Baht set for best week since October as Bangkok protests wane

[webfact]

Baht Set for Best Week Since October as Bangkok Protests Wane
By Yumi Teso

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s baht was set for its biggest weekly gain since October as anti-government protests lost momentum in Bangkok. Bonds rose on speculation the central bank will cut borrowing costs next week.

The currency climbed to a three week-high after the number of people manning roadblocks at Victory Monument and Asoke, two of seven protest sites in the capital, fell below a hundred at times yesterday, down from more than a thousand when the demonstrations began at the start of the week. The Bank of Thailand will cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 2 percent on Jan. 22, according to seven of eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg. One forecast no change.

“The risk premium for the baht has come down,” said Pareena Phuangsiri, an analyst at Kasikornbank Pcl in Bangkok. “It’s not really a shutdown as people are still able to come to work, and now more cars are on the street. However, there still is the political uncertainty which will cap gains. [read more...]

Full story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-17/baht-set-for-best-week-since-october-as-bangkok-protests-wane.html

-- Bloomber 2014-01-17

[webfact]

Baht strengthens as political tensions ease

BANGKOK, 17 Jan 2014, (NNT) - The baht currency strengthened today, opening at 32.78 - 32.80 baht against the U.S. dollar, as political tensions show signs of easing.

Analysts revealed that this morning's opening trading value of the baht was in line with yesterday's closing value of 32.77 - 32.78 baht per dollar. According to the latest trading data, the baht continues to gain strength, currently being traded at 32.68 - 32.71 baht per dollar. The analysts speculated that the increasing baht value is parallel to other Asian currencies, along with the selling of dollars in profit taking.

Analysts pointed out politics remained the key factor driving the baht value, adding that the baht trading would move between 32.60 to 32.85 baht today, as traders began to ease their concerns over the political upheaval.


-- NNT 2014-01-17

[londonthai]

I am afraid, that's not the end of protests. If not more radical moves by the protesters, like shutting airspace and airports etc, than around an election time in 2 weeks time.

[Sayonarax]

........ Copy and paste

[tomyummer]

Just wondering if the protests mixed with rice scheme, failing Thai Airways, and others will cause the baht to plummet

[Prbkk]

Just wondering if the protests mixed with rice scheme, failing Thai Airways, and others will cause the baht to plummet

Unlikely. The market has reacted favourably to the likely failure of the protests...the SET has bounced and so has the Baht. Those pushing for a currency collapse will be wrong and sorry, IMHO

[tomross46]

With the strengthening of the Baht and the decrease in the price of Brent Crude, will PTT lower the price of fuel at the pumps? Or will they wait for it to increase again and raise the price? Must take care of the investors living in the Middle East.

[Prbkk]

With the strengthening of the Baht and the decrease in the price of Brent Crude, will PTT lower the price of fuel at the pumps? Or will they wait for it to increase again and raise the price? Must take care of the investors living in the Middle East.

price decrease yesterday...

[tomross46]

With the strengthening of the Baht and the decrease in the price of Brent Crude, will PTT lower the price of fuel at the pumps? Or will they wait for it to increase again and raise the price? Must take care of the investors living in the Middle East.

price decrease yesterday...

Good, thanks for the update. Have not seen it at the pump.

[kotsak]

EPPO : Retail Oil Prices in Bangkok http://www.eppo.go.th/retail_prices.html

Edited January 17, 2014 by kotsak

[Prbkk]

EPPO : Retail Oil Prices in Bangkok http://www.eppo.go.th/retail_prices.html

Effective from 5.00pm today, the price will decrease ( marginally), except for diesel

Pump prices per litre in Bangkok and nearby provinces will be as follows: petrol 95 - 48.05 baht; gasohol 95 - 40.53 baht; gasohol 91 - 38.08 baht; gasohol E20 - 35.58 baht; gasohol E85 - 24.38 baht; and diesel - 29.99 baht.

[chiang mai]

EPPO : Retail Oil Prices in Bangkok http://www.eppo.go.th/retail_prices.html

Effective from 5.00pm today, the price will decrease ( marginally), except for diesel

Pump prices per litre in Bangkok and nearby provinces will be as follows: petrol 95 - 48.05 baht; gasohol 95 - 40.53 baht; gasohol 91 - 38.08 baht; gasohol E20 - 35.58 baht; gasohol E85 - 24.38 baht; and diesel - 29.99 baht.

Diesel being heavily subsided anyway.

[Baerboxer]

Just wondering if the protests mixed with rice scheme, failing Thai Airways, and others will cause the baht to plummet

Unlikely. The market has reacted favourably to the likely failure of the protests...the SET has bounced and so has the Baht. Those pushing for a currency collapse will be wrong and sorry, IMHO

The forex market has reacted to the protest still being in the main peaceful, the authorities still taking a softly softly approach, and by and large not too much disruption to social economic outlook. It looks like lots of protesters feel they've made their point and want to get back to their own normal lives, leaving the loony fringe out and about. The authorities have been right to avoid massive provocative clashes. The EC need to resolve what's going to happen reference elections, and the caretaker government will be busy dealing with all the legal and corruption issues heading their way. The rice farmers are a wild card, but seems PTP will raid the state enterprise fund to buy some time here.

Lots of people who sold out of baht now reckon the price was low enough to risk buying back and seeing if it strengthens. If it continues to strengthen and the elections issues aren't sorted, or violence escalates, then they'll take profit and sell off. Similarly, if things stabilize and the baht continues to get stronger they'll take some profit at a certain point. The forex guys play by their own rules. They ain't interested in if the Shins saving their skin or Suthep becoming the next leader per se.

[Thai at Heart]

Did they say this before or after the bombing?

[Engborg]

It started way earlier. Look at this video:

Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place http://on.ted.com/exhj

[MJP]

It started way earlier. Look at this video:

Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place http://on.ted.com/exhj

Recommended viewing.

Many thanks.

There are people in this country who could run the place without self-interest and for the benefit of all. It could be a wonderful country, just need to dismantle the old patronage and power structures.

[asiamaster]

Did they say this before or after the bombing?

Exactly -the Baht opened strong but during the day has dropped to where it was...

[asiamaster]

Did they say this before or after the bombing?

The Baht opened strong and then dropped to the previous level.....

[chiang mai]

Looks like GBP strengthening across the board rather than anything directly related to THB.

[Prbkk]

Did they say this before or after the bombing?

tight band all day, normal Friday positioning. Absolutely no impact from any events within bangkok

[circusman]

With the strengthening of the Baht and the decrease in the price of Brent Crude, will PTT lower the price of fuel at the pumps? Or will they wait for it to increase again and raise the price? Must take care of the investors living in the Middle East.

Gasoline has dropped as of Jan.16 in C.M.

[Mr Yim]

I am currently studying forex and have been trading demo accounts for the last 7 months. Yesterday I stumbled across a youtube video on how to trade the Thai Baht. The Baht's movement is like no other currency. Under normal circumstances movements in the currency are made by the Bank of Thailand. I opened another demo account which trades the USD against the Baht and I have to say the movement is unbelievable. The USD drops and then rises by 40 - 60 cents almost daily but in the space of less than a minute! too quick to make a trade. Today the USDTHB 16.33 rate dropped from 32.80 to 32.30 and then back again in just one minute. If you blinked you missed it. I am not sure the reason but it is well know that banks manipulate forex.

[Halion]

Political tensions show signs of easing. Who writes this crap . If wishes were horses then beggars would ride along with half the idiots that are in the PTP. .

Note to the author, Thank God that the majority of people are not as stupid as you and that foreign governments will see this for the panicking bullshit that it represents.

I would not give you a job as a message boy

[RubbaJohnny]

Remeber in Wane's World everything is tispy=turvey,its not unconceivable that a few rascals may even profiteer.

Of course such impropriety would never happen here in the Land Of Smileys

For those unfamiliar with slacker Wayne here's a taster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe30habM0ls

[zyphodb]

It started way earlier. Look at this video:

Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place http://on.ted.com/exhj

Recommended viewing.

Many thanks.

There are people in this country who could run the place without self-interest and for the benefit of all. It could be a wonderful country, just need to dismantle the old patronage and power structures.

Love the Avatar MJP, made me think of that tune da da dadada, da da dadada, da da dadada, da...

[Thai at Heart]

Did they say this before or after the bombing?

tight band all day, normal Friday positioning. Absolutely no impact from any events within bangkok

Exactly. Jellen of bernamke having a bad day means a lot more

[lifeincnx]

Meanwhile at the heart of business, the SET, currently around 1301 and change, has had a 52-week range of 1,205.44 to 1,649.77. 1301!

Even more telling, The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) revealed the Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) has hit its lowest benchmark in 2 years.

This ain't good folks.

[Mr Yim]

Political tensions show signs of easing. Who writes this crap . If wishes were horses then beggars would ride along with half the idiots that are in the PTP. .

Note to the author, Thank God that the majority of people are not as stupid as you and that foreign governments will see this for the panicking bullshit that it represents.

I would not give you a job as a message boy

Thats your opinion. The markets suggest otherwise. Maybe the decreasing number of protestors may have something to do with it. However, come this time next week, I will be surprised if Suthep is still involved in this political turmoil. Thats my opinon. I dont expect for one minute that you will agree with it, but if you respond, would you kindly refrain from any profanities. It degrades a discussion.

Regards Mr Yim

Edited January 17, 2014 by Mr Yim

[Ayemanomad]

It started way earlier. Look at this video:

Mechai Viravaidya: How Mr. Condom made Thailand a better place http://on.ted.com/exhj

Brilliant video and very funny.

[LomSak27]

as Bangkok Protests Wane

How many Nation articles, over how many days? and finally it takes a Bloomberg financial article to state the obvious

TV needs to get a selection of news sources, besides The Nation; media division of the PDRC, yellows, Democratic Party. Your users deserve it.