#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/40009929

The Commerce Ministry said on Monday that many manufacturers of consumer products are seeking permission to increase their price tags due to the rising cost of raw materials.

The most significant is the request from the producers of the world’s most inexpensive food product – instant noodles.

The manufacturers say they have been impacted by the rising cost of wheat and palm oil since the start of 2021.

In January last year, the global price of wheat stood at US$550 per tonne, but rose to $660 per tonne at the start of 2021 and then to $770 per tonne this month.

As for palm oil, the price at the start of this year averaged at 35 to 40 baht per litre but has now risen to 50 to 55 baht per litre.

In addition to rising prices of raw materials, manufacturers are also hit by the cost of government measures like anti-dumping laws and tariffs on BOPP film, which is used for packaging food products.

The Finance Ministry is also eyeing a salinity tax based on the sodium content of products, which will certainly affect the cost of instant noodles as they are high in salt content.

The Department of Internal Trade recently asked for cooperation from instant noodle makers and has agreed to review additional measures such as tariffs on BOPP film and salinity taxes.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009925

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,625.83 on Monday, up 7.60 points or 0.47 per cent. Transactions totalled 71.43 billion baht with an index high of 1,628.93 and a low of 1,618.57.

The index rose after falling by 0.13 points or 0.01 per cent on Thursday. The index on Friday was closed for Constitution Day.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were PTT, JAS, KBANK, EA, CPF, SCC, AOT, ADVANC, CPALL and NEX.

Other Asian indices were mixed:

• Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 28,640.49, up 202.72 points or 0.71 per cent.
• China’s Shanghai SE Composite closed at 3,681.08, up 14.73 points or 0.40 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component closed at 15,212.48, up 100.92 points or 0.67 per cent.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 23,954.58, down 41.14 points or 0.17 per cent.
• South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 3,001.66, down 8.57 points or 0.28 per cent.
• Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 17,767.60, down 58.66 points or 0.33 per cent.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009902

The price of gold dropped by THB50 in morning trade on Monday.

A9.26am report from the Gold Traders Association showed the buying price of gold bar at THB28,250 per baht weight and selling price at THB28,350, while the buying and selling price of gold ornaments is THB27,742.80 and THB28,850, respectively.

At close on Saturday, the buying price of gold bar was THB28,300 per baht weight and selling price THB28,400, while gold ornaments were THB27,788.28 and THB28,900, respectively.

The spot gold price on Monday morning was hovering around US$1,787 (THB59,625) per ounce after Comex gold at close on Friday rose by $8.1 to $1,784.8 per ounce due to support from buying gold as a hedge against inflation after the US consumer price index (CPI) in November rose to its highest in nearly 40 years.

Related news:

• Covid-19 situation in Europe and fund flow slowdown expected to pressure SET
• Reskilling staff necessary for digital transformation, say experts
• SET falls slightly after two days of gains

The price of gold in Hong Kong, meanwhile, rose by HK$10 to $16,490 (THB71,006) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009901

Krungsri Securities forecast the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index on Monday (December 13) would fluctuate between 1,610-1,630 points despite uncertainty over the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been relieved.

It predicted that rising Covid-19 cases in Europe and investors’ move to delay their investment to follow the outcome of US Federal Reserve’s meeting from Tuesday to Wednesday would pressure the index.

“Hence, we advise buying stocks which gained specific positive sentiment,” Krungsri Securities said.

It also recommended buying of the following companies’ shares as an investment strategy:
▪︎ RCL, LEO, III, WICE, SONIC and JWD, which benefit from rising freight rate.
▪︎ BBL, TTB, KTB and KBANK, which benefit from news of interest rate hike.
▪︎ HMPRO, CPN, CRC, AMATA, WHA, BTS, BEM, VGI, SYNEX and COM7, which are domestic play shares.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009886

The government’s stimulus measures to ease the cost of living and boost the economy have achieved satisfactory results, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.

He said more than 41.3 million people have spent over 223.82 billion baht via four projects as of December 9:

• Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) third phase: Total spending of 194.85 billion baht – 99.07 billion baht from 26.27 million consumers and 95.78 billion baht from the government.

• “Ying Chai Ying Dai” (More You Spend, More You Get): Total spending of 3.76 billion baht by 91,952 people, plus another 241.8 million baht via e-voucher.

• Subsidy for state welfare cardholders: Total spending of 22.93 billion baht by 13.55 million people.

• Subsidy for people requiring special assistance: Total spending of 2.03 billion baht by 1.47 million people.

“The premier is satisfied with the state of the economy in the latter part of the year, as it shows signs of recovery after the country reopened. Also, most venues have passed the Covid-19 hygiene and safety standards,” he said.

“We expect Thais to travel across the country and spend more cash during the New Year break.”

Thanakorn added that people can use their privileges under the Khon La Khrueng and Ying Chai Ying Dai projects until the end of this year.

“We believe these projects help ease the financial burden on people and circulate funds in the country,” he added.

Related stories:

• PM thanks organisations, citizens after Bangkok named best city for a workation
• No countrywide lockdown to stop Omicron, Prayut insists
• Prayut happy with Thailands efficacy of Covid-19 preventive measures

Published : December 12, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/40009884

The cool weather, the December 10-12 long weekend and tourism promotion measures have helped generate up to 5 billion baht for the tourism sector, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday.

Here are the figures based on regions:

• Bangkok: 10% rise in occupancy, 217,400 trips/time, 690 million baht in revenue.

• Central region: 44% increase in occupancy, 458,300 trips/time, 1.01 billion baht in revenue.

• East: 38% increase in occupancy, 362,000 trips/time, 1.4 billion baht in revenue.

• North: 41% increase in occupancy, 272,500 trips/time, 1.31 billion baht in revenue.

• Northeast: 49% increase in occupancy, 447,000 trips/time, 860 million baht in revenue.

• South: 8% increase in occupancy, 83,600 trips/time, 450 million baht in revenue.

Published : December 12, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009840

The Finance Ministry is planning to offer Thais a new economic stimulus programme at the end of the year as a New Year’s gift, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Friday.

“We are designing a new campaign to help boost domestic consumption, especially among those with high purchasing power,” he said.

“The current programme targeting this group, ‘Ying Chai, Ying Dai’ [Spend More, Get More], is not as successful as we hoped. Hence, the new programme will focus on granting tax breaks to affluent spenders.”

The Ying Chai, Ying Dai subsidy offers cashback e-vouchers worth 10 to 15 per cent on spending of up to 60,000 baht.

The cashback is capped at 7,000 baht per person and stored in registrants’ Pao Tang digital wallets to spend at participating shops.

“As for the ‘Kon La Kreung’ [Let’s Go Halves] programme, the ministry will consider a fourth-round once the current round ends on December 31, provided the total spending shows an upward trend,” Arkhom added.

“Hopefully, spending under this programme will rise significantly during the high-season in line with the consumer confidence index, which is heading upwards.”

The Kon La Kreung stimulus measure targets mainstream consumers and small businesses by covering 50 per cent of their bills for food, drinks and basic necessities capped at 150 baht per day and 3,500 baht per round.

The finance minister said he will propose the new stimulus measure to the Cabinet on December 21.

Related News

Cabinet okays another round of ‘Let’s Go Halves’ scheme

Shopping stimulus scheme hit by low registrations on first day

‘Let’s Go Halves’ phase 3 spending exceeds THB100 billion

Published : December 10, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009814

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,618.23 on Thursday, down 0.13 points or 0.01 per cent. Transactions totalled 69.71 billion baht with an index high of 1,623.82 and a low of 1,612.57.

The index slightly fell after rising by 0.56 per cent on Wednesday and 1.33 per cent on Tuesday. 

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were KBANK, JAS, CPALL, PTT, AOT, SCB, ADVANC, THANI, SCC and DELTA.

Other Asian indices were up with one exception:

• Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 28,725.47, down 135.15 points or 0.47 per cent.
• China’s Shanghai SE Composite closed at 3,673.04, up 35.47 points or 0.98 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component closed at 15,147.88, up 183.41 points or 1.23 per cent.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 24,254.86, up 257.99 points or 1.08 per cent.
• South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 3,029.57, up 27.77 points or 0.93 per cent.
• Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 17,914.12, up 81.70 points or 0.46 per cent.

Related stories:

• SET expected to fluctuate despite Omicron fears relieved
• Baht advances as foreigners plough THB6.3 bn into short-term bonds
• Gold price drops while US market awaits for November inflation figures

Published : December 09, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009788

The baht opened at 33.45 to the US dollar on Thursday, strengthening from Wednesday’s closing rate of 33.48.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 33.40 and 33.50 to the greenback during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.

Poon said that the market is in a risk-on state which causes foreign investors to invest in Thai assets. Foreign investors speculated that the baht will strengthen and bought the short term bonds for 6.3 billion baht total. This was the first time that foreign investors bought short term bonds after the Omicron spread.

Moreover, the baht is likely to strengthen because it did not weaken past the level of 34 to the dollar. Exporters selling the dollar also caused the baht to strengthen.

Poon said that the baht support level is at 33.40 to the dollar, which the importers are buying the dollar will cause the baht to not strengthen much. However, the baht will strengthen heavily if foreign investors are investing back in the baht.

Poon said that the currency market will be highly volatile in this period. Business operators should be cautious and use hedging tools to manage the risk.

Related News

Baht up a tad as foreigners resume investment in Thai assets

Baht strengths as dollar responds to Feds moves on quantitative easing

Baht unchanged as investors hope new variant Omicron is not worse than Delta

Published : December 09, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40009786

Krungsri Securities forecast the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index on Thursday (December 9) would fluctuate between 1,610-1,630 points.

It said uncertainty over the Omicron Covid-19 variant has relieved after Pfizer said its third jab could deal with the virus, resulting in positive sentiment to the index.

However, it predicted that fund flow volatility due to uncertainty over US Federal Reserve’s signal it would taper its quantitative easing programme during the meeting between December 14-15, as well as mass sell-offs of shares to prevent risks during three days holiday, would pressure the index.

It also recommended buying of the following companies’ shares as an investment strategy:

▪︎ RCL, LEO, III, WICE, SONIC and JWD, which benefit from rising freight rate.

▪︎ BBL, TTB, KTB and KBANK, which benefit from news of interest rate hike.

▪︎ HMPRO, CPN, CRC, AMATA, WHA, BTS, BEM, VGI, SYNEX and COM7, which are domestic play shares.

Published : December 09, 2021

By : THE NATION