Baht opens 34.58/dollar on Wed but all eyes on Fed meeting
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022
The baht opened at 34.58 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from Tuesday’s close of 34.80.
The currency will likely move between 34.50 and 34.70 against the greenback during the day, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
Poon said that the baht strengthened quickly last night amid dollar weakening and gold sales after its price breached the resistance level.
However, baht strengthening will slow as investors wait for results of the US Federal Reserve meeting on interest policy on Thursday morning (Thai time), he added.
He said the baht might strengthen today before the meeting results as the market is in a risk-on state with investors buying Thai short and long-term bonds as US bond yield falls.
Poon estimated the baht’s key support level at 34.50 to the dollar.
He expected a stronger dollar and higher US 10-year bond yield if the Fed takes a “hawkish” view and raises its policy rate in line with a peak level beyond 5.00%.
However, he doubted baht would weaken past its resistance level at 35 as most investors are waiting to sell the dollar or short the dollar-baht market.
Poon also advised investors to use hedging tools such as options to manage risks in a highly volatile currency market.
Tourism revival boosts Thailand’s industries sentiment index
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
The Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) showed a month on month improvement, reaching 93.5 points in November, bolstered by the tourism sector despite concerns over energy price.
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) president Kriengkrai Thiennukul and FTI executive committee member Pipope Chokvathana said that the TISI in November had increased slightly over the previous month to 93.5 points, thanks to the growing number of foreign tourists.
Since the country’s economic activity is already back on track, consumption and expenditure in the country have flourished.
“Meanwhile, the construction sector was likely to bounce back as the demand for construction products and building materials used for household repairs has recently been on the rise after the improvement in the flood situation,” the FTI said.
Also, exporters have benefited from the plunging freight rates, it added.
The FTI expects the TISI index to reach 97.0 points in the next three months, lower than the previous forecast of 98.8 points due to concerns among entrepreneurs about rising production costs, especially the energy price that still remains high, and inflation that has lowered the country’s purchasing power.
It also pointed out that 70% of entrepreneurs were worried about the global economy, citing its survey conducted on 1,315 entrepreneurs from 45 types of industrial sectors in November this year.
Meanwhile, 43.5% of entrepreneurs were concerned about the domestic political situation, while 43.3% had issues with loan interest rates,” the FTI said.
It said that some businesspeople had suggested the government should control production costs, for example, maintaining the electricity cost per unit to be no more than 4.72 baht or encouraging business owners to invest in renewable energy in manufacturing so as to reduce electricity costs.
“Businesspeople have also advised the government to implement policies supporting the country’s soft power in a bid to attract foreign tourists to Thailand,” the FTI added.
New energy plan will save Thailand over THB500 billion in energy costs over 15 years
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Thailand’s revised Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP) will help save the country 532.46 billion baht in energy costs by 2037, the Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department (AEDED) said.
Prasert Sinsukprasert, AEDED director-general, said on Tuesday that the 2022 EEP, which will replace the 2018 plan and be in force until 2037, will boost energy conservation from 30% in 2018 to 36% over the next 15 years. He said the plan is to reduce the use of energy in the next 15 years by 49,064 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe), which will save the country 532.455 billion baht.
The 2022 EEP is among the five national energy plans that aim to push Thailand toward carbon neutrality within 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065.
Prasert said the 2022 plan is still being drafted and should be ready by next year before it is submitted to the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) for endorsement and the Cabinet for approval. The plan should be implemented by mid-next year, he added.
He went on to say that the new plan will reduce energy intensity (EI) by 40% within 2050, conserving energy by 64,340ktoe.
The plan will be enforced in the form of 14 measures under three strategies covering five target groups, namely industries, buildings, households, agriculture and transport, he said.
Measures aimed at industry, for instance, would control energy consumption at factories, he said. For example, he said, a 2,000-square-metre factory will be required to meet standards in heat insulation, lighting, air-conditioning, hot-water system and alternative energy.
This measure would also include the enforcement of an energy code for factories, commercial buildings, households, and farming as well as measures for conserving energy in the transport sector.
The EEP plan will also promote the use of power-saving labels on four types of machinery including agricultural and construction equipment and household appliances. He said the EEP will also promote energy-saving innovations like smart home systems and smart farming.
FTI urges government to provide relief in fuel costs
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) asked the government to slow down the increase in fuel tariff (FT) from January to April 2023 to reduce the burden of high energy costs.
FTI vice chairman Isares Rattanadilok na Phuket said on Tuesday that energy price is currently fluctuating and is likely to increase continuously due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the Covid-19 situation.
These situations have caused inflation and recession, and industries, including the manufacturing, servicing, and household sectors, were greatly affected.
The federation had contacted them to seek a solution on energy costs and natural gas price structure, and sought a slowdown in the rate of FT cost but had not got an answer.
The FTI proposed to the government sector to reconsider and postpone the increase of FT cost from January to April 2023 and solve the problem at its root because every sector will have to shoulder the burden.
Isares said, “If [the FT cost] increases again in January to April 2023, electricity bills would go up substantially for two consecutive times and would affect every sector severely in adapting, causing recession worse than expected”.
Meanwhile, it will decrease Thailand’s competitiveness as the manufacturing and service sectors are major industrial sectors driving the country’s economy.
The government should review the guidelines to solve high energy costs and the decision to increase the electricity bill to be fair to every sectors so that businesses can operate with strengthen and compete on the global stage while also creating opportunities for investments in new industries.
Isares also asked the government to ease some operating obstacles such as getting a licence for factories or installing solar cells.
He also wanted cooperation with the Board of Investment to be quick and cover every business group. He suggested adjusting the oil formula of ethanol and gasoline.
AstraZeneca vaccine highly effective at preventing COVID-19 severe outcomes and death when used as first or second booster: study
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
WHO recommends COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca as booster in revised Good Practice Statement on the use of COVID-19 Boosters, based on latest data
BANGKOK – AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1-S [Recombinant]) was highly effective at preventing Omicron-related COVID-19 severe outcomes or death when used as a first booster, irrespective of the type of vaccines previously given, with an 89% relative risk reduction. Following a second booster, protection increased further with no severe outcomes or death being observed. The data from Thailand’s Chiang Mai University and Chiang Mai Provincial Health Office, et al, was published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. In all schedules studied, a booster with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca was shown to offer comparable protection to mRNA vaccines.
Based on the latest data, including that from the Chiang Mai University, and following advice issued by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revised its Good Practice Statement on the use of COVID-19 boosters to include the use of viral vectored vaccines, including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, as first or second boosters as part of any COVID-19 heterologous vaccination schedule.
WHO has also concluded that currently available data are not sufficient to support a preferential recommendation for bivalent variant-containing vaccine boosters over other currently available viral vector and mRNA vaccine boosters.
Data from an earlier analysis of the same data set, posted as a preprint in Research Square, show that a first booster with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca was also effective at preventing COVID-19 infections due to Omicron, offering comparable protection to mRNA vaccines.
Emeritus Professor Suwat Chariyalertsak, MD, Dr.PH, Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, commenting on the data produced in collaboration with the Chiang Mai Provincial Health Office, said: “Our studies provide important data showing that COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines are both effective as first or second boosters in reducing the risk of Omicron-related severe COVID-19 or death when used as part of a heterologous schedule. Adopting a heterologous, or ‘mix and match’, vaccination schedule may help enhance ongoing efforts to increase population coverage of booster doses.”
John Perez, Senior Vice President, Head of Late Development, Vaccines & Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca, added: “These new data further support our expectation that additional boosters of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can help protect against all severities of Omicron-related COVID-19 from mild symptomatic to severe disease including hospitalisation and death. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca will continue to play an important role in helping to protect against currently-circulating COVID-19 variants as part of a primary or booster vaccination schedule.”
To date, over 3 billion doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca have been released for supply to more than 180 countries around the world, of which over two thirds have gone to lower- or lower-middle income countries. Based on model outcomes, COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is estimated to have helped save over 6 million lives during its first year of use.
Megabangna Opens Magic Factory of Festive Fun and Gifts
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Megabangna kicks off the holiday season, bringing special gifts from the “MEGA HAPPINESS SEASON 2022: THE MAGIC FACTORY” today until January 5.
Megabangna Shopping Centre has opened the doors to its factory of joy for the grand celebration of Christmas and New Year with “MEGA HAPPINESS SEASON 2022: THE MAGIC FACTORY”, which runs from November 5 to January 5, bringing every customer the greatest happiness during the most festive time of year.
Campaigns and promotions have been planned for Megabangna fans to win incredible prizes throughout the month, with over THB 6.8 million in gifts and special prizes, as well as fun activities happening in almost every corner of the shopping mall.
Themed “THE MAGIC FACTORY,” this year’s decoration takes on the concept of a magical factory of happiness in the Atlantic where super-cute workers prepare infinite happiness and smiles for everyone.
Another special surprise is that CHANEL is joining the festivity with the amazing CHANEL HOLIDAY INSTALLATION.
Situated at the main entrance, the installation comes with the concept “GIVE WONDER, GIVE CHANEL,” making the moment of happiness even more complete. Last but not least, the “MEGA COUNTDOWN 2023” features the best lineup of Thailand’s leading musical acts, including POLYCAT, MEAN X SLAPKISS, THE TOYS, BOWKYLION, COCKTAIL, SLOT MACHINE, and GETSUNOVA, bidding farewell to 2022 and ushering in the new year with a spectacular display of music, sounds, and illumination.
Held on Saturday, December 31, 2022, the event will conclude the celebration of Megabangna’s 10th anniversary.
Palinee Kongchansiri, President of Megabangna Shopping Centre, recounts the inspiration behind this incredible event. “For the past ten years, we have been operating under the philosophy of ‘WE CREATE A BETTER EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE MANY PEOPLE.’ Each of our activities is designed to best meet our customers’ requirements and expectations, providing them with the time of their lives so that every moment they spend at Megabangna counts as the best quality time imaginable”
MEGA HAPPINESS SEASON 2022 has a budget of THB 70 million to provide clients with a wide range of events from November 15, 2022, to January 5, 2023. The event will be divided into four distinct zones.
Megabangna’s intention with the special “Christmas Decoration” is to bring the greatest happiness to everyone with the wonderful styling of the shopping mall’s space for everyone to snap and share their moments of happiness.
Joining the ride are the lovely characters from ‘THE MAGIC FACTORY’ of the Atlantic in the land of snow-covered mountains and glaciers, from Santa Clause and friends who come bearing gifts, passing over the joy and happiness to everyone.
Another highlight has to be Santa’s fluffy and sweet helpers, the penguins and polar bears, who have nothing but love and happiness to give. Then there are the reindeer, the darling messengers that deliver Santa’s gifts to good people all across the world, and the snowman, who represents happiness and creativity. During the Christmas season, everything is ready for your finest Instagram moments for everyone to share with their loved ones.
ZONE 1: WELCOME GATE Located near the entryway of the Mega Food walk, the zone is accompanied by the polar bear, who is waiting to greet visitors as they enter the MAGIC FACTORY.
ZONE 2: THE MAGIC FACTORY The gift factory is situated in the midst of sparkling white snow, surrounded by little penguins and snowmen working their assigned tasks at the production, transportation, and quality control departments, ensuring that the best-quality gifts reach people all over the world. The security guards are an adorable army of gingerbread men, while everyone’s favourite person,
Santa Clause, and his right-hand man, the polar bear, run the entire factory. Other attractions include the Polar Parade, Christmas Carols, and special shows performed by children from the Mega Smart Kids Institutes, who will delight consumers every weekend throughout December.
ZONE 3: MEGA SMILE REWARDS HAPPY STATION The activity and redemption zone is for Mega Smile Rewards members who purchase between 1 December 2022 – 3 January 2023. Bring your receipt to claim privileges and gifts every day throughout the month at the activity booth near Fashion Galleria Zone
ZONE 4: CHANEL HOLIDAY Megabangna partnered with one of the world’s biggest luxury brands to make this holiday season even more memorable. CHANEL joins the festivities with “GIVE WONDER, GIVE CHANEL,” a special installation inspired by a spaceship. Everyone is welcome to board the CHANEL spaceship to return to earth and celebrate the season of joy with their loved ones, along with exclusive gifts from CHANEL.
The next task is for all of the shoppers out there. “MEGA WISH” rings in the New Year with a bang. From now until January 3rd, 2023, Mega Smile Rewards members who shop a minimum purchase of THB 2,500 per receipt or redeem 3 Mega Smile Rewards points to get one chance to win THB 1.8 million-worth of prizes via the Megabangna application, including a Honda City Turbo RS CVT, the total of THB 100,000-worth of vouchers, Galaxy Flip 4 256 GB phones, products from brands such as GRAPHITE, Scooter Segway, the Apple Watch Series, and 31 other amazing gifts.
Another promotion that shoppers have been anticipating is the “ADVENT CALENDAR 2022.” From December 1st, 2022, to January 3rd, 2023, every Mega Smile Rewards member who dines or makes a minimum purchase of THB 3,000 per receipt will have a chance to play special games and win special gift cards and surprise gifts, including the big rewards from 80 shops that have joined this amazing campaign. Every day, 68 awards totalling THB 5 million are given away, ranging from cash cards to cosmetic sets, jewellery, diamond pendants, electrical appliances, musical instruments, IT products and gadgets, and fashion items. The total value of the rewards from the two campaigns comes to THB 6.8 million.
Don’t miss the legendary New Year’s Eve and Megabangna’s 10th-anniversary celebration, “MEGA COUNTDOWN 2023.” This iconic concert will cement Megabangna’s reputation as the landmark for the greatest countdown event in eastern Bangkok with an extraordinary lineup of Thailand’s hottest performers. Enjoy the final leg of Megabangna’s 10th-anniversary celebration with a stunning sound and illumination performance that will make the year’s final night more memorable than ever. See you on December 31st, 2022, from 16.00 onward.
Celebrate the season of happiness and welcome the year 2023 with us today through January 5th, 2023 at Megabangna Shopping Centre’s “MEGA HAPPINESS SEASON 2022: THE MAGIC FACTORY.”
BTS Group Holdings chairman Keeree Kanjanapas led executives and employees to worship at Thao Maha Phrom shrine near BTS headquarters on December 9 where they prayed for an unpaid debt owed to BTS to be repaid as soon as possible.
BTS has carried the weight of the debt for more than three years. We are waiting patiently. We have proceeded according to the law. First, we requested the debt be rapid. Next, we clarified the facts. Third, we filed a complaint to the Administrative Court. We are waiting with hope, but still have not had a response from a government that is evading its responsibility. Today, we have to rely on sacred statues. #debtmustberepaid
More than three years weighed down by an unpaid debt. This is how BTS has been fighting so far. We called for debt repayment. We issued our first clarification about the debt. We waited… We filed a complaint with the Administrative Court. The court ruled [the government] had to repay the debt. We waited… The government evaded its responsibility. We issued our second clarification about the debt. We waited…with hope. But there was no response.
“I never thought that our company would be bullied by politicians.” No hope. We must pray to sacred statues. “We have done our best to ensure that people will not suffer, but the government was not concerned about us. We relied on many people involved in the debt, including the government. But the issue has not been settled. So we pray for Thao Maha Phrom’s kindness. Please settle many outstanding issues, especially the government’s debt, as soon as possible. We have done our best. May Thao Maha Phrom please have mercy.” Debt…must be repaid
Thai experts working on breathalyser to screen Covid-19 patients
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) is pushing for a breathalyser innovation to screen Covid-19 patients with the goal of detecting cycle threshold (CT) values similar to RT-PCR tests.
Pisit Mitkuakun, the president of the Radio Control Airplane Modeller Sport Association (RCSA), on Monday said that the research team was a collaboration with RCSA, Rajavithi Hospital, Mahidol University, and the private sector with a supporting budget from the NRCT.
The tool will be an innovation for screening Covid-19 as it will use only one’s breath without nasal swabs, blood tests, or saliva samples.
Pisit said that the test has high sensitivity and specificity as it took only five minutes to get a result so patients will be screened quickly to get immediate treatment and reduce the chance of spreading in a wide area.
He added that the research team is improving the tool to be able to get the CT value similar to RT-PCR tests.
Dr Sathit Niramitmahapanya of Rajavithi Hospital said that the team is studying continuously and collecting information from 3,000 samples before sending them to the research team to develop the tool.
Sathit said, “It is an important progress of the research team and will be beneficial for the medical field, especially for treating emergency patients who require urgent surgery or treatment, but it is necessary for them to get the amount of virus or CT value to assess the risk of Covid-19 spreading before entering the treatment process.”
Only RT-PCR tests currently can provide the CT value, which will take several hours. He added that Thailand might be the only country to use CT value in categorising patients in each level to control the disease.
Tiersidh Nasomphan, a researcher from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Pharmacy, said that the tool could detect those who are infected with Covid-19 and those who are not infected with the help of machine learning and AI system.
Apart from detecting CT value, he aimed to develop it for convenience. It will be able to scan the ID card and passport and print out the slip after getting the result.
The machine will be released as a portable bag version and the stationary kiosk version and will be developed to detect other respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis and lung cancer while also detecting drugs.
Spring-warm or winter-cool? Personal colour tests, the latest beauty craze
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Are you warm-toned or cool-toned? The current craze for South Koreans is to take personal colour tests — or consultations that provide recommendations for people’s personal colour types.
The tests, largely held offline for accuracy, have professional analysts evaluate whether people fall under the category of “warm-tone” or “cool-tone,” by scrutinizing their skin tone.
According to the tests, warm-toned people generally have a yellow-base skin undertone, while cool-toned people harbour a blue-base skin undertone.
The South Korean personal colour system breaks it down further into four colour types: spring warm, summer cool, autumn warm and winter cool.
Spring warm-toned people are generally suited for yellow undertone colours that are light and pastel-toned, while autumn warm-toned people are best styled with deep and darker yellow undertone colours.
Meanwhile, summer cool-toned people are to be styled with colour palettes which include cooling, soft and bright colours — whereas deeper, striking colours with blue undertones like forest green, wine red and black are recommended for winter cool-toned people.
Personal colour types are determined for an individual after they go through consultation sessions such as draping and pouch analysis.
During the draping portion of the testing sessions, fabrics of multiple colours are draped across the shoulders of the customer to see the effect of each colour on a person’s general style.
The drapings discern the colours best suited for each customer and work as the evaluation tool for analysts to determine each person’s personal colour type.
A person tries on different colored fabric swatches during a personal color test. (Colorazit)
Next, customers’ makeup pouches are analyzed, and the analysts look through the makeup items most often used by the customer to advise them on the type of cosmetics they should or should not use.
Diagnosis reports which elaborate in detail about the person’s general style are finally given to each customer after the session is over.
Then, where did these personal colour tests come from?
The basic theory for warm and cool-tone differentiation stems from American artist Robert Dorr’s colour key system theory, which underscored that colours were most harmoniously used when using the same undertone of either blue or yellow.
Fashion designer Suzanne Caygill applied Dorr’s system to people’s physical traits, determining a person’s personal colour after examining an individual’s colour of skin, hair and pupil.
Expanding on Caygill’s idea, colour consultant Carole Jackson classified human images by the four seasons in her bestseller “Color me beautiful” — which became the origin of inspiration for multinational beauty consulting companies in the United States and Europe, to commercialize the process of personal colour diagnosis for international consumers.
The tests entered the South Korean market for the first time in 1993 and gradually became a hit.
Continuing the momentum of its popularity, a slew of South Korean beauty companies have too released personal colour system-related goods as a part of their marketing tactic.
South Korea’s first personal colour-related goods started with Espoir, a cosmetic brand under the nation’s beauty and cosmetics conglomerate Amorepacific.
Tonework (Amorepacific)
Named Real Eye Handy Palette, the eyeshadow palettes are composed of selections of colors centred around each personal colour season.
Releases of a series of goods and services followed, such as AI-based personal colour analysis applications and personalized cosmetics that analyze a person’s skin tone prior to developing the product.
For one, Amorepacific’s cosmetic manufacturing technology “Tonework” customizes makeup products based on colours most suited for consumers. It measures the colour of a person’s face using AI algorithms and has robots manufacture customized liquid foundations, cushion compacts and lip products based on a person’s personal colour type.
The most popular Snapchat-like camera app in South Korea, Snow, operated by Naver, also offer diverse personal colour type filters for its consumers to use.
Then why did these personal colour tests become such a hit?
Experts pinpointed an increased interest in self as one of the factors.
“Before, people were eager to follow what the celebrities had on as part of their makeup,” said Yoon Jung-ha, CEO of Zamface, an AI-based app that allows users to take personal colour tests on their own. The virtual personal colour test-dedicated app recorded 1.7 million users as of December.
“People used famous makeup products whether or not it suited themselves, but now more focus is being spent on whether the makeup products suit their own style,” she added.
The comfort of belonging to a certain group also contributed to its popularity.
“People tend to seek for a certain sense of belonging during uncertain times. The personal colour system, in that aspect, could have provided people with a category in which to fit,” said Lee Young-ae, a professor of consumer science at Incheon University.
She cited South Koreans’ affinity for MBTI tests and the tests which categorized individuals based on blood type, noting that people like to be “classified” into certain groups.
She further mentioned that with increased online shopping, people needed to be certain if the colour of the makeup products would suit them without trying them out in person, saying that a personal colour system provided consumers with a standard upon which to fall back on.
However, the results of the personal colour system should not be trusted blindly, experts also added.
“The personal colour system itself is based on a sound scientific theory,” said Shin Hyang-seon, the president of Korea Color Industry Specialist Association.
She said people’s skin undertones, which are determined by three elements including haemoglobin, carotene and melanin, are defined by genetics and will never change, emphasizing that, in that matter, there will always be colours best suited for an individual from the moment they are born.
“However, skin overtones can change based upon factors such as sun exposure, the type of food a person eats, and natural ageing — leading to a more difficult assessment of a personal colour system as a person ages,” she added.
Moreover, she stressed that the current personal colour system market is filled with analysts who are not qualified enough to be giving out recommendations.
“Personal colours are best diagnosed by colourists (specialists in colour). But people of different occupations such as makeup specialists and stylists are currently giving out personal colour tests, which could lead to a potentially inaccurate diagnosis of personal colour types,” said Shin.
Moreover, with the test initially designed for foreigners, for higher accuracy, a separate uniform system for personal colour needs to be established specifically for Asians, Shin added.
“South Koreans have taken the personal colour type theory and tests possibly the furthest out of all the countries in the world. The tests could become a foundation stone for the growth of the nation’s beauty market,” Shin said.
Ayutthaya kids recreate Fifa World Cup, Thai style
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022
Students from Ayutthaya Witthayalai School have recreated the Fifa World Cup – with a Thai-style twist. The kids climbed aboard mounts from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal for a football rumble.
The 11 elephants taking part were painted in the national flags of World Cup teams. The jumbo exhibition match was held to promote sports and campaign against gambling on the Fifa tournament in Thailand.
More than three years weighed down by an unpaid debt. This is how BTS has been fighting so far. We called for debt repayment. We issued our first clarification about the debt. We waited… We filed a complaint with the Administrative Court. The court ruled [the government] had to repay the debt. We waited… The government evaded its responsibility. We issued our second clarification about the debt. We waited…with hope. But there was no response.
A person tries on different colored fabric swatches during a personal color test. (Colorazit)
Tonework (Amorepacific)
SootinClaimon.Com 