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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’S electrical and electronics industry – the country’s biggest exporter – will suffer a big drop in export sales this year, costing up to 100,000 jobs, analysts say. Total electrical and electronics exports will drop 10 per cent to about US$45 billion, according to Sasipen Bhurapanich, an analyst at Kasikorn […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND will extend a lifeline to small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and export-related businesses through an eight billion baht (S$347 million) loan insurance scheme. Industry and economists have welcomed the anti-recession initiative but say more must be done to boost productivity and win support from commercial banks.

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK PLUMMETING exports saw traffic through Thailand’s prime cargo port continue to decline last month, painting a dim picture for the country’s shipping industry this year. Experts warn that cargo volumes may decline by up to 25 per cent this quarter and 10 per cent over the year. Laem Chabang deep […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK DOMESTIC political unrest dealt a severe blow to Thai business sentiment, driving it to an all-time low last month, recent reports reveal. Surveys published in January show local confidence is eroding faster than in other regional markets. And the Industries Sentiment Index plunged to 62.9 per cent in December – […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAI banks face a deteriorating outlook for this year, despite having shown resilience against the effects of the global slowdown last year, but the worst is yet to come, according to analysts. Lower provisioning and higher loans growth saw Thailand’s banking system report higher average return on assets (ROA) of […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’S domestic auto sales are expected to plunge another 15.4 per cent this year, says the country’s biggest car maker. But industry observers reckon the decline could be worse. While the country’s economic fundamentals remain sound and its low-car ownership rate offers strong sales opportunities, the effects of the global […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK ECONOMISTS lambasted the Thai government’s 115 billion baht (S$4.9 billion) fiscal stimulus package for being populist and insufficient to revive the country’s failing economy, when it was announced last week. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva defended the 18-project supplementary spending budget, which includes 19 billion baht in one-time handouts to low-income […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’S central bank yesterday slashed its key interest rate by 75 basis points, in line with market expectations, to offset the effects of the global downturn on an increasingly sluggish domestic economy. And a further rate cut is expected soon. The Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy committee (MPC) reduced its […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THE luxury condominium market will dive next year as the global economic downturn continues to dry up the much-needed pool of cash-rich foreign investors, local property analysts said. They predict that luxury condominium prices would drop by 10-20 per cent in the first half of 2009. Current high prices will […]

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By GREG LOWE in Bangkok THAILAND’S longest-ever demonstration ended last Wednesday when the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) called a halt to its street protests, and ended its eight-day siege of Bangkok’s two international airports. But its economic impact could drag the country’s economy into recession next year, according to analysts, who said that […]

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