U.s. $$ Exchange Rate

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I cashed my monthly USD check on my U.S. bank this morning for deposit to my Siam Commercial Bank baht account. Results were:

31.55 = $1, up from a few days back.

Other USD rates are:

31.37 for a $100 bill

30.93 for a $20 bill

30.57 for a $1-$2 bill (wonder when was the last time they've seen a $2? And no $10?)

30.55 for a credit card cash advance

30.05 for a credit card sale/charge

31.52 for an ATM drawdown on my U.S. bank, not too bad!

This was between 0830 and 0900 hrs this morning, and of course, the rate changed a bit during the day:

http://www.scb.co.th/exchange/bk-txtexchange.htm

Mac

[pampal]

I hope it goes back up to 40, now that would be nice

[PeaceBlondie]

I got 31.63 at an ATM on May 1 around 7 p.m. That is the best rate in two months. I would be very happy with 35.

[realmadrid25]

its going to head lower. look at what is happening with food now. look where oil is headed. it will sink lower and they will price oil in euros. look for the dollar to be around 25-20 baht/$$.

[britmaveric]

$ is strengthening, oil is getting lower. I expect 40-42 range by the end of the year.

[a2396]

$ is strengthening, oil is getting lower. I expect 40-42 range by the end of the year.

Dream on.

[bunta71]

Their is a village in texas missing it's idiot and when we finally get this <deleted> replaced on January 20th of next year we can at least then have some hope that the insanity will be reduced and economic improvements hopefully will help the decline of so many values...the dollar included.Til then these small ups and downs will continue IMHO

[toptuan]

Their is a village in texas missing it's idiot and when we finally get this <deleted> replaced on January 20th of next year we can at least then have some hope that the insanity will be reduced and economic improvements hopefully will help the decline of so many values...the dollar included...

Wow, maybe we can get back to Democrat-Jimmy-Carter-Double-Digit-Inflation Days! :-)

[bunta71]

or something like the economy under Clinton. At least hopefully the money we are sending to line the Iraq politicians will be stopped or minimized and my daughter can come home alive.Her third trip to the sandbox presently and her mental state isn't good especially since her best buddy there commited suicide there recently

[usatrader]

Their is a village in texas missing it's idiot and when we finally get this <deleted> replaced on January 20th of next year we can at least then have some hope that the insanity will be reduced and economic improvements hopefully will help the decline of so many values...the dollar included.Til then these small ups and downs will continue IMHO

Hmm, the wisdom of Solomon evaluated in the usual ersatz pithiness of “change,” a comparative wisdom of contrarianism’s “Pie in sky” and “a thurd in the hand” insight and prognostication. The former a mere whisk of energy, a thought of inaction with the possibility of action, an unrealized energy, one, cannot see, nor touch, nor hear, nor either feel, a mere speculation of potential in a unknown reality that is as likely equally fulfilled as not. While the latter, a ugly reality for sure, is at least a thing of known substance, it can be seen, touched, heard, felt and enabled into some form of action and being, yet, in effective comparison, it is the persons who rely on one or the other, or both, that the merit or lack thereof is factually purveyed into realities affect and action.

Note* The post nor especially myself are not about the merits or meritlessness of the "Texas villager."

[Gumballl]

or something like the economy under Clinton. At least hopefully the money we are sending to line the Iraq politicians will be stopped or minimized and my daughter can come home alive.Her third trip to the sandbox presently and her mental state isn't good especially since her best buddy there commited suicide there recently

Bill Clinton was merely lucky to be in office when the economy was on an upswing after the early-90's recession. He, as an individual, couldn't part the seas if he wanted. Maybe legs, but not the seas.

The next administration will also benefit from the same natural upswing in the economy. It will be interesting is if McCain is elected. Will you then praise republicans for rescuing the economy?

The dollar vs. baht will be a tug-of-war contest. If the dollar rises, then presumably oil will fall; but not necessarily, especially if demand keeps skyrocketing. With high-inflation, especially with respect to imported goods, Thailand will magically become self-sufficient because the people will no longer be able to afford foreign produced goods (including oil), and thus must rely on domestic goods (if any).

Either way, whether the dollar rises, remains steady, or falls, Thailand looks like it is going to be sailing through rough seas for the foreseeable future. I just hope that the people do not revolt, seeking to nationalize all industries and the economy similar to what is occurring in Venezuela and other South American countries.

P.S. I hope your daughter comes home soon as well. But she, and especially you, need to realize that the US military services are a voluntary service... not a mandated service. The US, by nature, seeks out conflicts and creates them when one does not exist. When your daughter is up for re-enlistment, she can resign if she is weary of the sandbox. Life here in the US is no picnic either.

[bendejo]

Strictly my own opinion, but I don't think oil and gold will go over to the Euro for their pricing standard.

Bear in mind the currency, and the EU itself, is less than 10 years old, and it's concept is evolving. This expansion to include former Eastern Block countries was not part of the original plan. Remember a few years ago a few countries voted to back off from the charter? I think that if the EU survives to 2020 in will be in a form quite different from what was originally sold to the voters.

But yeah, I, too, think it goes in cycles, and the dollar is getting its turn in the barrel, it started about 2 years ago. I think it's too late to hedge on the dollar in any big way. If anything, if you're holding Euros it's a good time to buy dollars, maybe even better a few months from now. But I think the US economic mess might linger and, combined with the mess in Iraq, the next US administration is going to be stuck in the mud. Could this be so obvious that Bro Jeb was discouraged from running this year?

I think with the oil industry having such strong, er, presence in this administration, certain things have been deliberately manipulated. E.g, one way to bring up the price of oil is to devalue the dollar.

just my 3 cents