1. Household debt risks boiling over : NPL value closing in on B1tn this year amid contraction. The country’s household bad debt is expected to reach 1 trillion baht this year, putting the ratio to total loans outstanding into double digits as debt-servicing ability erodes amid coronavirus-induced income shocks, says the head of the National Credit Bureau (NCB). Bangkok Post
  2. LTFT wants swift end to decree : The Land Transport Federation of Thailand (LTFT) is opposing the government’s decision to extend the emergency decree to the end of June, estimating that the order will cost the economy a further 300-400 billion baht during the one-month extension. Bangkok Post
  3. Further reopenings set for June : Boxing, massage poised to return. Boxing stadiums, massage parlours, spas, cinemas, convention venues and tutorial schools are among the moderate-risk category of businesses and activities expected to be allowed to reopen for the third stage of Covid-19 lockdown easing next month. Bangkok Post
  4. Thai Airways loses state enterprise status after stake sell-off : Debt-ridden Thai Airways International (THAI) has lost its state enterprise status after the Vayupak 1 Fund bought a 3.17% stake from the Finance Ministry yesterday, a source at the fund said. Bangkok Post
  5. Five tipped to lead THAI comeback : Five leading businessmen are expected to be nominated as administrators of a rehabilitation plan for debt-ridden Thai Airways International (THAI) which has now lost its state enterprise status, a source at the national carrier said. Bangkok Post
  6. Rejigging the model : The sharing economy must rework how it does business, as some trends may linger well past a Covid-19 recovery. Unicorn startups operating under the sharing economy model have not been spared by the coronavirus pandemic, as social distancing measures and travel restrictions have dimmed their outlook. Bangkok Post
  7. Pattaya City unveils plans for nine-kilometre monorail : CHON BURI: The Pattaya City administration plans to build a nine-kilometre monorail to ease traffic congestion and connect the city with the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project. Pattaya deputy mayor Manote Nongyai said yesterday while Pattaya has a wealth of potential for economic development, it has been plagued with traffic problems caused by rapid urban growth and lacks an efficient public transport system, particularly in its downtown area which is a key commercial and economic centre. Bangkok Post
  8. Govt eyes July 1 lockdown end : Complete reopening of country on table. The government plans to completely lift the lockdown of all businesses and activities on July 1 across the country with preparations made in advance next month, the National Security Council (NSC) chief says. Bangkok Post
  9. NESDC: 14.4m workers at risk : Thailand may lose up to 14.4 million jobs in the second and third quarters, largely because of the coronavirus outbreak and widespread drought, says the government’s planning unit. Bangkok Post
  10. Excise chief flip-flops as department rejects 50% tax cut : The Excise Department has turned down car makers’ proposed 50% tax cut, fearing prices of all vehicles in the market will decline further if the reduction is implemented, the department’s chief says. Bangkok Post

  1. Hi
    I am no expert and this is not my field. I see the external influences on the World markets that have a degree of sway over everything. HK China USA.

    The doom and gloom sees massive debt, that keeps me out of the market. I do have property that seems to be going no where as people are being conservative with their money or theyre in debt.

    I own everything including my business, we do not rent anything including our office.

    Cash is not a problem but holding it in Thai Baht worries me. I have diversified into gold and other currencies but they all seem vulnerable. What is your take on staying in cash and which currency?

    • Cash – A rubbish asset but great for optionality i.e when $hit hits the fan you can get any asset at bargain prices. Personally always ~20% in liquid form (i.e. money markets, cash) but now that is not the case as the markets gave us stocks at valuations not seen since 2008/2009.

      Currency – Not an expert, hold to the viewpoint that you should keep your currencies in the countries you use them so Euro, USD, THB, SGD…I can see a risk that the USD goes through the roof and everything devalues against it and I can also see the USD declining over time…if I knew this I would be sailing through the islands of the world.
      Gold/Silver – Love ’em (for now). All this money printing scares me. at one point we were quoted -ve interest rates for 1month USD Fixed deposits… blew my mind.
      Hard assets – Property, such a broad class….still can see the risk that asset prices increase tremendously as a result of this money printing…but a condo in the middle of nowhere? A piece of land in the boonies? Or something central? Or on an upcoming mass transit line…all have different characteristics.
      Bitcoin – My personal hands up in the air I don’t know, but maybe i can make 10-100x on it and if not and it disappears I only lose 1% of my “worth”.
      Fixed income – No idea frankly…
      However do realise – access to credit is very important, what can I margin on? I can margin on property/stocks/some offer margin on gold/silver/btc, so I do wonder at times what I can use to get access to liquidity/credit. In 08 I was able to leverage off hard assets, re-invested…saved my losses…now…learnt the lessons of the past and just had the cash ready…

      This can be such a long discussion, or just 1 min.

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