Business
Analysts Sound the Alarm as Thai Baht Tanks
![Analysts Sound the Alarm as Thai Baht Tanks](https://www.chiangraitimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/scb_exchange_airport.jpg)
The Thai baht is likely to tank further throughout this month due to increased volatility in global money and capital markets following the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish interest rate hike.
By the end of this month, Krungthai Compass, a research house under Krungthai Bank, forecasts the baht to dip to the high-34s to mid-35s against the US dollar.
Several factors have contributed to the depreciation of the Thai baht, including higher volatility in global equity markets and digital assets, said Phacharaphot Nuntramas, chief economist at the research center.
On June 15, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points.
The baht, however, will stabilize after June and strengthen late this year after stabilizing for 3-6 months.
According to Krungthai Compass, a stronger baht to the greenback late this year would be supported by an improving current account.
According to the research firm, foreign tourists should number around 1 million in the first half of 2022, before soaring to 5 million in the second half.
Thai Baht to Increase
The country’s tourism income is expected to reach 300 billion Thai baht this year thanks to foreign arrivals contributing 50,000-60,000 baht each.
According to Krungthai Compass, the baht would be firmer at the end of this year, above 35 to the dollar.
After the Fed increased its policy rate aggressively, the Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), a research unit of Siam Commercial Bank, predicts the baht will continue to weaken to 34.5-35.5 to the dollar in the short term.
It is expected, however, that Thailand’s tourism sector will rebound strongly in the second half of this year and support the country’s economy and currency.
Fed to raise bench rate
A research center estimates that the Thai baht is likely to strengthen to 33.5-34.5 to the dollar by the end of this year.
A stronger baht and a surplus current account in Thailand would support the stronger currency, according to the EIC.
It is expected that Thailand’s current account deficit will persist for the first half of this year.
According to the EIC, the Fed will continue to raise its benchmark policy rate aggressively throughout the remainder of this year.
According to the research firm, the Fed is expected to raise its policy rate by 75 basis points at its July meeting, and by 50 basis points in September.
EIC forecasts another quarter-point increase in the Fed Funds Rate in November and December, pushing it to a range of 3.25-3.5% at the end of the year.
Interest Rate Hikes Coming for Thailand
The Bank of Thailand is being asked to discuss with commercial banks whether they want to raise their interest rates slowly. This is if the central bank decides to raise its policy rate.
It is the central bank’s goal to continue a gradual economic recovery in Thailand, according to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.
According to him, global energy prices are causing inflation in every country.
According to Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, the central bank governor, increasing the policy interest rate should not be done too late because inflation continues to rise.
To relieve the burden on its borrowers, the state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) has committed to maintaining its interest rates as long as possible amid the trend of rising global rates.
Companies should increase their liquidity, which could be negatively affected by future rate increases, according to GSB president Vitai Ratanakorn.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank voted 4-3 in June to keep the policy rate at its current level of 0.5%.
A policy rate increase of 0.25 percentage points was voted on by three members.
The next MPC meeting is scheduled for August. A persistently high inflation rate is expected to trigger a cycle of policy rate hikes in Thailand in the second half of this year.
According to the MPC, household expenses would rise by around 850 baht per month at the current inflation rate, and by 120 baht per month at a 100-basis-point policy rate increase.
Increasing interest rates does not have the same impact as rising inflation, according to the committee.
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
![Pepsi](https://www.chiangraitimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pepsi.webp)
(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
SEE ALSO:
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
![Infosys](https://www.chiangraitimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Infosys.webp)
(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
SEE ALSO:
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
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
![water](https://www.chiangraitimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/download-1-4.webp)
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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