Samui Airport employees getting Covid-19 vaccines in preparation for reopening
Apr 03. 2021
By THE NATION
Samui Airport, under the management of Bangkok Airways Pcl, has started inoculating its staff against Covid-19 to prepare for the return of overseas flights and visitors.
Samui Airport director Nutchayathorn Nutsudanijvipa, together with Koh Samui district officials, Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, Bangkok Hospital, Koh Samui Hospital, Ban Don Inter Hospital and Thai International Hospital held a meeting on vaccinating the people of Koh Samui.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Hospital Samui has sent a team of doctors and nurses to Samui Airport to vaccinate the first group of 48 airport employees.
The first group has now received two doses of the vaccines in order to prepare for the reopening of overseas flights as well as build up the confidence of passengers who fly into the airport as well as that of people living in the area.
Another 636 employees who work in Samui Airport are scheduled to receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from April 2-7. The airport expects that their employees will achieve 100 per cent vaccination — both doses — by early May.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,596.27 on Friday, up 1.15 points or 0.07 per cent. The volume of total transactions was Bt76 billion with an index high of 1,606.41 and a low of 1,595.31.
In the morning session, Krungsri Securities expected the day’s index to rise to between 1,600 and 1,610 on the back of the US’ $2.25-trillion infrastructure plan, the rising oil price after Opec+ agreed to increase oil production gradually, and falling US bond yield.
The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were IRPC, DELTA, TOP, GUNKUL, BBL, STA, PTT, AI, OR and AEONTS.
Other Asian indices were on the rise:
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 29,854.00, up 465.13 points or 1.58 per cent.
China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 3,484.39, up 18.06 points or 0.52 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 14,122.61, up 142.92 points or 1.02 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI closed at 3,112.80+25.40, up 0.82 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was closed for Good Friday, while Taiwan’s TAIEX Index was closed for the Qingming festival.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) committee on Friday agreed to establish new regulations covering cryptocurrency trading, including a free training course.
SEC secretary-general Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol said that under the new regulations, cryptocurrency traders must have previous experience or training to prove their knowledge of cryptocurrency. This would help protect investors against trading risks, she said.
The SEC will launch a weekly “Crypto 101” training course via the Start-to-Invest Facebook Live platform next Thursday (April 8).
“SEC will improve regulations in line with the committee’s resolution as soon as possible,” the commission said.
The move comes after a proposal to impose a Bt1-million annual income requirement on cryptocurrency investors drew criticism from people who said it would exclude low- and middle-income earners from the crypto market. The SEC walked back on the proposal and on Friday announced new training and regulations instead.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 7.34 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 1,602.46 in the morning session on Friday.
A Krungsri Securities analyst expected the day’s index to rise to between 1,600 and 1,610 on the back of the US$2.26-trillion 10-year economic stimulus plan, the rising oil price after Opec+ agreed to increase oil production gradually, and falling US bond yield.
He recommended that investors buy:
▪︎ EA, GPSC and BBP, which benefit from the Thai government’s move to promote electric cars.
▪︎ AOT, MINT, CENTEL, AAV, BA, CPN, CRC, MAJOR, BDMS and BH, which benefit from Thailand’s Covid-19 vaccination and the government’s move to gradually reopen the country to foreign tourists.
▪︎ HANA, KCE, TU and CPF, which benefit from the weakening baht.
The SET Index closed at 1,595.12 on Thursday, up 7.91 points or 0.50 per cent, boosted by Biden’s stimulus plan.
However, the index failed to surpass 1,600 points as investors sold some of their shares to take profit and monitor the outcome of the Opec+ meeting.
The price of gold rose by Bt100 per baht weight in morning trade on Friday, the Gold Traders Association reported.
As of 9.25am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,450 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,550, while gold ornaments were priced at Bt24,998.84 and Bt26,050, respectively.
At close on Thursday, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,350 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,450, while gold ornaments were Bt24,892.72 and Bt25,950, respectively.
Spot gold price rose to US$1,730 (Bt52,784) per ounce on Friday after rising by $12.8 to $1,728.4 on Thursday, thanks to falling US bond yield and the weakening dollar.
By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Olivia Raimonde, Kamaron Leach–
U.S. stocks climbed to a record high on the first day of the second quarter as increased stimulus in the world’s largest economy fueled optimism about the global recovery.
The benchmark S&P 500 Index closed above 4,000 for the first time as investors weighed President Joe Biden’s newly unveiled $2.25 trillion spending plan ahead of Friday’s U.S. employment report, which is expected to show the quickest pace of hiring in five months. Technology shares led the gains, though value stocks also joined in on the rally. Treasuries rebounded after the worst quarter in decades. Oil climbed after the OPEC+ alliance agreed to increase production gradually over the next three months.
“The S&P 500 hitting a high point is a sign of the positive environment in this highly volatile time,” said Greg Bassuk, chief executive officer at AXS Investments LLC.
Traders are jockeying for position before the Easter weekend after data showed U.S. private employers hired the most workers in six months, while initial jobless claims unexpectedly increased. Biden’s ambitious plan to rebuild U.S. infrastructure has added to the growth outlook, even though Republican opposition to the plan raises questions about how much can actually be delivered.
Microsoft Corp. climbed for a second day as the company’s multibillion-dollar deal to build customized versions of its HoloLens goggles for the U.S. Army moved forward. Western Digital Corp. and Micron Technology Inc. rallied after a report the two companies are individually exploring a potential deal for Japan’s Kioxia Holdings Corp.
Investors remain focused on inflation risk as central banks reassert their commitment to low interest rates. Traders for now are looking past worsening virus trends, such as lockdowns in France and Canada’s Ontario province.
“Before you worry about inflation, there’s reflation and I think that’s the main theme in the market,” said Ed Campbell, portfolio manager and managing director at QMA.
These are some of the main moves in financial markets:
Stocks
The S&P 500 Index increased 1.2% to 4,019.82 as of 4:02 p.m. EDT, the highest on record.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.5% to 33,154.07.
The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 1.8% to 13,480.11, the highest in more than two weeks on the largest jump in three weeks.
The Nasdaq 100 Index surged 1.8% to 13,329.52, the highest in almost six weeks on the biggest jump in three weeks.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.6% to 432.22, the highest in more than 13 months.
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index sank 0.3% to 1,148.81, the biggest dip in more than two weeks.
The euro jumped 0.4% to $1.1775, the largest climb in more than two weeks.
The British pound increased 0.4% to $1.3833, the strongest in more than a week.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.1% to 110.60 per dollar, the first advance in more than a week.
Bonds
The yield on two-year Treasury climbed less than one basis point to 0.16%, reaching the highest in more than three weeks on its fifth straight advance.
The yield on 10-year Treasurys fell six basis points to 1.68%, the largest drop in more than a week.
The yield on 30-year Treasurys sank seven basis points to 2.34%, the lowest in more than a week on the biggest tumble in more than three weeks.
Germany’s 10-year yield sank four basis points to -0.33%, the largest tumble in a month.
Britain’s 10-year yield fell five basis points to 0.795%, the first retreat in a week and the biggest drop in more than a week.
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 3.5% to $61.26 a barrel.
By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Salma El Wardany, Javier Blas, Dina Khrennikova, Grant Smith
OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production gradually in the coming months, making a cautious bet on a summer economic rebound as the world recovers from covid-19.
Defying market expectations for the second time in less than a month, the group agreed to add more than 2 million barrels a day to global oil supplies from May to July. That will return about a quarter of the crude they are still withholding after making deep cuts a year ago in response to the pandemic.
With oil prices firmly above $60 a barrel, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies have been under pressure to provide more fuel to an accelerating global economy. Other commodity costs have also been soaring, leaving central banks from the U.S. to China grappling with the potential of higher inflation just as their governments are pouring trillions of dollars into fiscal stimulus.
At the start of the week, the cartel had been widely expected to roll over their existing curbs, just as it did in March. Yet Saudi Arabia and its allies showed that they have become more convinced that oil demand is now on a firmer footing as countries like the U.S. rapidly expand their vaccination programs.
“Even in those sectors that were badly hit such as airline travel, there are signs of meaningful improvement,” Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the opening session of the OPEC+ videoconference on Thursday.
“OPEC+ agreed today to cautiously increase production quotas,” Ann-Louise Hittle, Wood Mackenzie Ltd.’s vice president of macro oils, said in a note. “The agreement is supportive of oil prices, yet should also help avoid a sharp spike upward as oil demand picks up.”
The 23-nation coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will boost output by 350,000 barrels a day in May, add the same volume again in June and increase by 450,000 barrels a day in July, Prince Abdulaziz told reporters after the meeting. On top of that, Saudi Arabia will roll back its voluntary extra 1 million barrel-a day cut, adding 250,000 barrels a day in May, 350,000 in June and 400,000 in July, he said.
Consumers including the U.S. and India have been calling on OPEC+ to keep prices under control, fearful that more expensive oil could add to inflationary pressures worldwide. Although European oil consumption is weak as France, Germany and Italy extend or impose new lockdowns due to rising covid-19 cases, fuel use is growing fast in America, and demand indicators from China are strong.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm called her Saudi counterpart on the eve of the OPEC+ meeting to highlight the importance of affordable energy. Prince Abdulaziz told reporters that they didn’t discuss the oil market.
The Saudi minister said OPEC+ was now largely “testing” the market, and has the opportunity to reverse course if necessary at its next meeting on April 28.
“We need to keep our finger on the market pulse and not allow an overheating or a significant deficit,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, whose country has been steadily increasing production this year, said at the opening session of the meeting.
GULF Commences Commercial Operation of the First Unit of GSRC Power Project
Apr 01. 2021
By The Nation (sponsored news)
Gulf SRC Company Limited, a subsidiary of Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (GULF) commenced the sale of electricity generated from the Gulf SRC power project’s (GSRC) first unit, with a capacity of 662.50 megawatts, to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) on March 31, 2021 under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) scheme. The power project is located in the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 1, Si Racha district, Chonburi province with a total installed power generation capacity of 2,650 megawatts and will supply a contracted power generation capacity of 2,500 megawatts to EGAT pursuant to a 25-year power purchase agreement.
The GSRC power project is one of the IPPs that uses natural gas as source of fuel under Independent Power Development Company Limited (IPD), the operator of two IPP power projects including the GSRC, and GPD, a 2,650-MW power project. The two projects under IPD make up a combined installed power generation capacity of 5,300 megawatts.
GSRC is scheduled to commence commercial operation for units 2-4 in October 2021, March 2022, and October 2022, respectively, while GPD is scheduled to commence commercial operation between 2023-2024.
MQDC readies to open show units with immersive experience sales commence 8 May with special opening pricing until 15 May
Apr 01. 2021
By THE NATION
Bangkok (1 April 2021) – Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC), announced, today, that The Forestias, Thailand’s largest property development project valued at Bht 125,000 million, will begin official sales of its multiple residential components on 8 May with special opening pricing until 15 May.
It will also open the ‘Forest Pavilion’ which is an ‘experience centre’ built to showcase the vision and concept of the project through extraordinary immersive experiences designed and brought to life by the world’s most eminent specialists. The Forest Pavilion is the largest such experience centre ever created by a developer in Thailand and was built with an investment of Bht 1,400 million.
Strategically located in the high-growth EEC corridor, The Forestias is a development comprised of a wide range of residential components designed to cater to different lifestyle needs. The focus of the developers is to design every aspect of the project and its residential elements to promote heathier and happier living.
Mr. Kittiphun Ouiyamaphun, Project Director – The Forestias, MQDC, said, “The Forest Pavilion experience centre has more than 6,500 square metres of floor space to let people really feel what this project is about through multi-sensory experiences. It will help people see how this is a town in which every aspect is designed for healthier and happier living as well as showcases sample units of the multiple residential components within The Forestias.”
The Forest Pavilion experience centre was created through a collaboration between MQDC and a group of specialist organisations and people that are among the best in the world in their respective fields. It was designed by UK-headquartered world-class architectural firm Foster+Partners Thailand. ITEC Entertainment (USA), the creator of entertainment experiences for Disneyland, DisneySea and Universal Studios, developed experiences and recreational activities inside the project. VAVE Studio of Germany created experiential stories in different zones of the pavilion. And, Thailand’s famous Bug Studio contributed multi-disciplinary designs to present unprecedented experiences.
One of the highlights inside the Forest Pavilion is the ‘Chamber of Secrets’ where the project’s vision is presented through an animation created by DEC Media and T&B Media Global (Thailand). Viewers are treated to an exciting wrap-around experience that surrounds them using ‘The Wall’ screens with the world’s most advanced technology. ‘The Wall’ is a modular microLED display that gives a revolutionary viewing experience utilising AI picture enhancement for ultra-realistic experiences.
Mr. Ouiyamaphun said, “The Forestias is a new global prototype for a town development. It has been designed and is being built by some of the world’s most respected experts as well as foremost global and local organisations to ensure that residents can lead healthier and happier lives.”
“The global COVID pandemic has been reminder to everyone about the importance of good health and a healthy environment in which to live. People have increased the importance they attach to choosing a home and an environment that promotes a healthy life, where they can be safe, as well as where they can get closer to nature. Managing air quality and light inside the residences, as well as designing good home layouts and careful material selection make the project exceptional,” said Mr. Ouiyamaphun.
Located on a 398-rai plot of land on Bang Na-Trad Road km 7 on a prime site in the strategic EEC corridor, The Forestias includes multiple residential components, commercial space for offices, a sports complex, lifestyle and family entertainment facilities, retail and food & beverage outlets, as well as a Town Centre for community activities and cultural pursuits, a family centre, a theatre, an event hall, and multiple markets.
Among the residential components at The Forestias are three ‘Whizdom’ high-rise condominium buildings that are designed to perfectly suit the lifestyles of first jobbers, couples starting families, and with one building specifically designed for the needs of pet lovers. There are also ‘Mulberry Grove’ low-rise condominiums that bring residents very close to nature, as well as ‘Mulberry Grove Villas’ cluster-home residences for extended, multi-generational families who wish to live close together in multiple homes that are easily connected. Another residential offering is ‘The Aspen Tree’ residences. These are designed to suit the special needs of older residents and which come lifetime care services. Also available are ‘Six Senses’ residences that are super luxury villas, which are managed by the globally admired ‘Six Senses’ brand.
One of the most unusual features of The Forestias is a 30-rai forest area that has been planted from seeds and saplings and which is at the centre of the development. There is a 1.6 kilometre ‘canopy walkway’ that links many of the development’s components and provides a ‘nature-walk’ weaving above the forest. These features are inspired by the belief that living closer to the various wonders of nature is one of the most important factors to bring happiness to people.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,595.12 on Thursday, up 7.91 points or 0.50 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt76 billion with an index high of 1,600.60 and a low of 1,590.33.
In the morning session, Krungsri Securities predicted that the SET would move between 1,580 and 1,600 points amid positive news of a $2-trillion US stimulus plan.
Factors causing the index to fluctuate included the falling oil price and a rise in the US 10-year Treasury bond yield, Krungsri Securities said.
The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were DELTA, KBANK, EA, PTT, BBL, AEONTS, OR, GPSC, CPALL and IVL.
Other Asian indices were on the rise:
Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 29,388.87, up 210.07 points or 0.72 per cent.
China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 3,466.33, up 24.42 points or 0.71 per cent, while Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 13,979.69, up 201.02 points or 1.46 per cent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 28,938.74, up 560.39 points or 1.97 per cent.
South Korea’s KOSPI closed at 3,087.40, up 25.98 points or 0.85 per cent.
Taiwan’s TAIEX Index closed at 16,571.28, up 140.15 points or 0.85 per cent.
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