recent Finance Ministry meetings with the private sector, exporters, the Monetary Policy Committee, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) to discuss the impact of the appreciating baht.
The prime minister instructed the Finance Ministry to hold similar sessions with the labour, education, industry and commerce ministries to find joint solutions to the challenges. Mr Kittiratt said cabinet members were confident that the BoT will be able to stabilise the baht, adding that the private sector wants to see the baht movement stabilise at Bt29-30 against the dollar. In the short term, manufacturers of electrical appliances, refrigerators and air-conditioners have asked for lower VAT while the tourism and hotel industries are also calling for tax reductions to give them a competitive edge in the region. They mostly called on the government to urgently solve the problem of labour shortage. (MCOT online news)
Banking
Fitch confirms Thailand’s rating at ‘BBB+’ with a Stable Outlook
Thailand’s ratings are supported by strong public and external finances, which have provided buffers to respond to the economic shock and market volatility associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Currencies
Asian currencies slip as U.S. jobs data bolsters dollar

Asian currencies faltered on Monday, as a rebound in U.S. payrolls data supported the greenback, offsetting optimism of a Sino-U.S. trade deal and further China policy stimulus.
(more…)Currencies
Most Asian currencies rise as trade war reports boost risk appetites
The Thai baht was largely flat against the dollar

Most Asian currencies firmed on Wednesday as reports of headway in Sino-U.S. trade talks and easing U.S. bond yields prompted buying of regional risk assets.
(more…)-
Economics1 week ago
Thailand Tops Bloomberg’s Emerging Markets List
-
Economics4 days ago
96% of Foreign Investors still confident in Thailand says BOI
-
Investment5 days ago
Thailand BOI new measures to boost post-Covid-19 investment
-
Companies5 days ago
Thai Firm to produce 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine