The baht opened at 33.41 to the US dollar on Friday, strengthening from Thursday’s closing rate of 33.42.
The Thai currency is likely to move between 33.35 and 33.45 to the greenback during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.
Poon said that the baht is likely to strengthen slightly because the dollar is weakening. Moreover, the gold price is increasing to near the level of 1,800 dollars per ounce which will support the baht to strengthen.
Meanwhile, foreign investors are investing in Thai stocks as they recently bought Thai stocks for 4.7 billion baht total. However, They will not invest in the baht much more until they saw how mergers and acquisitions transactions at the end of this year go.
Poon confirmed that the baht is likely to strengthen in the short term according to the technical analysis.
He added that the baht resistance level would be at 33.30 to the dollar while the support level would be at 33.50 which was the weakest level before the Fed meeting.
The price of gold rose by THB150 in morning trade on Friday.
A9.25am report from the Gold Traders Association showed the buying price of gold bar at THB28,350 per baht weight and selling price at THB28,450, while the buying and selling price of gold ornaments is THB27,833.76 and THB28,950, respectively.
At close on Tuesday, the buying price of gold bar was THB28,200 per baht weight and selling price THB28,300, while gold ornaments were THB27,697.32 and THB28,800, respectively.
Comex gold at close on Thursday surged by $33.7 or 1.91 per cent to $1,798.2 per ounce which hit the highest closing level since December 2, due to support from the depreciation of the US dollar and from investors buying the precious metal.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Sunday (December 19) that another rather strong high-pressure system covers upper Thailand with cool to cold, strong winds, as well as a decrease in temperature by 2-4 °C in the North and by 1-3 °C in the rest regions.
On mountaintops of the North and the Northeast, cold to very cold is forecast. The minimum temperature of the North mountaintops is in range of 2-11 °C while the Northeast ranges by 5-13 °C. People should keep healthy due to the variable weather, and all transport take more caution in poor visibility.
In addition, the active low-pressure cell that covered Malaysia has moved into the Malaca Strait. Isolated heavy rains remains for the lower South of Thailand. People should beware of the severe condition that may cause overflows and flash floods.
The rather strong wind forces the waves in the upper Gulf 1-2 metres high, in the lower Gulf about 2 metres high, and in thundershowers more than 3 metres high. People along the Gulf shore should beware of inshore surges. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers.
Typhoon “RAI” over the middle South China Sea has not affected Thailand.
The 24-hour weather forecast for different regions:
North: Morning cool to cold; temperature lows of 12-16 degrees and highs of 26-30 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 2-11 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool to cold with strong winds; temperature lows of 12-16 degrees and highs of 26-28 degrees Celsius; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-13 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 17-19 degrees Celsius, highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 17-22 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.
South (east coast): Cool in the morning in the upper part, scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rains in the lower part; temperature lows of 20-25 degrees Celsius, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius. Chumphon northward: Waves 1-2 metres. Surat Thani southward: Waves about 2 metres high and above 3 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius. Krabi northward: Waves about 1 metre high and 1-2 metres offshore. Trang southward: Waves 1-2 metres high and about 2 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool in the morning and strong winds; temperature lows of 19-21 degrees Celsius, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday instructed the Public Health Ministry to issue an official rule that all visitors to large New Year festivals present proof of vaccination and ATK tests taken no more than 72 hours ago.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said event organisers are required to strictly adhere to the ministry’s Covid Free Setting measures.
Visitors to events with more than 1,000 people are required to be fully vaccinated and present antigen test results taken within 72 hours. For smaller events, visitors are only expected to present proof of being fully jabbed.
Thanakorn also asked people to not fall for fraudsters who offer to issue Covid-19 vaccination certificates for those who have not been jabbed. Both fraudsters and users will be punished in this case because they could spread the disease.
A correct certificate will have a QR Code which will display information about the vaccinee, the doctor who administered the jab, the brand of the dose and its bottle number.
He added that the premier was worried about restrictions being eased over the New Year, such as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration allowing restaurants to serve booze on New Year’s Eve until 1am.
Workers whose earnings dropped significantly since the government closed entertainment venues to curb the spread of Covid-19 will soon be given 5,000 baht each in compensation, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said on Saturday.
“The Labour Ministry will propose the plan at the next Cabinet meeting and the money may be disbursed before the end of the year,” she said. “To be eligible, candidates must be Thai nationals, part of the social security scheme and be able to provide an employment certificate from businesses that have registered with Commerce or Interior ministries. This applies to entertainment businesses like pubs, bars, massage parlours and karaoke joints that have been ordered closed.”
Once approved, the ministry will deposit the money directly via the PromptPay account linked to the candidate’s national ID.
Those who are not part of the social security scheme, such as the self-employed, can apply to become beneficiaries under Article 40 of the Social Security Act before January 14.
“Only Thai nationals aged 15 to 65 will be eligible to apply under Article 40. They can choose to contribute 70, 100 or 300 baht per month, but the more you pay, the better benefits you will get in case of illness or injury,” Traisulee added.
The Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department has announced that the level of Chao Phraya River near Samut Prakan’s Phra Chulachomklao Fort will rise by up to 1.9 metres from Saturday to December 27.
The Hydrographic Department said it will provide updates on Chao Phraya’s water level on its website.
The high tide has been put down to the strong Northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, which will also bring heavy rain to the South.
Citizens are being urged to be cautious and closely monitor the water situation.
Thai authorities traditionally offer free or subsidised services as a New Year present to the public. This year it is offering a bunch of freebies to motorists during the holiday period to help make travel a more enjoyable experience.
Here is a list of the freebies offered:
• Toll-free expressway: The Expressway Authority of Thailand announced earlier this month that no tolls will be charged from December 30 to January 3 on its two main expressways – Burapha Withi (Bang Na-Chonburi) and Kanchanapisek (Bang Phli-Suksawas).
• Toll-free motorways: The Department of Highways will waive toll fees on two motorways – No 7 (Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya) and No 9 (Bang Pa In-Bang Phli-Bang Khun Tian) from midnight on December 30 to January 2 midnight.
• Free vehicle check-up: The Department of Land Transport is inviting motorists to bring their vehicles to any of the more than 2,000 participating service centres displaying the sign “Free Check-up for Road Safety”. The campaign runs throughout December with participating partners including leading petrol and LPG/NGV stations nationwide.
For non-motorists, the Transport Company will offer a 10 per cent discount on all interprovincial buses for passengers travelling between December 20 and January 20. To be eligible, passengers must book their tickets via the company’s website https://tcl99web.transport.co.th/Home or through its mobile application. Tickets bought under this promotion cannot be refunded or changed.
After handing a petition addressed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday, Nakhon Si Thammarat’s “Save Na Bon” group set up camp outside the United Nations headquarters in Bangkok.
Their demand is that the government bring the development of bio-mass power stations in their district to a halt because they fear the environmental impact the power plants may have. They are also concerned that the power plants may switch to coal or other fossil fuels later, causing further damage to the environment.
Protesters say that land clearing for the project is already underway.
One of the protest leaders said people in Na Bon make their living from fruit orchards and rubber plantations and do not want power plants to be built near their communities.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on Friday that it will set up special disease prevention measures for travellers entering Thailand via the Nong Khai checkpoint from December 24.
CCSA’s spokesperson Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said the centre will also check out New Year celebration venues in places like Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima as well as Nong Khai.
According to the CCSA, Nong Khai will be the first province to open its border to travellers under the Test & Go scheme. Nong Khai shares a border with Laos.
Thailand will officially open its doors on January 1, including its border crossings in Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Ubon Ratchathani.
Only open-air restaurants in Bangkok can serve alcoholic beverages during the New Year countdown, governor Aswin Kwanmuang announced on Friday.
The aim is to promote tourism during the New Year countdown while maintaining maximum disease control measures.
Details of the new criteria are:
• Restaurants can serve alcohol for the New Year countdown until 1am, provided they have open-air spaces with proper ventilation.
• Customers must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In case venues have more than 1,000 participants, all attendees must provide negative ATK test results taken within 72 hours.
• No walk-ins will be allowed. All customers are required to reserve their seats online to prevent overcrowding.
• Restaurant staffers and customers must strictly follow Covid Free Setting practices.
The governor added that restaurants that do not have open-air spaces but have passed the Department of Health’s Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus (TSC 2+) standard can serve alcohol until 11pm as previously announced.
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