U.S. Stocks Fall Amid Rotation Out of Big Tech: Markets Wrap

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U.S. stocks fell for the first time in five days amid a rotation out of megacap tech shares.

U.S. Stocks Fall Amid Rotation Out of Big Tech: Markets Wrap

The S&P 500 slipped 0.1%, pulling back from the benchmark’s 69th record close reached on Monday. The Nasdaq 100 retreated on turnarounds in four-day rallies for the likes of Nvidia Corp., Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. Still, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stayed in the green thanks to reopening beneficiaries such as Walt Disney Co. and Boeing Co.

Trading was choppy as moves were exaggerated by thin volumes, with shares changing hands in the major benchmarks about a third below daily averages for the past 30 days. Max Gokhman, chief investment officer at AlphaTrAI, attributed today’s reversal to gravity.

“The bump we saw on Monday didn’t have a clear catalyst, so we’re giving some of that back today,” he said. “I don’t think today’s pullback portends further declines, but this week’s seasonally low volume mixed with unseasonably higher volatility at the individual stock level means that one errant headline could give us a significant move in either direction as we get into the last stretch of 2021.”

Global shares are on course for a third year of double-digit returns, powered by the U.S. surge. Analysts remain bullish on earnings forecasts even amid coronavirus waves and a shift by some key central banks toward tighter monetary policy to fight high inflation.

“My sense is investors got too complacent over the last few days,” said Mike Bailey, director of research at FBB Capital Partners. “Value investors might have noticed the S&P creeping toward a 30% year-to-date move and decided to trim some expensive stocks.”

A tidal wave of omicron infections lifted global Covid-19 cases to a daily all-time high on Monday, meanwhile investors have taken some comfort from studies suggesting omicron causes less severe illness. A University of Oxford immunologist said the omicron variant is not “the same disease we were seeing a year ago,” reinforcing reports about the strain’s milder nature.

“What we’re seeing with each of these variants is they’re just not as severe,” said Anderson Lafontant, Miracle Mile Advisors senior advisor on Bloomberg TV. “One area that we like a lot is energy. We’re viewing this as a reopening play.”

Read more: CDC Pares Omicron View to a Still-Dominant 59% of U.S. Cases

Data Tuesday showed the Richmond Fed’s manufacturing survey rose in December, beating estimates, with the prior reading revised higher, while growth in U.S. home prices cooled for a third straight month in October.

In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin gave up a recent advance to slide below the $50,000 level, suggesting investors in the riskiest corners of global markets are becoming more circumspect.

What to watch this week:

–U.S. initial jobless claims, Thursday

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

–The S&P 500 fell 0.1% as of closing

–The Nasdaq 100 was little changed

–The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%

–The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.6%

–The MSCI World index rose 0.3%

Currencies

–The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed

–The euro fell 0.3% to $1.1291

–The British pound fell 0.2% to $1.3419

–The Japanese yen was little changed at 114.81 per dollar

Bonds

–The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined two basis points to 1.46%

–Germany’s 10-year yield was little changed at -0.24%

Commodities

–West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.5% to $75.98 a barrel

–Gold futures rose 0.3% to $1,813.60 an ounce

Published : December 29, 2021

By : Bloomberg

Mexico to stop exporting oil in 2023 in self-sufficiency quest

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Mexico plans to end crude oil exports in 2023 as part of a strategy by the nationalist government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to reach self-sufficiency in the domestic fuels market.

Mexico to stop exporting oil in 2023 in self-sufficiency quest

Petroleos Mexicanos, the Mexican state-owned producer known as Pemex, will reduce crude oil exports to 435,000 barrels a day in 2022 before phasing out sales to clients abroad the following year, Chief Executive Officer Octavio Romero said during a press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday.

The move is part of a drive by Lopez Obrador to expand Mexico’s domestic production of fuels instead of sending its oil abroad while it imports costly refined products, like gasoline and diesel. Mexico currently buys the bulk of the fuels it consumes from U.S. refineries.

If fulfilled, Pemex’s pledge will mark the withdrawal from the international oil market by one of it’s most prominent players of the past decades. At its peak in 2004, Pemex exported almost 1.9 million barrels a day to refineries from the Japan to India, and was a participant in meetings by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries as observer.

Last month, the Mexican company sold abroad slightly more than one million daily barrels, according to Pemex data.

The export reduction will come as Pemex increases its domestic crude processing, which will reach 1.51 million barrels a day in 2022 and 2 million daily barrels in 2023, Romero said. The Mexican driller will plow all of its production into its six refineries, including a facility under construction in the southeastern state of Tabasco and another one being bought near Houston, Texas. This plant is considered part of Mexico’s refining system even if located across the U.S. border.

Asian refineries, which account for more than a quarter of Mexican crude exports, are expected to bear the brunt of the export cuts. The reductions are expected to hit refiners in South Korea and India the hardest, with smaller cuts seen to buyers in the U.S. and Europe, as Pemex backtracks on earlier plans to diversify away from the U.S. market.

Published : December 29, 2021

By : Bloomberg

SET, other Asian indices rise on Omicron-related positive news, rising oil price

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The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,641.52 on Tuesday, up 5.02 points or 0.31 per cent. Transactions totalled 73.16 billion baht with an index high of 1,650.28 and a low of 1,640.61.

SET, other Asian indices rise on Omicron-related positive news, rising oil price

The index rose after falling by 0.04 per cent on Monday and 0.26 per cent on Friday.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were EA, GPSC, KBANK, MAKRO, KTB, TTB, SCB, ADVANC, BYD and GUNKUL.

Other Asian indices were on the rise:

  • Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 29,069.16, up 392.70 points or 1.37 per cent.
  • China’s Shanghai SE Composite closed at 3,630.11, up 14.14 points or 0.39 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component closed at 14,837.87, up 122.22 points or 0.83 per cent.
  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 23,280.56, up 56.80 points or 0.24 per cent.
  • South Korea’s KOSPI Index closed at 3,020.24, up 20.69 points or 0.69 per cent.
  • Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 18,196.81, up 147.87 points or 0.82 per cent.

Published : December 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

DOD’s subsidiary Siam Herbal Tech is the first company in Southeast Asia to successfully extract CBD Isolate from Hemp commercially

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Bangkok – DOD Biotech Public Company Limited has announced that its subsidiary, Siam Herbal Tech Company Limited, is the first company in Southeast Asia to successfully extract CBD from hemp flower for commercial purposes in their newly built state of the art extraction facility.

DOD’s subsidiary Siam Herbal Tech is the first company in Southeast Asia to successfully extract CBD Isolate from Hemp commercially

Bangkok – DOD Biotech Public Company Limited has announced that its subsidiary, Siam Herbal Tech Company Limited, is the first company in Southeast Asia to successfully extract CBD from hemp flower for commercial purposes in their newly built state of the art extraction facility. The CBD isolate powder, with a minimum purity of 98%, was extracted from hemp flower grown by Siam Herbal Tech’s contract farmers with seeds supplied to be grown for commercial purposes. This reaffirms its continued efforts to develop food supplements utilizing high grade CBD Isolate and other high value plant-based compounds as key ingredients to serve client demand for new product lines.

Mr.Thanin Srisethi, Chief Executive Officer of DOD Biotech Public Company Limited (“DOD”), reveals that Siam Herbal Tech Company Limited (“SHT”), a DOD subsidiary focused on the extraction of hemp-based cannabinoids, kratom and other plant-based compounds, announced that on 27 December 2021, SHT was able to successfully produce its first commercial batch of CBD isolate from hemp flower that commenced growing in September 2021, with the first batch of seeds supplied for commercial growing. This follows SHT being awarded its commercial license for CBD extraction on 8 December 2021.

SHT expects to deliver CBD Isolate in January 2022 to DOD to be used as an ingredient to develop and deliver specifically formulated food supplements. Under its “One Stop Service” program for new product development, DOD expects to move forward in delivering products to customers who have previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to jointly develop finished products from hemp-derived extracts. Amongst those with whom DOD has already signed MOUs are JKN Global Media (“JKN”), Rojukiss International (“KISS”), Beauty Community (“BEAUTY”), Chayo Group (“CHAYO”), FN Factory Outlet (“FN”), and other operators.

“We are proud of our achievement of becoming the first company in Southeast Asia to extract hemp-derived CBD isolate for commercial purposes and consider this a key milestone in the development of the commercial hemp industry in Thailand and Asia. This pioneering milestone will provide momentum to create value derived from products containing hemp, Kratom, and Thai herbal extracts for customers next year and into the future,” he said.

DOD’s subsidiary Siam Herbal Tech is the first company in Southeast Asia to successfully extract CBD Isolate from Hemp commercially

The MFUSED Group, one of the largest producers of hemp and cannabis-based cannabinoids in the Pacific Northwest of the United States of America, is a partner in SHT as previously announced. Mr. Yung Tan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the MFUSED Group expressed, “the MFUSED Group is delighted that SHT has achieved its objective of being the first company to extract CBD isolate commercially in Southeast Asia as part of its strategy to be a key supplier of hemp-derived cannabinoids and other plant-based therapeutic compounds in Asia.”

Mr.Jonathan Watsuksanti, Director of Siam Herbal Tech Company Limited and MFUSED Group (APAC) reaffirmed that “the global hemp, cannabinoid, and plant-based therapeutics industry is rapidly growing, with Thailand expected to have an industry market value as high as 20 billion baht in 2024 while the regional market will be valued at 400 billion baht. SHT, as Southeast Asia’s first mover in legal CBD extraction for commercial purposes, will be well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity to realize growth and further expand into the regional markets in the future, as planned.”

Published : December 28, 2021

BTS Group Holdings (BTS Group) intends to show responsibility for the environment

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Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) has certified BTS Group as carbon neutral.

BTS Group Holdings (BTS Group) intends to show responsibility for the environment by reducing greenhouse gas in order to become a carbon neutral. Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) has certified BTS Group as carbon neutral, making it the first carbon neutral rail transportation company in the world.

Published : December 27, 2021

PTG wins 2021 Asean Business Award

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The Asean Business Award aims to recognise companies in the region that are outstanding in different aspects, especially in helping strengthen the Asean Economic Community, becoming a role model for other firms and helping small and medium enterprises become competitive internationally.

PTG wins 2021 Asean Business Award

PT Energy (PTG) has won the 2021 Asean Business Award in recognition of its success in improving the quality of life in Thailand as a leading integrated energy business operator.

The Asean Business Award aims to recognise companies in the region that are outstanding in different aspects, especially in helping strengthen the Asean Economic Community, becoming a role model for other firms and helping small and medium enterprises become competitive internationally.

This year’s event was held on November 30 in Brunei as part of the Asean Business and Investment Summit organised by the Asean Business Advisory Council.

PTG wins 2021 Asean Business Award

Pitak Ratchakitprakarn, PTG’s president and CEO, said he was grateful that PTG’s efficiency in integrated energy business operation, eco-friendly innovation, energy industry development and human resource management has been recognised.

He added that the award also proves that PTG has been successful in improving people’s lives and that it is ready to stand by Thai society in any crisis.

“This award is a great honour for PTG, which has worked to develop energy-related business and service and this effort has been recognised both locally and overseas,” he said. “PTG will continue improving the quality of business and service to maintain business growth.”

Published : December 27, 2021

Singha Estate adopts 3 game-changing deals for revival after Covid crisis

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Singha Estate’s decision to diversify has helped it tackle the Covid-19 crisis successfully over the past two years and has given it enough reason to expect its hotels to make a profit in 2022.

Singha Estate adopts 3 game-changing deals for revival after Covid crisis

Singha Estate’s decision to diversify has helped it tackle the Covid-19 crisis successfully over the past two years and has given it enough reason to expect its hotels to make a profit in 2022.

The company said its aim is to create opportunities and expand its business in line with the “new normal”.

CEO Thitima Rungkwansirirot said the company is using the “3 Game-Changing Deals” to turn the ongoing crisis into growth opportunities.

The first game-changer was becoming the sole shareholder of 26 hotels in Britain that have the potential to revive quickly.

“In the first three months of the company acquiring 100 per cent of a hotel group in the UK, the average daily room rate rose sharply compared to before the pandemic. The company’s hotel business reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation in six quarters. The investment in the UK has proved to be good in terms of assets and time conditions,” Thitima said.

She adds that the key to growth is not just “building”, but also keeping the portfolio balanced. The firm has been conducting “asset rotation” to boost profit without additional investment by rotating funds to invest in potential hotels.

Singha Estate is confident that its hotel business will report a full year of profits in 2022 for the first time since 2019 thanks to the easing of travel restrictions in the UK coupled with the full operation of the Crossroads project in the Maldives.

The Crossroads project, called a “new high” for Singha Estate, is Maldives’ only fully-integrated tourist facility, which offers various types of accommodation and is only 15 minutes away from the airport by speed boat. Though there are concerns over the Omicron variant, hotel bookings have been rising.

Singha Estate adopts 3 game-changing deals for revival after Covid crisis

The project also features The Marina – a township of shops, restaurants and seminar rooms, including an aquatic learning centre. The Crossroads suits a wide range of target groups, from honeymooners to budget travellers, including organising corporate activities and weddings.

The Crossroads project was launched in 2019 and is set to go into full operation in 2022.

The second game-changer was the sale of a low-rise housing development project that Singha Estate used to hold a majority stake in. The sale of this project has “unlocked” the potential to develop and invest further during the pandemic, with a goal to generate an income ratio of 75 per cent of income from low-rise projects and 25 per cent from condominium projects.

The company also plans to expand its business to boost yields for investors, including developing projects that serve an ageing society to cover skilled nursing and rehabilitation personnel. Meanwhile, the real-estate business has been generating an income of more than 4 billion baht yearly from the quality backlog and another 2.8 billion baht from the sale of ready-to-move-in condominiums.

The highlight of 2022 will be the launch of a new housing series, which is expected to be the main source of income in the future. The 3-billion-baht estate will provide single-detached houses priced at between 60 million and 100 million baht. Some units are ready to be transferred for ownership in a bid to recognise revenue within next year.

Singha Estate adopts 3 game-changing deals for revival after Covid crisis

The third game changer is to penetrate the company’s fourth business, which is an industrial estate and infrastructure – aiming to reach corporate customers while keeping the investment portfolio balanced. Singha Estate began acquiring more than 2,000 rai of land for industrial estates and a 30 per cent stake in three co-generation power plants with a production capacity of 400 megawatts in Ang Thong province.

One power plant has gone into operation, while the other two are set for a commercial operation date by the end of 2022. All three power plants are currently under an electricity-purchase contract with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which guarantees constant income, while the remaining electricity can be sold to customers in Ang Thong industrial estate.

The Singha Estate’s office-building business has also made interesting developments. The firm’s homegrown brand “Worko” offers a dedicated co-working space, which was sold out a few months after opening. The company will also launch its “S Oasis” office building in mid-2022, which is believed to be the main income source of this business group as there has been a number of clients interested in visiting the project.

Thitima added that the three game-changing deals were created to help the company tackle the pandemic and manage its portfolio properly. She confirmed that Singha Estate is ready to handle the market by strengthening its businesses which include hotel, real estate, office building, industrial estate and infrastructure.

Published : December 27, 2021

Thailand’s CP Group named world’s 3rd most sustainable company

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S&P Global named Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) the world’s third most sustainable company among industrial conglomerates on Tuesday.

Thailand’s CP Group named world’s 3rd most sustainable company

S&P Global named Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) the world’s third most sustainable company among industrial conglomerates on Tuesday.

The list was topped by German multinational Siemens, while South Korean IT service firm, SK Inc, came in second.

CP Group’s CEO Suphachai Chearavanont said the group came in third among 44 firms thanks to its performance from the environment, society, governance and economic aspects.

Suphachai explained that CP Group has been operating its business for a century under its 3H strategy – Heart – Living Right; Health – Living Well; Home – Living Together – which is in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

He believes the company’s sustainable business operation will bring positive changes to Thailand and the world.

“CP Group operates eight business lines, covering 14 business groups. The company has investments in 21 countries and over 450,000 employees,” he said. “As we enter our second century of operation, all our business groups must work together to overcome changes from economic, social and environmental fronts.”

He added that this achievement was in line with CP Group’s aim to become a sustainable company, as well as work proactively in promoting global agenda such as creating jobs, improving people’s quality of life and dealing with climate change.

Suphachai added that he was gratified that CP Group has achieved success in many aspects this year.

“CP Group has been chosen as a Global Compact LEAD participant by United Nations Global Compact and the world’s most ethical company by Ethisphere,” he said.

“In addition, business groups under CP Group, namely True Corporation, Charoen Pokphand Foods and CP All have been listed in Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for several consecutive years now,” he added.

Published : December 27, 2021

Surge in Omicron patients may pull down baht

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The baht opened at 33.53 to the US dollar on Tuesday, strengthening from Monday’s closing rate of 33.57.

Surge in Omicron patients may pull down baht

The Thai currency is likely to move between 33.45 and 33.60 to the greenback during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool predicted.

Poon said that the baht is likely to fluctuate. He said the baht might slightly weaken if the number of Covid-19 patients is continuously increasing. 

He speculated that the baht will not weaken much and swing sideways in the range at 33.50 to the dollar because the market is in a risk-on state and cause the dollar to swing sideways or go down.

He said that the baht might strengthen more if the gold price reaches near the level of 1,810 dollars per ounce.

Poon added that the baht should strengthen or swing sideways in the short term according to the technical sign.

Related News

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Baht could continue advancing if foreign investors do not offload short-term bonds

Baht up as investors believe Omicron will not get much worse in Thailand


The baht key resistance level would be from 33.70 to 33.80 to the dollar, which is the level that exporters are waiting to close the risk. Meanwhile, the baht support level is at 33.40 to the dollar.

Poon added that the number of transactions at the end of the year is reducing so the currency market is likely to fluctuate.

Published : December 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

Gold price remains stable

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The price of gold in Thailand on Tuesday morning was unchanged from Monday’s close.

Gold price remains stable

AGold Traders Association report at 9.25am said the buying price of a gold bar was THB28,650 per baht weight and selling price THB28,750, while the buying and selling price of gold ornaments is THB28,136.96 and THB29,250, respectively.

The spot gold price on Tuesday morning hovered around US$1,809 (THB60,684) per ounce after Comex gold at close on Monday dropped by $2.9 to $1,808.8 per ounce due to pressure from selling gold as a safe-haven asset after the US stock market surged due to the uplift retail-sales report during the holiday season, coupled with the easing concerns over the risks of Covid-19 Delta variant.

Related news:

The Hong Kong gold price, meanwhile, rose by HK$20 to $16,850 (THB72,481) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

Published : December 28, 2021

By : THE NATION