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Bank of Thailand Governor Says We Must Brace for a Time of Volatility

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Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob says that businesses and governments should prepare for “the current world of volatility.”

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BANGKOK – Businesses and emerging Asian Countries must brace for a time of volatility by stepping up foreign exchange hedging and lowering their dependence on foreign currencies and financing, Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review on Friday.

Thailand recently began talks with Indonesia to promote settlement for trade and investment between the two countries in their local currencies instead of in the U.S. dollar. “This is an example of benefits of promoting one form of regional financial connectivity at a time when the global financial environment is very volatile,” Veerathai said.

Much of the cross-border transactions within Asia are quoted in U.S. dollars. In 2015, 84% of trade between Thailand and Indonesia was via the dollar. But the “dollar has become very volatile and is fluctuating,” said the governor. Local-currency settlement will lower that volatility as well as lower spreads for currency conversions.

Prior to talks with Indonesia, Thailand launched a local-currency settlement framework with Malaysia in 2016 enabling Thai businesses to source Malaysian ringgit from selected Thai banks, and Malaysian businesses to source Thai baht at banks in Malaysia.

Thailand also has a similar agreement with China. A clearing bank for yuan was set up in Thailand in early 2015. In 2016, 4% of trade between Thailand and China was quoted in local currencies compared to 0.03% a year earlier.

“Hopefully we can do more [local-currency settlements with other countries],” the governor said, adding that Myanmar has also shown interest in such an arrangement.

Eliminating any “pockets of risk” is what Veerathai sees as most important in surviving “the current world of volatility.”

He suggested that businesses should have sufficient foreign exchange rate management plans, while the Thai central bank will work with commercial banks on providing instruments to help improve hedging capabilities. High dependence on foreign financing, which would make governments and businesses vulnerable to exchange rates, should be kept low, he added.

Baht resilient

Thailand is quite prepared for what might lie ahead, Veerathai said, having learnt a bitter lesson in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The crisis led to the collapse of the baht and forced the country to enter into a floating exchange rate regime.

Thai bonds, for example, currently have a low exposure to foreign investors. Non-resident holding of government bonds, Bank of Thailand bonds and state enterprise bonds is just 8-9% compared to 30-40% in some emerging economies, Veerathai said.

Although Asian currencies took a dip in the wake of the U.S. presidential election in November, the Thai baht has shown relatively strong resilience. It has already recovered to pre-election levels, despite additional rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and is back on an upside trend currently hovering at around 35 baht against the dollar.

The resilience partially stems from the country’s current account surplus, which accounted for about 10% of gross domestic product in 2016, the highest level since the global financial crisis.

The fact that Thailand ranked as the 11th largest contributor to the U.S. trade deficit in 2016 is also pressuring its currency to rise. U.S. President Donald Trump has hit at countries that contribute to the U.S. trade deficit, such as China and Japan.

“I would not comment on whether we are satisfied with the current trend or level [of the baht],” Veerathai said. The Bank of Thailand has kept its monetary policy rate unchanged since March 2015. “But at present, as anyone, central bankers and businesses included, we should not be happy with the volatility that might not reflect the economic reasoning,” he said.

GDP projection “might be conservative”

Thailand’s economy has been picking up steadily, with the Bank of Thailand estimating GDP to have grown at around 3.2% last year, after posting near flat growth in 2014. Exports have improved across a wide base of industries, while the country’s crucial tourism sector has recovered at a faster pace than expected since last year’s crackdown on illegal tour operators saw a drop in Chinese tourists.

Brighter prospects for the country’s rural economies have added to the positive news, added Veerathai. Last year, farmers were hit by a severe drought, but prices for agricultural products are now picking up again.

In its latest forecast, the central bank projects that GDP growth in 2017 will also be 3.2%. But Veerathai hinted that this could be revised upwards in the bank’s next quarterly assessment due in March. “With [various] positive developments … it could be that our earlier projection in December might be a bit too conservative.”

Still, Veerathai said that there are “a number of structural problems” to deal with to achieve the 5% growth the government is targeting in the long term.

Developing a technology-based economy is one challenge, he said. Thailand has been aggressively introducing incentive schemes to encourage research and development investment. Fintech development would also help build an efficient economy, he said, referring to recent government efforts to encourage electronic payments.

He also sees that more public investment in infrastructure, including airport expansion, and the contruction of highways and high-speed railways, is needed to help improve the country’s competitiveness as a regional trade and logistics hub.

However, here again, fiscal buffers will be important, Veerathai stressed. He is in favor of the fiscal responsibility bill, approved by cabinet last March, which will set a legal ceiling for public debt at 60% of GDP. Public debt accounted for about 40% of GDP as of November. “Legal reforms will have implications for the future of Thailand and its financial landscape,” he said, adding that they will make it difficult for the country’s rulers to implement populist policies and will ensure the fiscal discipline of governments to come.

By Yukako Ono and Hiroshi Kotani – Nikkei Asian Review

 

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(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.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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(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

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Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

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.

water

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.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

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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