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BANGKOK (NNT) – The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is pursuing its initiative to encourage SMEs and startup businesses to raise funds via the capital market, expecting general investment this year to be challenged by external factors, urging investors to properly manage the risks.

SET President Pakorn Peetathawatchai said the SET aims to promote balanced growth due to technological changes in the capital market this year, by streamlining its services at One-Stop Service points for registered companies, as well as providing opportunities in Thailand and abroad through capital market connections with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The SET will be urging SMEs and startup companies to raise funds via capital markets, and improve regulations to provide better ease of doing businesses.

He said the overall investment scene in Thailand’s stock exchanges and capital markets will be subject to external challenges and fluctuations…

BANGKOK (NNT) – Thailand remained an investment destination for international investors last year, as reflected in the overall value of investment promotion requests in 2019, released by the Board of Investment (BOI) today, which exceed a 750 billion baht goal.

An impressive 59% was in the Eastern Economic Corridor, with China outreaching Japan to become the biggest international investor in Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, today assigned the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to introduce measures to oversee companies receiving investment promotion packages last year to proceed with their investment plans.

The BOI last year received investment promotion requests for 1,624 projects worth 756.1 billion baht, of which 506 projects worth 444.88 billion baht are located in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), accounting for 59 percent of total investment promotion re…

Good news for the general public and SMEs as the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has ordered commercial banks to revise their interest rates, and the fees they charge for their financial products and services, including ATM and debit card fees, to help reduce the burden borne by customers.

The BOT now recommends commercial banks impose advance refinance fees on personal loans, with SME loans to be based on the remaining loan balance, as opposed to the entire loan amount, as well as offering a period of grace where fees are not imposed.

As for housing loans, SME loans, and personal loans, the interest rates for default cases will now be calculated on the amount due, as opposed to the remaining loan balance.

A period of grace will be offered to customers facing extraordinary circumstances. These new interest rate guidelines are effective from now until 31st December 2021.

Banks are now required to return customers annual ATM and debit …

Bangkok (ESCAP news) – Asia-Pacific economies may see positive trade growth in 2020 but are still facing downside risks from the adverse impacts of the United States – China trade tensions, two new trade briefs by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released today have revealed.

For the first time since the 2009 global economic crisis, the value and volume of trade in the region is declining. Total export volume fell by 2.5 per cent, while import volume decreased by 3.5 per cent.

Oil exporting economies such as Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia, as well as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, China registered some of the largest declines in export volume.

Merchandise trade in the region also faced strong headwinds in 2018-2019 caused by the worldwide economic growth slowdown and heightened trade tensions.

These have had an advers…

According to the real estate consultancy, foreign investments into Asia Pacific are at a decade-high, making up 35 per cent of total volumes, mostly driven by private equity funds and large-scale transactions.

“Real estate in Asia Pacific has gained favour in the last year as investors continue to seek high yields and stability amid a climate of geopolitical uncertainty and slowing economic growth. As an increasing amount of capital is being allocated to real estate, we’re seeing more clients making larger-scale investments to expand their portfolios.”

“Over the next two years, we expect global real estate transaction volumes to stay elevated and Asia Pacific to outperform Europe and the Americas with an outsized portion of global investor interest.”

JLL reveals five key trends that investors should look out for in 2020.

Investor appetite …