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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000892

Thai stocks rise slightly to snap three-day slide

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,549.48 on Friday, up 1.35 points or 0.09 per cent. The volume of total transactions was THB97.35 billion with an index high of 1,558.86 and a low of 1,532.29. The SET rebounded slightly after three consecutive days of losses this week.

In the morning session, Krungsri Securities forecast Friday’s index would fluctuate between 1,535 and 1,560 points amid hopes of economic recovery after the number of US jobless claims fell to the lowest in a year.

“Uncertainty over rising inflation, the falling crude price and outflow of foreign funds would pressure the index,” Krungsri Securities said.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were STGT, PTT, KBANK, SAWAD, CPALL, CPF, TIDLOR, RCL, STA and TTA.

Other Asian indices were on the rise:

Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 28,084.47, up 636.46 points or 2.32 per cent.

China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 3,490.38, up 60.84 points or 1.77 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 14,208.78, up 291.13 points or 2.09 per cent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 28,027.57, up 308.90 points or 1.11 per cent.

South Korea’s KOSPI closed at 3,153.32, up 31.21 points or 1.00 per cent.

Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 15,827.09, up 156.99 points or 1.00 per cent.

Published : May 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000885

Global chip shortage expected to last until 2022

The worldwide microchip shortage that is driving up the price of computers and other devices will last through 2021, according to Gartner, Inc.

The research firm expects semiconductors (microchips) ­to recover to normal levels by the second quarter of 2022.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has admitted that Thai manufacturers – especially in the automotive industry – face production impacts from the shortage.

“The semiconductor shortage will severely disrupt the supply chain and will constrain the production of many electronic equipment types in 2021. Foundries are increasing wafer prices, and in turn, chip companies are increasing device prices,” said Kanishka Chauhan, principal research analyst at Gartner.

Meanwhile, undersupply of most categories of devices is expected to persist until the second quarter of 2022.

Gartner analysts recommend that manufacturers dependent on microchips take four actions to cut risk and revenue loss during the global chip shortage:

● Extend supply chain visibility beyond the supplier to the silicon level, which will be critical in projecting supply constraints and projecting when the crisis will improve.

● Partner with other manufacturers to approach chip foundries as a combined entity to gain some leverage, or pre-invest in the chip supply chain and/or foundries to guarantee long-term supply.

● Track leading indicators such as capital investments, inventory index and semiconductor industry revenue growth projections as an early indicator of inventory situations.

● Diversify supplier base.

Published : May 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000879

More applications for pico finance operators as govt cracks down on loan sharks

The number of people applying for pico finance and pico-plus finance operation licences has been constantly rising, Pornchai Triraveja, spokesman for the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) said.

Apico finance operator is one with a capital of at least 5 million baht who is allowed to lend no more than 50,000 baht per borrower. A pico-plus operator has a capital of 10 million baht and can lend up to 100,000 baht per person.

In March, 877 companies from 75 provinces applied for a licence, with the top three provinces being Nakhon Ratchasima (77 applicants), Bangkok (63) and Khon Kaen (51).

Meanwhile, the number of firms applying for a pico-plus licence in March stood at 147 from 46 provinces. Nakhon Ratchasima again led the list with 22 applicants, followed by Udon Thani with nine and Ubon Ratchathani with eight.

“Since the Finance Ministry began accepting applications for both licences since December 2016, pico finance operators have given out 484,638 loans totalling 11.37 billion baht or an average of 23,461 baht per account,” Pornchai added.

As of February, 186,913 loans worth 4.12 billion baht were still outstanding. Of these, 27,981 accounts worth 641.62 million baht were short-term loans for up to three months.

Meanwhile, 31,500 worth 736.04 million baht were non-performing loans.

“From December 2016 to March this year, 9,118 loan sharks have been arrested in police operations, with 214 nabbed in March alone,” he added.

Published : May 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000876

Flight of foreign funds, inflation could drag SET down

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 7.30 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 1,555.43 at 10.02am on Friday. The volume of total transactions was THB7.34 billion with an index high of 1,558.86 and a low of 1,554.04.

Krungsri Securities predicted that the SET Index would fluctuate between 1,535 and 1,560 points despite hopes of economic recovery after the number of US jobless claims fell to the lowest in a year.

“Uncertainty over rising inflation, falling crude price and outflow of foreign funds would pressure the index,” Krungsri Securities predicted.

It recommended that investors buy:

▪︎ EA, GPSC, BPP and ROJNA, which are related to electric vehicles.

▪︎ HANA, KCE, TU, CPF and EPG, which benefit from the weakening baht.

▪︎ ADVANC, INTUCH and WHAUP, which pay high dividends.

The SET Index closed at 1,548.13 on Thursday, down 23.72 points or 1.51 per cent. The volume of total transactions was THB143.71 billion with an index high of 1,561.80 and a low of 1,501.02.

Published : May 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000870

Gold gets a boost from buy-ups as US bond yield slides

The price of gold rose by THB100 per baht weight in morning trade on Friday, thanks to mass buy-ups of safe-haven assets amid the decline in US bond yield and uncertainty over rising US inflation.

The Gold Traders Association report at 9.26am showed the buying price of a gold bar at THB26,950 per baht weight and selling price at THB27,050, while gold ornaments were priced at THB26,469.36 and THB27,550, respectively.

At close on Thursday, the buying price of a gold bar was THB26,850 per baht weight and selling price THB26,950, while gold ornaments were priced at THB26,363.24 and THB27,450, respectively.

Spot gold price on Friday was US$1,824 (THB57,165) per ounce compared to Thursday when it rose by $1.2 to $1,824 per ounce.

Hong Kong gold price on Friday rose by HK$100 to $16,920 (THB68,268) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

Published : May 14, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000845

Meeting on THAI’s rehab plan delayed by a week

The online meeting between the Legal Execution Department and creditors to vote on Thai Airways (THAI)’s rehabilitation plan was postponed by a week to May 19.

The move came after 20 creditors, who are owed THB32.61 billion or 24.40 per cent of THAI’s total THB133.70 billion debt, asked for the meeting to be postponed as they did not have time to study the most recent version of the rehabilitation plan.

The revised version of the plan was submitted on Tuesday afternoon and the meeting was scheduled to be held the following day.

The creditors who asked for the meeting to be postponed are:

• Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperatives of Thailand

• Thammasat University Savings and Credit Cooperative

• Chulalongkorn University Savings Cooperative

• Kasetsart University Savings and Credit Cooperative

• Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Provincial Electricity Authority Employees Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Thai Airways International Employees Saving Cooperative

• Hatyai Hospital Saving and Credit Cooperative

• The Rubber Authority of Thailand Saving and Credit Cooperative

• PTT Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Department of Fisheries Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Comptroller General’s Department Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Prince of Songkhla University Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Credit Union League of Thailand

• Government Pharmaceutical Organisation Saving and Credit Cooperative

• Chevron (Thailand)

• GE Energy Services

• Ocean Life Insurance

• Thanachart Bank

• General Electric

Published : May 14, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000850

SET down more than 1.5% as fear of US rate rise hits Asian markets

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,548.13 on Thursday, down 23.72 points or 1.51 per cent. The volume of total transactions was THB143.71 billion with an index high of 1,561.80 and a low of 1,501.02.

In the morning session, Krungsri Securities forecast the index on Thursday would fall to between 1,555 and 1,560 points after the US recorded a higher-than-expected inflation rise in April’s Consumer Price Index, triggering worries of a rate hike and tapering of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve.

The index would be under pressure from a weakening baht, foreign fund outflows and the SET’s move to impose cash-balance regulations on Delta Electronics shares, Krungsri Securities added.

“However, mass buy-ups of stocks that gain positive sentiment and whose first-quarter performance is likely to improve would help boost the index,” it predicted.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were CPALL, TIDLOR, STA, KBANK, STGT, PTT, SAWAD, PTTGC, IVL and SCGP.

Other Asian indices were on the fall:

Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 27,448.01, down 699.50 points or 2.49 per cent.

China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index closed at 3,429.54, down 33.22 points or 0.96 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 13,917.65, down 147.21 points or 1.05 per cent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 27,718.67, down 512.37 points or 1.81 per cent.

South Korea’s KOSPI closed at 3,122.11, down 39.55 points or 1.25 per cent.

Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 15,670.10, down 232.27 points or 1.46 per cent.

Published : May 13, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/40000843

Asean market connectivity enhanced with addition of Philippines

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC Thailand) have signed a supplemental memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines (SEC Philippines) to admit it as a new signatory to the Asean Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) Framework.

The entry of the Philippines into the framework is the latest step towards enhancing capital market connectivity in the region.

The Asean CIS Framework is an initiative under the regional capital markets integration plan endorsed by Asean finance ministers in 2009 to facilitate cross-border product access and fund distribution for investors and issuers respectively.

With SEC Philippines’ participation in the Asean CIS Framework, qualified investment companies in the Philippines and their fund managers will now be able to offer eligible funds to retail investors in the other three member jurisdictions, and vice versa.

Syed Zaid Albar, chairman of the SC congratulated SEC Philippines, saying: “Under the Asean CIS Framework, retail investors are able to tap into a wider choice of funds from beyond their borders, and fund managers can offer their products cross-border under an efficient approval system.

“The addition of the Philippines to the three existing jurisdictions under the Framework broadens the range of regional funds for portfolio diversification, and we hope for more participation from our Asean counterparts in the future.”

SEC Philippines’ chairperson Emilio Aquino, said: “We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts and dedication of SC, MAS and SEC Thailand in facilitating the admission of the Philippines into the Asean CIS Framework, especially members of Asean CIS Working Group B who played important roles in achieving this significant milestone, thereby allowing us to participate and be able to showcase our collective investment schemes.

“The expansion of the Asean CIS initiative to the Philippines further strengthens connectivity in the Asean region. As the fourth signatory to the Framework, we will also endeavour to work together with other signatories in encouraging other Asean countries in joining the Framework and in promoting cross-border offerings of Asean Funds.”

Lim Tuang Lee, assistant managing director (Capital Markets), MAS, said: “SEC Philippines’ participation in the Asean CIS Framework marks a progressive step towards greater integration of Asean capital markets.

“The enhanced reach of the platform will open up new opportunities and markets to both fund managers and investors in participating member states. We welcome SEC Philippines’ participation, and look forward to more Asean members joining the framework.”

Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, SEC Thailand’s secretary-general, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Philippines as a new signatory to the Asean CIS Framework, which fosters more inter-connected, inclusive, and resilient Asean capital markets.

“This new partnership will create more business opportunities and strengthen economic cooperation among Asean member states while enriching the pool of funds available for investment in Asean. We look forward to the participation of more Asean member states in this framework over the coming years.”

Published : May 13, 2021

By : The Nation