Banking
Growth is likely to stay at 3.2% in 2016 and 2017
Thailand’s economic growth in 2016 has been revised up slightly to 3.2%, due to a better-than-expected private consumption growth in the second quarter

Jaturong Jantarangs, an assistant governor of the Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy group and the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) secretary, stated that a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU in its Brexit consensus, Thailand’s economic growth for 2016 runs the risk of growing at less than 3.2%.
Growth and inflation Projection
In light of the economic assessment above, the MPC revises the growth projection for 2016 up slightly and keeps its growth projection for 2017 unchanged.
Meanwhile, the risks to the projected growth tilt more downward.
Downside risks include (1) the impact of Brexit, which could hinder the recovery of global economy; (2) financial risk in China; (3) private sector’s limited ability to cope with economic shock; and (4) the effect of the government’s attempt to tackle zero-dollar tour operations on the number of tourists.
Meanwhile, upside risks come from the accelerated public spending, and the impact of stimulating measures on the economy that could be higher than expected. The MPC keeps core inflation projection unchanged for both 2016 and 2017, but revises headline inflation in both 2016 and 2017 down in tandem with the lower oil prices. Risks to inflation forecasts are assessed to be skewed more downward, in line with risks to growth projection
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.