#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

AOT extends relief to airlines, operators until 2022

EconSep 25. 2020

By The Nation

Airports of Thailand (AOT) is providing discounts and fee suspension until March 2022 to airlines and operators using its facilities, as it does see air travel business recovering until 2021.

AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said after a board meeting on Wednesday that AOT would provide relief to six airline operators by suspending rental space fee, building usage fee and monthly payments until March 31, 2022.

“A Covid-19 vaccine is not expected to be released and widely available before April-November 2021, which means the winter 2021 flight schedule (October 2021 to March 2022) will not return to normal operations. The flight schedule would usually be decided around April 2021, therefore, the aviation industry will not return to normal in time for the winter flight schedule, as a result AOT is considering helping the operators,” said Nitinai.

Operators and airlines who continue to use AOT facilities will receive a 50 per cent reduction in rental fee for all tenants until March 31, 2022, service fee collection for building usage will be slashed by 50 per cent, parking charges will be waived, 50 per cent discount on landing charges and parking charges for airlines that still operate will be at 50 per cent for all routes, domestic, international or charter flights, until March 21, 2022, effective from September 23, Nitinai said.

AOT assesses that such measures would reduce its revenue in fiscal year 2021 by an additional 0.143 per cent from previously forecast, down from the fiscal year 2020 by 42.21 per cent, Nitinai said.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SET bounces back, but likely to be pressured by political situation

EconSep 25. 2020

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 6.28 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 1,253.74 in the morning session on Friday (September 25).

An analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to fluctuate between 1,240 and 1,255 despite the rise in other regional stock markets.

“Domestic political unrest after Parliament passed a resolution to establish a committee to study amendments to the Constitution, as well as foreign funds continuing to flow out from the market would pressure the index,” he said.

He recommended that investors buy:

▪︎Stocks whose third-quarter performance will improve, such as TU, ASIAN, COM7, CHG, PTG and PLANB.

▪︎Stocks that will benefit from the weakening baht, such as DELTA, HANA, KCE and SMT.

▪︎Stocks that will benefit from the rising Baltic Dry Index, such as TTA and PSL.

The SET Index on Thursday fell sharply by 16.55 points, or 1.31 per cent, closing at 1,247. Total transactions amounted to Bt56 billion due to uncertainty over the delay in rollout of US economic stimulus measures and the second Covid-19 wave in European countries.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Gold price rises after falling for three consecutive days

EconSep 25. 2020

By The Nation

The price of gold rose by Bt100 per baht weight in morning trade on Friday (September 25), the Gold Traders Association reported.

As of 9.25am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt27,750 per baht weight and selling price Bt27,850, while gold ornaments were priced at Bt27,257.68 and Bt28,350, respectively.

At close on Thursday (September 24), the buying price of a gold bar was Bt27,650 per baht weight and selling price Bt27,750 while gold ornaments were priced at Bt27,151.56 and Bt28,250, respectively.

Spot gold price moved to US$1,867 (Bt58,826.65) per ounce on Friday morning after the price rose by $8.5 to $1,876.9 per ounce at Thursday’s close.

Gold price gained positive sentiment from investors’ buying spree after the price dropped for three consecutive days. Meanwhile, the dollar weakened due to the rise in US jobless claims.

Hong Kong gold price rose by HK$90, after opening at $17,260 (Bt70,170.08) per tael on Friday morning, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Stocks whipsaw as traders weigh odds of stimulus

EconSep 25. 2020

By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Rita Nazareth, Vildana Hajric · BUSINESS 
Stocks whipsawed as investors weighed the chances of a compromise on a new stimulus package amid concern over an uptick in global coronavirus cases. The dollar fell.

The S&P 500 pared most of its earlier rally after optimism faded that Congress would reach a spending deal with the White House. Stocks surged midday on news that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the Democratic House leader were open to fresh talks. But a report that Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fresh overture deviated only slightly from previous offers sparked concern that the two sides would remain far apart. The stock gauge still closed above a key support level: Its average price of the past 100 days.

House Democrats have started drafting a stimulus proposal of roughly $2.4 trillion, according to multiple officials. While smaller than the $3.4 trillion package the House passed in May, the new proposal remains much larger than what Senate Republicans have said they could accept. President Donald Trump has indicated he’d be willing to go as high as $1.5 trillion.

“The odds of Phase 4 stimulus are a close call,” wrote Aneta Markowska, chief economist at Jefferies LLC in New York. “While still possible, there is a high risk that it does not happen this year. Without it, we would expect the economy to hit a major speed bump in Q4.”

The risk of a slowdown in the economic recovery has risen with the lack of another stimulus package, prompting Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists to cut their forecast for U.S. growth in the fourth quarter. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that “it’s likely that additional fiscal support will be needed,” while Fed Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the economy may be close to a “full recovery” by year-end.

High-frequency data that tracks economic activity show a slowdown in the recovery from the height of the lockdowns, with Americans again cutting back on flights and going out to eat less often. As Europe reemerged as a hot spot for Covid-19, the U.K. reported the highest number of new cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic, while France’s new infections jumped to a record.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers vowed that the presidential transition after November’s election will occur without disruption, in a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

These are some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

–The S&P 500 advanced 0.3% at 4 p.m. EDT.

–The Stoxx Europe 600 Index decreased 1%.

–The MSCI Asia Pacific Index sank 1.8%.

Currencies

–The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index declined 0.1%.

–The euro climbed 0.1% to $1.1673.

–The Japanese yen was little changed at 105.41 per dollar.

Bonds

–The yield on 10-year Treasurys dipped one basis point to 0.66%.

–Germany’s 10-year yield climbed less than one basis point to -0.50%.

–Britain’s 10-year yield advanced less than one basis point to 0.219%.

Commodities

–West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 0.7% to $40.22 a barrel.

–Gold strengthened 0.4% to $1,870.16 an ounce.

–Silver strengthened 2.1% to $23.25 per ounce.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Ailing economy to get ‘Bt100bn injection’ from Oct-Dec

EconSep 25. 2020Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow 

By The Nation

Government stimulus schemes are expected to inject Bt100 billion into the economy in the last three months of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow told the Krungthep Turakit newspaper.

The Bt100-billion injection will come both from government spending and from people’s spending under three stimulus measures.

Under the first measure, 14 million welfare cardholders will receive an extra monthly discount of Bt500 from October to December on their shopping. The budget for this scheme is Bt21 billion.

Meanwhile under the “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) measure, 10 million people will get daily discounts of up to B100 on food, beverages and household essentials (not including alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets). The subsidy is capped at Bt,3000 per person. 

The Cabinet has given the green light to both schemes.

Supattanapong said the third measure will serve wealthier citizens with tax incentives to encourage them to spend.

Meanwhile on Tuesday the Cabinet approved a budget of Bt19.5 billion to help the private sector hire 260,000 new graduates by paying half their salaries.

Supattanapong, who also serves as Energy Minister, predicted the economy would improve next year but said it might be two years before Thailand’s economic growth returns to its pre-coronavirus level.

He said the country’s existing budget would be enough to boost the economy provided there is no second wave of Covid-19. However, given uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the government stands ready to borrow more if necessary, since Thailand’s current debt is not high compared to other countries.

He added that the government was proceeding with utmost caution in budget spending in order to stay financially healthy in the post-outbreak era.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

BOT appoints new policy committee members

EconSep 25. 2020From left, Kanit Sangsubhan, Rapee Sucharitakul, Somchai Jitsuchon, and Subhak Sriwaraksa. 

By The Nation

The central bank on Thursday appointed new members to its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and Financial Institutions Policy Committee (FIPC).

Bank of Thailand secretary Pruettipong Srimachand said the new appointments will replace members whose terms are ending.

Their three-year tenures will start from November this year.

The four new members of the MPC are Kanit Sangsubhan, Rapee Sucharitakul,

Somchai Jitsuchon and Subhak Sriwaraksa.

The five new members of the FIPC are Kannika Ngamsopee, Chanant Charnchainarong, Pornchai Chunhachinda, Phawana Niemloy and Ayudh Kritsanamara.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Business registrations fall 7% in August

EconSep 25. 2020

By The Nation

The number of newly registered companies fell to 5,538 in August, down 7 per cent year on year and 2 per cent from July.

“Total share capital of companies registering their business in August was Bt14.31 billion,” said Department of Business Development deputy director-general Sorada Lertapachit.

Meanwhile a total of 1,337 companies closed in August, down 24 per cent year on year, but up 6 per cent compared to July.

“Combined share capital of companies that closed [in August] was Bt5.40 billion, down 81 per cent year on year from Bt23.52 billion,” she said.

In the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), 4,353 new companies registered from January to August, down 12.5 per cent year on year. The majority (3,087) were located in Chonburi province and most (60.63 per cent) were in the services sector – property, construction, and food – followed by retail and manufacturing businesses.

Foreign investors hold a combined 40.51 per cent stake in the new companies – dominated by Japan (48.19 per cent), China (11.11 per cent) and Singapore (5.46 per cent).

Most new foreign investment (52.97 per cent) was in Rayong province and focused on automotive parts manufacturing.

Investment was being boosted by government efforts to mitigate the Covid-19 impact, and growth of businesses meeting demand in the “new normal” era, Sorada said.

However, a second Covid-19 wave after the country reopens to foreign tourists next month would hit business and investor confidence, so the government should impose strict health screening for tourists, she added.

Reopening to tourists will benefit the service and tourism sectors, including transportation, accommodation, restaurants, and travel businesses, she said.

“Therefore, we expect business registrations to hit the target of 70,000 companies or 5,500 companies per month at the end of this year.”

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SET sinks for fourth consecutive day amid lockdowns, delayed US stimulus

EconSep 24. 2020

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,247.46 on Thursday, down 16.55 points or 1.31 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt56.23 billion with an index high of 1,260.31 and a low of 1,241.52.

In the morning session, an analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the day’s index to fall to 1,250 points after countries reimposed lockdown measures following a surge in Covid-19 cases.

“On Wednesday night [September 23], the US Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to its lowest in two months, while the Dow Jones Index fell more than 525 points due to uncertainty over delayed rollout of US economic stimulus measures,” he said.

“The measures are stuck in Congress, while the market expects the stimulus rollout to be delayed until after the [November 3] presidential election,” he added.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were AOT, PTT, KBANK, STGT, CPALL, GULF, CPF, TASCO, ADVANC and SAWAD.

As of 4.30pm, the price of oil dropped by US$0.29 or 0.73 per cent to $39.64 per barrel, while gold dropped by $13.50 or 0.72 per cent, to $1,854.90 per ounce.

Other Asian indices all fell:

Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 23,087.82, down 258.67 points or 1.11 per cent.

China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 3,223.18, down 56.53 points or 1.72 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 12,816.61, down 293.47 points or 2.24 per cent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 23,311.07, down 431.44 points or 1.82 per cent.

South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 2,272.70, down 60.54 points or 2.59 per cent.

Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 12,264.38, down 319.50 points or 2.54 per cent.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Gold price drops from strengthening dollar, Covid-19 vaccine progress

EconSep 24. 2020

By The Nation

The price of gold dropped by Bt250 per baht weight in morning trade today (September 24), the Gold Traders Association reported.

As of 9.25am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt27,800 per baht weight and selling price Bt27,900, while gold ornaments cost Bt27,303.16 and Bt28,400, respectively.

At close yesterday, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt28,050 per baht weight and selling price Bt28,150, while gold ornaments cost Bt27,545.72 and Bt28,650, respectively.

The Comex (Commodity Exchange) gold price to be delivered in December dropped by US$39.20, or 2.05 per cent, closing at $1,868.40 (Bt59,021.33) per ounce yesterday.

The gold price dropped below $1,900 per ounce last night due to the strengthening dollar, while progress in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine caused investors to reduce their holdings in the safe-haven asset.

The Hong Kong gold price dropped by HK$150, opening at $17,200 (Bt70,135.24) per tael this morning, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SET slides over second Covid-19 wave, delay in US economic stimulus measures

EconSep 24. 2020

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index fell by 5.70 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 1,258.31 in the morning session today (September 24).

An analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to fall to 1,250 points due to uncertainty after a number of countries moved to intensify lockdowns to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“On Wednesday night [September 23], the US Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to its lowest in two months, while the Dow Jones Index fell more than 525 points due to uncertainty over a delay in the rollout of US economic stimulus measures,” he pointed out.

“The measures are under Congress consideration, while the market expects the rollout to be delayed until the end of the presidential election,” he added.

He recommended investors buy:

> Stocks whose third-quarter performance will improve, such as TU, Asian, Com7, CHG, PTG and PlanB.

> Stocks that benefit from the weakening baht, such as Delta, Hana, KCE and SMT.

The SET Index closed at 1,264.01 yesterday, down 3.62 points, or 0.29 per cent.

Total transactions amounted to Bt50.70 billion, with an index high of 1,272.59 points and a low of 1,260.64.