21 Aug 2020
Financial Markets
The Baht weakened against the US dollar. The baht briefly rose early in the week, as the US dollar fell along with US bond yields on the back of disappointing US economic data. However, the Baht tumbled later in the week amid concerns about domestic factors, including the political and COVID-19 situation, as well as net foreign bond selling orders. In addition, the US dollar rebounded somewhat after the FOMC minutes gave no signal for a possibility that the Fed would implement the yield curve control in the near future. ... Read more
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14 Aug 2020
The Baht rose slightly, while the US dollar dropped on US-China tensions before the scheduled meeting to discuss about the progress of Phase 1 trade deal. The US dollar also faced sell-offs amid concerns about the US new stimulus measures due to different stances between the White House and Congress. However, the Baht pared gains somewhat at the end of the week, as investors kept an eye on the situation between the US and China, as well as Thailand’s GDP report for 2Q20, which was seen to contract at the double-digit rate. ... Read more
31 Jan 2020
The Baht weakened in line with other regional currencies amid concerns over the economic impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. In addition, the Baht was weighed down by net foreign stock selling during the week, and domestic US dollar demand at the month-end. ... Read more
27 Dec 2019
The Baht rose to test THB30.15/USD amid the US dollar’s sell-offs on the back of weaker-than-expected US durable goods and new home sales data. However, the Baht’s weekly movement was tight due to thin trading volume before the year-end holidays. ... Read more
15 Nov 2019
The Baht strengthened against the US dollar. Regarded as a safe-haven currency, the Baht rose in line with the JPY amid concerns about the US-China trade talks. The US President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that there was no agreement yet to roll back tariffs on imported goods from China, and the US could impose more tariffs if the talks ended without the first phase trade deal. However, the Baht was later traded in a narrow range as investors awaited developments of the US-China negotiations... Read more
25 Oct 2019
The Baht hit a new 6-year high. The Baht rose along with other regional currencies amid foreign investors’ net buying orders for Thai bonds early in the week. Meanwhile, the US dollar fell on weak US economic data, reinforcing expectations that the Fed would cut its benchmark rate further at the FOMC meeting scheduled for October 29-30. The Baht extended gains and hit the strongest level in over 6 years on technical-buying after it strengthened past the THB30.20/USD level later in the week. ... Read more
11 Oct 2019
The Baht weakened late last week after hitting an over 6-year high of THB30.25/USD. The Baht rose early in the week as a safe-haven currency amid concerns about conflicts between the US and China over their trade renegotiations, as well as between the EU and UK on the BREXIT issue. However, the Baht pared those gains somewhat later in the week after the BOT signaled to announce measures in order to rein in the Baht’s appreciation in the next 1-2 months. In addition, gains on risky assets on the back of hopes for the US-China trade talks weighed down the Baht sentiment. ... Read more
4 Oct 2019
The Baht strengthened late last week. The Baht fell early to mid-week on weak regional currencies, and risky assets amid heightened trade war tension, concerns over BREXIT, and an economic slowdown in the US and Eurozone. The Baht also tumbled along with net foreign stock selling orders. The Baht, however, rebounded strongly later in the week, as the US dollar was pressured by the disappointing US economic data, including ADP employment figures and the ISM service survey for September. ... Read more
9 Aug 2019
The Baht briefly fell after the FOMC meeting. The Baht rose early in the week, as the US dollar fell further on weak US Non-farm Payrolls data and concerns over the US-China trade tensions. The Baht extended its gains later in the week, although it fell briefly after the BOT’s MPC unexpectedly cut its policy rate to 1.50%. The Baht was supported by dollar-selling orders from exporters, Thai bond-buying orders from foreign investors, as well as a weaker US dollar. Asian currencies also rebounded somewhat, after falling in line with the Yuan early in the week. ... Read more
26 Jul 2019
The Baht weakened against the US dollar. The Baht fell early to mid week amid expectations that the Fed might not aggressively cut its policy rate in the near future. The Baht’s weakness was also in line with net foreign bond selling orders. Meanwhile, the US dollar rose on the budget deal between the Congress and President Trump’s administration, as well as the IMF’s upward revision to the US 2019 GDP outlook. Also, market participants became more cautious towards the Fed’s stance at its meeting scheduled for the end of this month after US economic data came out stronger than expected. ... Read more
19 Jul 2019
The Baht rebounded later in the week. The Baht weakened early to mid week, along with net foreign bond selling orders. The Baht later reversed those losses and rebounded amid the weak US dollar sentiment, led by disappointing US economic data, and NY Fed President’s remarks that reinforced expectation of the US rate cut at the FOMC meeting on July 30-31. The IMF’s report, saying that the US dollar is overvalued, also weighed down the US dollar. ... Read more
14 Jun 2019
The Baht hit a 3-1/2 month high of THB31.14/USD. The Baht rose along with net foreign stock and bond buying orders earlier in the week. In addition, the US dollar tumbled on an expectation that the Fed might cut its policy rate by the end of the year, and disappointing US economic data, including weak inflation and weekly jobless claims data.... Read more
7 Jun 2019
The Baht hit the strongest level in over 3 months at THB31.28/USD. The Baht strengthened in line with net foreign stock and bond buying orders, while the US dollar fell on the Fed Chairman’s remarks that the Fed would act appropriately to sustain the US economic expansion, fuelling expectation of the US rate-cut later this year. Weaker than expected US economic data, including ADP employment data, also weighed down the US dollar sentiment.... Read more
31 May 2019
The Baht strengthened, after having fallen earlier in the week. The Baht weakened along with other regional currencies that were pressured by concerns about the trade tension between the US and China. However, the Baht rebounded later in the week on net stock and bond buying orders of foreign investors. Report on the macroeconomic and FX policies of major trading partners released by the US Treasury showed that Thailand was not added in the monitoring list as market participants were concerned before.... Read more
17 May 2019
The Baht weakened later in the week. The Baht fell briefly in line with weaker Yuan and other Asian currencies. The Baht later rebounded to a 2-1/2 month high of THB31.45/USD on net foreign bond buying orders, as market participants put focus on the US Treasury’s FX report. However, the Baht fell later in the week on weak Asian currencies amid cautious sentiment related to the US-China trade talks, while the US dollar gained momentum on stronger-than expected US economic data. ... Read more
10 May 2019
The Baht tested the THB31.55/USD level, an over 1-month high, in late week. The Baht rose early in the week amid heightened tension between the US and China on their trade deal. In addition, there were short-covering orders, as Thai financial markets reopened after long holidays. The Baht weakened briefly due to the BOT’s MPC meeting result, but rebounded to an over 1-month high later in the week, as the US dollar fell on weak economic reports, and cautious sentiment ahead of the final US-China trade talks.... Read more
3 May 2019
The Baht fell slightly, but still traded within a narrow range around THB32.00/USD. The Baht edged up early in the week, as the US dollar barely drew any support ahead of the FOMC meeting. The Baht weakened later in the week, as the US dollar rose after the Fed gave no signal to cut its policy rate in the near future. In addition, the Baht fell on net foreign bond selling orders. ... Read more
26 Apr 2019
The Baht hit a near 4-month low of THB32.10/USD, before paring losses. The Baht fell in line with net foreign selling orders of Thai bonds and weak regional currencies. The US dollar rose on stronger-than-expected US economic data, and also extended gains against the Euro on the back of concerns about the slower economic prospects in Germany and the Eurozone. However, the Baht pared losses somewhat and rebounded late in the week.... Read more
19 Apr 2019
The Baht fell to THB31.80/USD. The Baht weakened after the reopening of domestic financial markets following long public holidays. The Baht’s weakness was in line with net foreign stock and bond selling orders while the US dollar gained on stronger-than-expected US economic data, including a fall in February trade deficit, declines in weekly jobless claims over the past five weeks, and an increase in US retail sales.... Read more
12 Apr 2019
The Baht pared gains later in the week. The Baht rose early in the week on foreign investors’ net buying orders of Thai stocks, while the US dollar fell on a weak US Factory Orders data for February. Later, the Baht pared gains on net foreign bond selling orders, as well as weak regional currencies, after the IMF cut its global growth forecast to 3.3% this year. The Baht rebounded late in the week in line with the Yuan on the back of a stronger-than-expected Chinese export data for March.... Read more
29 Mar 2019
The Baht rebounded slightly, after having fallen earlier in the week. The Baht fell early to mid week in line with net foreign selling orders in the Thai stock and bond markets, while investors kept an eye on political situations after the general elections. In addition, the US Dollar rose amid concerns about the global economic slowdown. The Baht hit the weakest level of the week at THB31.95/USD before rebounded somewhat later in the week after there was a clearer picture for domestic political factors than early in the week.... Read more
22 Mar 2019
The Baht stayed in a narrow range, but was volatile after the MPC and FOMC meetings. The Baht moved in a narrow band before falling to a 2-week low of THB31.97/USD after the BOT’s MPC members unanimously voted to keep its policy rate at 1.75%, and the BOT also revised downward its 2019 GDP forecast. However, the Baht rebounded on the US dollar sell-offs after the Fed signaled that it might not raise its policy rate later this year. The Baht stayed in a narrow range again late in the week before the general elections at home.... Read more
1 Mar 2019
The Baht hit a 1-month low. The Baht edged up early in the week on optimism about the US-China trade talks. The Baht, however, tumbled to a 1-month low of THB31.76/USD on the back of foreign investors’ selling orders of Thai stocks and bonds late in the week. The US dollar also gained on the rising US bond yields after US economic data, including 4Q-18 GDP report, came out better than market expectation. ... Read more
8 Feb 2019
The Baht traded in a narrow range, before weakening later in the week. Although the Baht moved within a limited range, it had a slightly strong bias on the back of net foreign stock and bond buying orders. However, the Baht fell later in the week on the BOT’s signal to step into the market to lessen the abnormal movement. The Baht’s weakness was also in line with net foreign stock and bond selling orders. ... Read more
18 Jan 2019
The Baht hit an 8-month high before paring gains later in the week. The Baht rose in line with net foreign stock buying orders and rising risky assets. Meanwhile, the US dollar faced sell-offs on the back of weak US economic data, signals to slow the US-rate hike path from the Fed Vice Chairman, and concerns about the US partial government shutdown. However, the Baht pared gains somewhat before the weekend. ... Read more
4 Jan 2019
The Baht hit a 7-month high of THB32.00/USD. A stronger Baht was due to the US dollar’s sell-offs amid concerns about a partial government shutdown. Meanwhile, weaker-than-expected US economic data hurt the US dollar sentiment and reinforced worries about uncertain US interest rate hike cycle. The Baht pared losses later in the week, along with a weaker Yuan after the PBOC lowered RRR by 1.0% to support the Chinese economy.... Read more
14 Dec 2018
The Baht rose, but within a narrow range. The Baht rose slightly in line with the Yuan and other Asian currencies amid easing concerns about the US-China trade tension after news reported that China could undo the tariffs on American-made cars. However, the Baht’s upside gains were capped later while the US dollar rebounded after the ECB cut its economic growth forecasts for this year and next year despite the confirmation of a halt for asset-purchase program at the end of this month as planned. In addition, the US dollar gained on short-covering ahead of the FOMC meeting.... Read more
30 Nov 2018
The Baht broke the THB33.00/USD level. The Baht rose amid the US dollar’s sell-offs after the Fed Chairman said that the Fed’s benchmark rate is just below neutral level. The remarks were seen as a signal for a slower tightening cycle of the Fed rate hikes in 2019. However, the Baht’s upside gains were limited, as market participants awaited the outcome of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. ... Read more
23 Nov 2018
The Baht weakened later in the week. It briefly rose early in the week on doubts about the US rate-hike outlook next year after Fed officials expressed concerns about the weaker global economic outlook. However, the Baht reversed gains and fell later in the week on a weaker-than-expected 3Q-18 Thai GDP report. It was also weighed down by tumbling risk sentiment while market participants kept an eye on clearer situations of the BREXT and the US-China trade deal. ... Read more
16 Nov 2018
The Baht was stronger than THB33.00/USD again. It briefly fell early in the week on the US rate-hike prospect, which helped support the US dollar sentiment. However, the Baht rebounded later on as the US dollar faced sell-offs amid hopes for solutions toward the BREXIT deal and US-China trade negotiation. In addition, the Baht gained on the BOT’s MPC meeting outcome (Nov. 14), showing that there were more members voting for a 25 bp rate hike, although a majority of members voted for holding the policy rate unchanged at 1.50%. The Baht stayed in a narrow range later in the week, as market participations awaited clearer situations of the BREXT and the US-China trade deal. ... Read more
9 Nov 2018
The Baht was weaker than THB33.00/USD again. The Baht was volatile early in the week ahead of the US mid-term elections. However, the Baht rebounded later on as the US dollar fell after the midterm elections results. Democrats won the U.S. House of Representatives while Republicans held on to their Senate majority. However, the dollar rebounded late in the week on the back of the FOMC meeting results. The Fed held its benchmark rate unchanged, but signaled to continue the tightening cycle in the near future, meaning there is a likelihood of another rate hike in December. ... Read more
26 Oct 2018
The Baht weakened and later broke the THB33.00/USD level. The Baht fell on a disappointing Thai export data and hefty net foreign stock selling-orders during the week. Meanwhile, the US dollar rose amid risk aversion, triggered by concerns about the EU’s formal steps to reject Italy's budget and Chinese economic slowdown. The US dollar also gained on stronger-than-expected US pending home sales and durable goods orders reports for September. ... Read more
19 Oct 2018
The Baht strengthened, but its gains were capped later in the week. The Baht rose early- to mid-week along with net foreign bond buying orders while the US dollar fell on a weaker-than-expected US retail sales data. However, the Baht pared gains somewhat later in the week in line with falling risky assets. Meanwhile, the US dollar was boosted by the FOMC minutes for their 25-26 September meeting that reiterated the Fed’s rate-hike outlook next year. The weakening Yuan on a disappointing Chinese GDP report for 3Q-18 also weighed down regional currencies, including the Baht. ... Read more
28 Sep 2018
The Baht rose slightly late in the week, but its movement remained tight. The Baht fell early in the week in line with other regional currencies amid steepened tension related to the US-China trade deal after China canceled trade talks with the US before the latter’s new tariffs on Chinese goods were set to go into effect. In addition, the US dollar was supported by position adjustments ahead of the FOMC meeting. The Baht, however, rebounded later in the week on net foreign bond and stock buying orders. ... Read more
7 Sep 2018
The Baht traded in a narrow range, but weaker than the previous week. The Baht fell on weak regional currencies that were pressured by sell-offs of emerging market currencies on the back of their fragile economies. Meanwhile, the US dollar was supported by ongoing trade disputes between the US and its key trading partners, i.e., Canada and China. The Baht also weakened, along with net foreign stock selling orders. However, weaker-than-expected US economic data triggered the US dollar sell-offs for position adjustments ahead of the US Non-farm Payroll report. ... Read more
31 Aug 2018
The Baht fell, after having hit a 2-month of THB32.50/USD. The Baht rose on net foreign bond buying orders and the US dollar’s sell-offs on the back of US-Mexico trade deal. However, the Baht weakened later in the week, as the US dollar strengthened on stronger than expected US economic reports that reinforced expectation that the Fed would raise their policy rate at the FOMC meeting in September. In addition, the falling emerging markets assets and the BOT’s signal to closely monitor the Baht movement. ... Read more
24 Aug 2018
The Baht broke the THB33.00/USD level. The Baht rose to a 2-month high of THB32.65/USD after the Yuan and other Asian currencies rose on the back of optimism on the US-China trade negotiations. The US dollar faced sell-offs after US President Trump criticized the Fed Chairman and said that he disagreed with the Fed’s rate-hike decision. The Baht pared gains later in the week, while the US dollar recovered on investors’ short-covering ahead of the annual Jackson Hole symposium and no development concerning US-China trade talks. ... Read more
17 Aug 2018
The Baht rose late in the week. The Baht fell briefly early of the week, after concerns about the Lira crisis triggered sell-offs of emerging-market assets, Asian currencies, and the Baht. However, the Baht later pared those losses and recovered on the back of the rebounding Yuan and other Asian currencies, helped by optimism about the U.S.-China trade talks. In addition, the Baht rose on net foreign bond buying orders during the week. ... Read more
10 Aug 2018
The Baht pared gains around end of week. The Baht earlier rose on net foreign stock buying orders, and the rebounding Yuan after the PBOC signaled that they would take action to stabilize the Yuan movement. The US dollar sell-offs on the back of the falling US bond yields were also the Baht’s supportive factor. The Baht pared gains and weakened later in the week, while the US dollar rose as a safe-haven currency amid the trade tension among the US and their trading partners. ... Read more
3 Aug 2018
The Baht weakened after the FOMC meeting. The Baht briefly rose on net foreign stock and bond buying orders. However, the Baht reversed those gains later in the week, along with weakening Yuan and regional currencies. Meanwhile, the dollar rose on the Fed’s statement, signaling that they would likely raise their policy rate at the meeting in September. The US dollar sentiment was also boosted by strong US ADP employment data, and weekly jobless claims report. ... Read more
26 Jul 2018
The Baht rose against the US dollar. A stronger Baht was in line with other Asian currencies, while the US dollar faced sell-offs after the US President said that the Fed’s tightening cycle might have impacts on the US economy and the strong US dollar could result in weaker US competitiveness. The US dollar also fell on disappointing US economic data, including Preliminary PMI data for July, and New Home Sales data for June. Meanwhile, the Baht also gained on net foreign stock and bond buying orders.... Read more
13 Jul 2018
The Baht hit over 9-month low of THB33.29/USD. The Baht fell to THB33.36/USD, the weakest level in 9 months. A weaker Baht was in line with the Yuan and regional currencies amid concern about the international trade situation between the US and China. Meanwhile, the US dollar also gained on strong US economic reports, including higher CPI and PPI inflation, and lower weekly jobless claims data, that supported the Fed’s gradual rate hike cycle. ... Read more
29 Jun 2018
The Baht hit over 8-month low of THB33.22/USD. The Baht fell along with Chinese Yuan, most Asian Currencies, and other risky assets amid concerns about the international trade situation between the US and their trading partners, especially restrictions on investment and trade. The Baht was also pressured by net foreign stock and bond selling orders. ... Read more
22 Jun 2018
The Baht broke the THB33.00/USD level to hit over 7-month low. The Baht fell along with net foreign stock and bond selling orders, while the US dollar rose further on the Fed Chairman’s remarks about more interest rate hikes in the coming months. Meanwhile, concerns about the international trade situation between the US and their trading partners also triggered sell-offs of risky assets, and affected sentiment of Asian currencies. ... Read more
15 Jun 2018
The Baht hit over 5-month low of THB32.46/USD. The Baht fell on net foreign stock and bond selling orders, while the US dollar rose strongly after the FOMC meeting. The Fed gave a hawkish signal that there would be two more rate hikes later in the year, compared with one hike signaled earlier. The US dollar also rose after the ECB said that their policy rate would be kept at low levels despite the halts of their QE measures.... Read more
8 Jun 2018
The Baht fell later in the week. The Baht edged up early- to mid-week in line with strong regional currencies, net foreign bond buying orders, and the US dollar sell-offs, especially against the Euro that was supported by expectation for the ECB’s signals to terminate their QE program by the end of this year. The Baht, however, reversed those gains and later fell in late week on the back of the US dollar short-covering ahead of the G-7 schedule and the FOMC meeting on June 12-13.... Read more
1 Jun 2018
The Baht weakened slightly. The Baht fell to the weaker side of THB32.00/USD in early to mid week, along with weak regional currencies and net foreign selling orders for Thai stocks, while the US dollar also gained, especially against the Euro, pressured by concern about political uncertainty in Italy. However, the Baht rebounded somewhat later in the week on net foreign bond purchases. Meanwhile, the US dollar fell on fading concerns about political situation in Italy and renewed uncertainty about trade policy about the US and their trading partners.... Read more
25 May 2018
The Baht rose to the stronger side of THB32.00/USD. The Baht briefly fell early in the week on news that the US and China put trade war on hold. However, the Baht reversed those losses and strengthened later in the week, while the US dollar fell on concerns about uncertain outcome of US-China trade talk. Meanwhile, the Baht gained on net foreign bond buying orders. ... Read more
11 May 2018
The Baht broke the THB32.00/USD to hit a 4-month low of THB32.22/USD. The Baht fell, while the US dollar extended gains on expectations of the Fed’s rate hikes, boosted by surging global oil prices and higher inflationary concerns. However, the Baht pared those losses later in the week, as the dollar faced sell-offs on a weaker-than-expected US CPI report. ... Read more
The Baht weakened further against the US dollar. The US dollar rose on US economic data, including industrial production, and Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey that came out stronger than expected, as well as the rising US bond yields. US 10-year Treasury bond yield hit its highest level since 2011. The Baht’s losses were also led by net foreign stock and bond selling orders later in the week.... Read more
4 May 2018
The Baht weakened to nearly THB31.75/USD. It appreciated early in the week, while investors sold the US Dollar somewhat to adjust their positions before the latest Fed meeting. However, the Baht pared those gains and weakened later on Thai bond sell-offs by foreign investors. The US Dollar was also supported by the Fed announcement of the US inflation that was closer to the target.... Read more
27 Apr 2018
The Baht hit a 2-month low. The Baht fell, while the US dollar rose along with the rising US bond yields. US 10-year yield surged to above 3%, the highest level in 4 years. In addition, the weak Baht was also in line with net stock and bond selling orders of foreign investors during the week. ... Read more
20 Apr 2018
The Baht fell slightly against the US Dollar, but its movement overall remained within a narrow range all week. The baht fell along with weakening regional currencies, while the US Dollar rose on higher US Treasury yields after Fed officials remarked that the US inflation rate would likely increase to the Fed’s target this year. The weaker Baht was also in line with net foreign bond selling positions during the week. ... Read more