Thailand
Thailand set to approve banking agents amid inclusion push
Financial inclusion effort means people can take deposits, transfer money and pay bills at banking agents, such as small merchants and post offices
BIS’s Carstens sees danger in rapid technological change
General manager says supervisors should ensure the banking system remains resilient amid numerous challenges to traditional business models
Singapore and Malaysia to set up stock market link
The two markets have a combined market capitalisation of more than $1.2 trillion and 1,600 publicly listed companies
Thailand eases foreign exchange rules to encourage outflows
Central bank seeks to cool down the baht, one of the fastest-appreciating Asian currencies
Balancing reserves’ effectiveness and transparency
Why do countries accumulate more and more reserves if they know intervention may prove ineffective? Iris Yeung speaks to Canada’s Eric Wolfe
Singapore unveils cross-border fintech push
Singapore plans to work with central banks in Hong Kong, Canada and Thailand on fintech
Malaysia starts to feel effects of Fed rate hikes
Fed rate hike in June reversed flows into Malaysian financial markets, leading to an increase in yields, a deprecation of the ringgit and a fall in the stock market; Thailand appears less affected
China-led Asian Financial Cooperation Association launches
AFCA aims to strengthen regional financial co-operation and participate in global financial governance
Bank of Thailand raises growth forecast amid weak inflation
Thai central bank says it is waiting for economic growth to become more broad-based, as inflation continues to disappoint
Thai central bank warns on deteriorating debt serviceability
Bank of Thailand flags financial stability risks as weakening macroeconomic outlook impacts debts among SMEs and households
Thai central bank sets out timeline for forex reforms
Some regulations are “obsolete”, Thai governor says
Financial integration will strengthen region – Thai governor
Santiprabhob says policies need to “converge” in order to create an integrated market; payment systems would be a good place to start with harmonised standards a proven solution, he says
Forex volatility can boost liquidity – BIS paper
Price volatility might not always be a bad thing for market liquidity, authors find
Former Bank of Thailand governor cleared of Asian financial crisis charges
Governor cleared of wrongdoing related to central bank’s defence of baht in 1997, as Supreme Court brings 15-year court case to a close
Payments revamp should cut costs in Thailand, governor says
In an interview with Central Banking journal, Veerathai Santiprabhob lifts the lid on payment system reforms aimed at strengthening infrastructure and promoting debit card usage
Bank of Thailand frets over zero lower bound
Minutes show latest policy decision influenced by worries over financial imbalances and perceived need to maintain “policy space” in event of economic hit
Government approves final stage of Thai development plan
Bank of Thailand will promote electronic payments in latest phase of financial sector master plan; all phases to be completed by 2020
Information content of capital flows affects exchange rate impact, SNB paper finds
Private information conveyed by different kinds of capital flows affects the impact on the exchange rate, a working paper published by the Swiss National Bank finds
MAS takes step to facilitate capital sourcing across Asean jurisdictions
Singapore central bank issues implementation handbook with Thai and Malaysian regulators for firms looking to raise capital in other Asean countries
Thai Government Pension Fund eyes deeper bond futures market
Thailand's $23 billion Government Pension Fund is one of the institutions that wants to see the country's bond futures market build on the progress already made in equity and forex derivatives
Bank of Thailand cuts forecasts for growth and inflation
Monetary policy report says risks are ‘skewed to the downside’ as central bank lowers its forecasts; MPC was divided over further easing at April meeting
Thailand relaxes capital controls
Bank of Thailand announces measures to make it easier for residents to invest abroad and for foreigners to trade bahts
Prasarn highlights ‘untapped opportunities’ between Thailand and China
Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul insists China is still an ‘important engine in support of the growth of the Thai export sector’
Prasarn pledges loose monetary policy until structural shift bears fruit
Governor urges infrastructure push to catapult Thailand out of middle-income trap; monetary policy to 'remain accommodative' until changes become effective