US bans seafood imports from 12 major VN fishing grounds effective Jan 1, 2026 (Marine Mammal Protection Act); expected supply gap presents opportunity for Thai exporters in tuna, squid, crab.
BOT said it’s closely and continuously monitoring cash volumes for any unusual increase before the Feb. 8 snap election. Referencing reports of unusually high cash withdrawals in Sept, BOT said the surge was driven by public concern over the expanded enforcement of mule account freezing measures.
The People’s Party pledged to form a “government of change” with sweeping reforms and plans to remedy Thailand’s ailing economy, unveiled key agendas including bureaucratic and regulatory overhaul, infra development, and restructuring law enforcement and the justice system.
China cuts import duties on 935 items, provisional import tariff rates lower than its std most-favored-nation (MFN) rates effective Jan 1,2026, t/g pdts include advanced chem and Petrochem inputs, medical & healthcare pdts, renewable energy supplies, advanced material, machinery inputs, agri, pet food and seafood pdts. Exporters whose pdts currently outside FTA are expected to benefit the most according to Dept of Int’l of Int’l Trade Promotion (DITP).
Macro: Baht strength prompts gold & FX trading controls- Thailand’s strong baht (+8% in 2025, second-strongest in Asia) has pushed authorities to curb speculative activity. The Finance Ministry is considering draft rules to cap individual daily online gold trading at Bt100–200m and FX transactions with money changers at Bt800k/day. At peak periods, gold-related transactions accounted for 50–60% of total USD trading in Thailand, according to the BOT — highlighting growing FX volatility risks beyond equities.
Ongoing implementation of structural shifts toward co-payment continues to raise concerns over patient behavior and insurance demand. The market is pricing in potential net negatives from fewer discretionary doctor visits and weaker insurance uptake. Insurance revenue exposure over the past five years stands at 38% (BDMS), 32% (THG), 25% (BCH/CHG), 24% (PR9), and 21% (BH). Healthcare stocks sold off sharply yesterday, led by BDMS (-4.2%) and BH (-6.1%), reflecting policy-driven sentiment rather than company-specific fundamentals.
Capital markets: SEC reviewing short-selling framework- The SEC is considering revisions to short-selling regulations, including clearer definitions, streamlined client processes (e.g. inter-broker KYC), and stricter requirements for confirming borrowed securities prior to selling. SBL providers will be required to maintain robust risk management to avoid over-lending. Overall, proposed changes appear broadly aligned with practices already followed by foreign institutional investors.
Thai condo association urges govt to roll out measures to revive property market, sees headwind from Bt180b debts maturing this year including Bt150b from debenture & high yield bond and Bt30b from short-term debt, revenue from sales need to allocate for re-payment project loan first, short of liquidity may lead to domino effect and default on bondholders.
TikTok has banned political advertising and monetisation from politically branded content. The restriction will apply to all candidate accounts participating in the 8 February general election.
Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to be granted parole in May, after serving two-thirds of his one-year prison sentence, according to the Department of Corrections.
