Business
Bloomberg Say’s Thailand’s Political Turmoil is Wreaking Damage on the Economy
BANGKOK – Thailand’s political turmoil is wreaking greater damage on the economy than analysts had estimated, raising the stakes for leaders of the nation’s two main political camps to reach an accommodation.
Gross domestic product shrank 0.6 percent in the three months through March from a year earlier, the National Economic & Social Development Board said in Bangkok today, compared to the median estimate for a 0.4 percent expansion in a Bloomberg News survey of 23 analysts.
Thai production and tourism have been damaged by months of unrest, as opponents of ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra mounted public protests and legal challenges that succeeded in removing her from office. Today’s report raises pressure on leaders from both sides to find a settlement, with no election date yet agreed to provide a government with a mandate.
“Both private consumption expenditure and investment growth underperformed our expectations, signaling that the impact from the current political impasse on the economy may have been greater than we had initially thought,” said Gundy Cahyadi, an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore. “The prospect of government expenditure remains bleak” and with businesses also unwilling to commit to new investment, the economy may expand less than 2 percent this year, he said.
The Thai baht was little changed at 32.49 against the U.S. dollar as of 10:57 a.m. local time. It is one of the worst performers in the past six months among 11 widely traded Asian currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The benchmark stock index is the only major one in Southeast Asia to have declined in the same period.
Forecasts Cut
Anti-government protesters have derailed plans for a July 20 election and the army has said it may use force to counter any escalation of violence. Yingluck was forced to step down from office earlier this month following a court ruling.
The state planning agency today cut its expansion forecast for this year to 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent from a range of 3 percent to 4 percent earlier, and lowered the export growth estimate to 3.7 percent from 5 percent to 7 percent. Total investment may fall 1.3 percent this year from an earlier prediction of a 3.1 percent increase, it said.
The main reason for the cuts is “political problems, which prolonged more than earlier forecast, and have become a bigger hurdle for economic growth than earlier forecast,” NESDB said in a statement. The formation of a new government will be delayed longer than estimated, posing limitations for any economic stimulus, budget disbursement and the preparation of the fiscal 2015 budget, it said, adding that this has hurt consumer and business confidence and crimped spending.
Exports Slide
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy has survived coups, natural disasters and downturns in the past, with the last quarter-on-quarter technical recession seen in 2009 after a global economic slowdown led to an exports slump and anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok’s main international airport for more than a week. Overseas sales slipped in two of three months this year, while consumer confidence slid for a 13th straight month in April.
The Bank of Thailand, which kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged in April after cutting it to the lowest since December 2010 the previous month, will reduce its 2014 GDP growth forecast of 2.7 percent in its next meeting on June 18, Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said last month.
The outlook on Thailand’s debt rating may be reassessed if the deadlock stretches into the second half, Fitch Ratings said on March 20, and Moody’s Investors Service said last month that a prolonged period of below-trend growth would be credit negative. Thai Airways International Pcl reported a net loss for the fourth consecutive quarter on falling tourist arrivals.
Slowest Growth
Thailand will probably have the slowest growth among its major Southeast Asian peers this year, according to Bloomberg surveys. Malaysia last week reported a better-than-estimated 6.2 percent expansion in the first quarter from a year earlier, while Singapore’s economy probably grew 5.4 percent, a Bloomberg survey showed ahead of data due tomorrow.
The Thai economy contracted 2.1 percent from the previous quarter, when it expanded a revised 0.1 percent, today’s report showed. That compared to a median estimate of a 2.2 percent decline in a Bloomberg survey. Thailand could be the only major country in Southeast Asia to fall into a recession this year, with analysts at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. and Mizuho Bank Ltd. predicting two consecutive quarters of contraction.
Consumption fell 2.1 percent last quarter from a year earlier, while investment dropped 9.8 percent, today’s data showed. Manufacturing slipped 2.7 percent, and construction slumped 12.4 percent.
“As of now, it does seem that the growth momentum is going to remain fairly weak,” said Rahul Bajoria, a Singapore-based economist at Barclays Plc. “The second half is at risk of starting on a much weaker footing” as the political uncertainty persists, with a risk of slipping into a technical recession in the first half of the year, he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok at [email protected]
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at [email protected] Rina Chandran, Malcolm Scott
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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