Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Business, Published on 19/09/2016
» Recap: Global stock markets plunged last week as investors cashed out ahead of this week's much-awaited US Federal Reserve meeting. Worries over the oil glut also triggered selling of energy stocks, but the Thai market picked up following a recent steep fall.
Business, Published on 18/07/2016
» Recap: Hopes that British and Japanese policymakers would ramp up economic stimulus bolstered risk appetites in global stock markets. China's better-than-expected second-quarter GDP also buoyed sentiment. The Thai market tracked the global trend.
Business, Nuntawun Polkuamdee, Published on 09/11/2015
» Recap: Global stock markets moved up at the end of the week as US jobs data showed a bigger-than-expected rise in non-farm payrolls in October after two months of weakness. As well, a drop in the unemployment rate to 5% increased the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month for the first time in almost a decade. The Thai market also advanced.
Business, Published on 31/08/2015
» Recap: China's Black Monday sparked a sell-off in global stock markets before a relief rally took hold across the world amid hints that the US Federal Reserve would not lift interest rates in September given fragile global conditions. Stimulus measures proposed by the Thai government's new economic team also improved investors' appetite for local shares.
Business, Published on 16/03/2015
» Recap: US and global stock markets climbed for most of last week, propelled by eased worries over a US rate increase following a report of disappointing retail sales in February. In the Thai stock market, the Bank of Thailand's unexpected move to cut its policy rate improved investors' risk appetite but stocks still failed to advance.
Business, Published on 22/09/2014
» Recap: Asian stock markets advanced early last week on speculation that China will introduce monetary stimulus measures, but stocks pulled back after the US Federal Reserve surprisingly increased its estimate for its benchmark interest rate by the end of 2015. However, persistent offshore fund inflows helped the Thai market trade in positive territory.
Jon Fernquest, Published on 29/08/2012
» More people riding Bangkok's Skytrain to get to places faster so business is profitable & more trains, more train lines to be added soon.