He said financial markets faced a number of challenges last year, such as the US-China trade war, uncertainty over Brexit, the political unrest in Hong Kong, and natural disasters in other countries.

“However, the market also gained a boost from central banks’ loose monetary policies, while the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, boosting liquidity and helping risky assets generate good returns on investment, especially in developed markets,” he said.

“Although the Thai stock market the previous year generated a poor return on investments due to regional market directions, the country’s economy and changing accounting policies and standards helped it increase by 1.02 per cent year on year.”

KTAM estimates gross domestic product growth this year will be 2.8 per cent, better than the previous year, which is likely to have grown at 2.4 per cent.

“The main engines driving the country’s economy are the annual budget in fiscal 2020, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives, government investment in infrastructure and the Eastern Economic Corridor, growth in tourism, and the low-interest rate trend,” Somchai said.

“However, the economy still faces both long-term and short-term challenges, such as an ageing population, technology disruption, a stronger baht, risks to global economic expansion, and water shortages. We feel the Monetary Policy Committee may cut interest rates to help stimulate the economy. The policy rate at the end of the year may be at 1.00 per cent.”

KTAM estimates the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index trend this year will be 1,700 points, expecting that the profit of listed companies will expand around 6 per cent and the price-to-earnings ratio will be 18 times that of the previous year due to a low-interest trend.

“Investors should closely follow major conflicts among countries, the US presidential election, the Brexit situation, central banks’ movements, the country’s economic weakness, pressure from the baht appreciation, uncertainty in government regulations, and the changing accounting standards,” he advised.

KTAM will invest in stocks that have benefited from the low-interest trend and the US-China trade conflict, as well as stocks that have improved earnings and low prices.

The asset manager still recommends that investors diversify their purchases of various assets due to the fluctuation in financial markets. Therefore, managing investment portfolios which are capable of acceptable risks is important.

“At the beginning of the year, we still believe that risk assets might gain from an economic recovery after investors relieve concerns about an economic recession. Therefore, we suggest there should be slight investment in risky assets, such as in emerging markets, and those with not very expensive prices, as well as the US stock market with strong fundamentals,” he said,

“In the next phase, investors may have to be careful about profit-taking sales and various risk factors, which might affect their investments in the future,” Somchai added.

“We are drawing up regulatory standards for air purifiers to make these efficient in tackling PM2.5 and eliminate odors in households and industrial facilities,” he said. “It is expected to be completed and ready for enforcement later this year.”

The institute has already announced industrial standards for sugarcane harvesters (TIS 2773-2560) that can efficiently minimise leftovers and hence reduce the need to burn fields, which is one of the main factors causing PM2.5 pollution, he added.

“The TISI will also enforce emission standards for motorcycles [TIS 2915-2561], so they are in line with the Euro 4 standard by mid-2020, while standards for small and large motor vehicles will be in line with Euro 5 and Euro 6, both of which will be enforced soon after,” Wanchai said.

Other industrial standards announced relate to various products aimed at tackling air pollution, such as respiratory protection devices (TIS 2382-2551), single-use hygienic masks (TIS 2424-2562) and N95 surgical masks (TIS 2480-2562).

“As for the existing standard for air purifiers [TIS 1516-2549], it covers only usage safety, such as electric shock prevention and is yet to cover efficiency in dust particle purification,” Wanchai added.

Activist and president Srisuwan Janya said the association is investigating and recording hotels without a licence under the Hotel Act 2004 in the protected area of Khao Kho National Park.

The more than 600 hotels have carried out the garbage dumping without any storage or disposal measures in accordance with sanitary landfill methods, Srisuwan said.

This also shows local government organisations have neglected their duties. And to top it all, there has been “smuggling” of garbage, leading to dust spreading widely, the president said.

The main reason for this is probably due to a large number of illegal hotels, resorts and bungalows without adequate control and management measures, Srisuwan added. The garbage came from tourists who flocked to the park and reserved forest areas, until the amount of rubbish exceeded the capacity of these areas to support it.

The association will lodge a complaint against all illegal facilities with the chiefs of the Royal Forest Department and the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department next week, Srisuwan added.

Muhammad Habib, 31, was arrested for alleged fraud at shops in two locations in Phetchabun province. CCTV footage showed the suspect bringing the Bt1,000 fake banknote to make a purchase and request a refund, speaking a foreign language, causing confusion among the staff.

The police said the suspect was involved in similar incidents in ​​Chanthaburi, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Khon Kaen and Bangkok.

He has been charged with fraud. He will be blacklisted and deported to the country of origin, police said.

The reservoirs will be capable of storing 942 million cubic metres of water, Agricultural Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said.

In fiscal budget 2020, the project will increase another 176,968 rai for irrigation and 199.54 million cubic metres for water retention.

Due to the high fluctuations in rainwater, which affects the volume of runoff and water in the reservoir, especially in 2019, the Chao Phraya River Basin does not have enough water to meet demands. Excess water usage caused by the saltwater encroachment problem have affected the ecology and water quality of consumers and agriculture. The RID has to divert 850 million cubic metres of water from the Mae Klong River Basin to the lower Chao Phraya River Basin during the dry season.

Chalermchai added that the urgent need is development and rehabilitation of water sources to increase water storage capacity. Kaem Ling projects will provide water for consumption in the community by digging a pond in a farm outside the irrigation area of ​​size 1,260 cubic metres for 40,000 farmers who have asked for support nationwide.

The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation has organised three sets of fast-moving royal rain-making units, ready to operate throughout the country in favourable weather conditions to help areas lacking water for agricultural consumption, adding water to dams and reservoirs, and relieving smog and forest fires.

The level of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) in Prachinburi province is 43-80 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3), Sa Kaeo 80µg/m3, Chachoengsao 73µg/m3, Chonburi 56-62µg/m3 and Rayong 54-60µg/m3.

Sa Kaeo’s air quality index rose from 152 on Sunday to 157, signifying a worsening of pollution in the area.

Despite a haze issue, crop-burning is still spotted in 500,000 rai of sugarcane farms in six districts of Sa Kaeo.

Kaeo Ninla-or, 66, a Sa Kaeo resident, said that farmers usually burn crop leftovers from the harvest and the fire escalates.

Recently, he was also affected by the fire as it spread to his eucalyptus farm and burnt down two rai of it. Smog caused suffocation and he said he collapsed in the eucalyptus forest after trying to put out the fire.

He reported the situation to the officials of Khao Chakan Police Station but has not yet received any kind of help.

All the nine hospitals have been notified to contact the water coordinating agencies in their areas to look for a reserve water source and prepare to drill artesian wells in order to have sufficient water.

Dr Rungrueng said that Prasart Hospital in Surin province was located in an area that risked suffering from shortage of drinking water. The Surin Provincial Public Health Office is coordinating with local agencies to bring machines for drilling four artesian wells.

In Chaiyaphum, eight hospitals — Phakdi Chumphon, Kaset Sombun, Nong Bua Daeng, Sap Yai, Phu Khiao, Chalermprakiet, Thep Sathit Khon San, and Ban Thaen — are at risk of impact from the drought.

The Chaiyaphum Provincial Public Health Office is preparing to drill artesian wells to implement the measures of the Ministry of Public Health by reserving water for use for medical services and sufficient staff consumption for at least three days and requesting citizens to help save water. The hospitals are open for service as usual.