Experts have forecast bank credit growth in the second quarter to reach 3.5-4 percent, much higher than the rate in the first quarter. In the first three months, the rates had been 0.1 percent, 0.07 percent and 1.1 percent as the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted various industries and their demand for funds. Consumer demand and […]
Read MoreMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines continues to rely heavily on coal imports as it has consumed more imported coal than it produced last year, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). Government data showed the country used 33.12 million metric tons (MT) of coal last year. Of the total consumption, 26.98 million MT were from […]
Read MoreAs sporadic tensions flare over US-China trade, a fierce debate also continues at home, centred on whether Thailand should join a trade pact touted as creating the third-largest free trade area in the world. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a trade agreement involving a newly formed bloc of 11 Pacific […]
Read MoreSINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES) – Singapore’s life insurance industry saw new business, in terms of total weighted premiums, grow 10 per cent to $965.8 million for the first quarter from January to March 2020, from $877.8 million a year ago. This comes as more consumers took action to secure their financial future in view of […]
Read MoreThe government needs to manage the local currency to become more competitive and ensure political stability, two key tools to help reboot the virus-hit economy, says Boonsithi Chokwatana, chairman of consumer goods conglomerate Saha Group. “If the government wants the economy to recover within one year after the pandemic ends, the baht should weaken to […]
Read MoreSOUTH-EAST Asian banking players should ramp up digitalisation during the coronavirus pandemic – but they’ll have to be pickier about clientele, too. Despite the appeal of capturing under-banked populations in emerging markets, Fitch Ratings warned that both digital-only players and incumbents may have to hone their targeting as “these segments are likely to be the […]
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Thailand
