Business
Bank of Thailand Says “Zero Dollar” Tour Crackdown Hurting Economy
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BANGKOK – The Bank of Thailand is voicing concerns about the impact of the government’s crackdown on “zero dollar” tours after a significant decline in the number of Chinese tourists in October, says a senior central bank official.
The zero-dollar clampdown, which came into force in late September, and higher visa-on-arrival fees dealt a significant blow to October’s foreign tourist arrivals, said Don Nakornthab, senior director of the Bank of Thailand’s macroeconomic and monetary policy department.
Foreign tourist arrivals in October alone plunged by 10.1% from the previous month but grew by a mere 0.5% over the same period last year, according to the central bank’s data.
Mr Don said Chinese tourist arrivals in October fell by 16% year-on-year.
The tourism sector has been one of the few bright spots in recent years while other engines comprising exports, private investment and domestic consumption remain tepid.
“According to the real figures, we expect the effect could be higher than earlier estimates,” Mr Don said.
The Bank of Thailand earlier forecast that the government’s crackdown could shave off 200,000 foreign tourist arrivals this year and 100,000 next year.
Mr Don said that the impact from the government’s measure will be an important issue to be discussed at the Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting on Dec 21, which will include a review of GDP growth, as the sector has a significant weight of the country’s GDP.
“If the effect is prolonged over the next three months, it remains OK for next year [economic growth]. But if the impact is extended for one year and three months, it would seem like Thailand could lose one of its economic engines,” he said.
But Mr Don said that the measure is the right approach for the sector in the long run.
In a related development, the economy in October expanded at a slower pace than the previous month as exports swung back to contraction after two straight months of growth.
Merchandise exports excluding gold in October registered at US$17.4 billion, falling 4.3% year-on-year and 3.6% month-on-month.
“Personally, I think the economy is still able to come in at 3.2% growth this year,” Mr Don said.
He said that in the first nine months of this year, the economy grew at an annual rate of 3.3% and it needs at least 3% growth for the final quarter to achieve the central bank’s forecast of 3.2% this year.
The National Tourism Policy Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn forecast the number of foreign tourists will marginally miss the target this year.
He said the government’s zero-dollar tour crackdown has taken a marginal toll on Chinese tourists and the situation will improve in December and January.
The committee estimates that the number of Chinese tourists will reach 8.8 million this year following the measure, falling short of the earlier target of 9-10 million but still rising from 7.9 million last year.
For the first 10 months, foreign tourist arrivals rose by 11.3% year-on-year to 27 million and the sector’s income surged almost 15% to 1.35 trillion baht. China was the largest tourist group, followed by Malaysia and South Korea.
Following the implementation of the measure to clamp down on zero-dollar tours, the committee also forecast that the number of foreign tourists will be 32.6 million this year, compared with the earlier estimate of 33 million.
They are expected to contribute 1.68 trillion baht this year, down from the earlier forecast of 1.76 trillion.
Meanwhile, Kim Eng Tan, senior director for sovereign and international public finance ratings at S&P Global, said the key risk for Thailand’s sovereign credit rating is politics, which could disrupt policy and dampen the confidence of consumers and businesses.
“These uncertainties seem to have eased over the past few months and if the government can deliver the election as promised, we’re likely to see an improvement in business and consumer sentiment,” he said, adding that the economy could register a stronger growth than the past few years.
By PAWEE SIRIMAI | CHATRUDEE THEPARAT | BANGKOK POST
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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