Business
Bangkok Mall Shooting a Blow to Tourism and Thailand’s Economy
Analysts say the massacre at Siam Paragon in Bangkok compounds the negative effects of rising interest rates and concerns about government expenditures, which have already damaged Thai assets and dampened expectations for the country’s economic recovery.
As investors considered the potential for a negative reaction to the incident from China, the country’s largest source of visitors, tourism stocks dropped 1.6% shortly after the Stock Exchange of Thailand opened on Wednesday, before gradually recovering.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin promised to increase preventative steps to safeguard tourists. Even before Tuesday’s killing, which killed a Chinese woman who was visiting Siam Paragon with her two young daughters, this was a major fear of Chinese tourists. A young Myanmarese mall worker was the other victim.
On Wednesday, the SET Index dropped to a low of 1,431.96 before gradually rising again. A stronger dollar has pushed the baht to an 11-month low above 37 to the US dollar, while the benchmark index is at its lowest since January 2021.
About 60 billion baht has left the Thai stock and bond markets since the beginning of September, and the selling pressure from abroad reached a climax last week when the country unexpectedly raised interest rates. So far this year, foreign investors have been net sellers of 162 billion baht on the SET.
Bangkok Shooting a blow to the economy
Investors are concerned about how much additional debt the new Pheu Thai government can take on in light of its large fiscal spending plans. According to LSEG statistics, rates on Thai 10-year government bonds have risen by 75 basis points in just over three weeks, a higher increase than that seen in US Treasuries.
The Thai bond market has relatively low liquidity and is experiencing consistent selling. Toreck Horchani, head of prime brokerage dealing at Maybank Securities in Singapore, has commented on the current market conditions, noting that bid/offer spreads are high and that it is impossible to get anything done.
“The market was expecting no hike,” he explained.
Last week, the Bank of Thailand unexpectedly increased interest rates, citing an expected uptick in growth and inflation. This could pave the way for further increases. It is worried that government expenditure will lead to higher prices.
Since then, shares have dropped sharply, falling by more than 8% since August’s end. This decline is more severe than the 5% drop in the MSCI Emerging Markets Asia index during the same time period. The region’s largest equities outflows in September were from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Despite government promises to restore tourist confidence in the wake of Tuesday’s massacre, investors dropped shares in Central Plaza Hotel and Airports of Thailand early Wednesday, sending the latter to a seven-month low.
Normally, a rise in interest rates would strengthen the baht, but the recent increase in US interest rates, along with a selloff in global bonds, has caused the baht to fall by more than 2% against the dollar in only the past week.
Digital wallet scheme
Chintana Kittiviboolmas, UOB’s head of global markets in Thailand, blamed “aggressive offshore buying (of dollars)” for the situation, with rising fresh worries about the government’s financial strategy adding to the strain.
The Pheu Thai government is still figuring out the specifics of how they would pay for Mr. Srettha’s pledge to pump 560 billion baht into the economy through a digital wallet scheme in the coming year.
The proposals, which include subsidies for gasoline and agriculture, seem at contrast with the central bank’s efforts to curb inflation, and investors are worried about the prospect of increased supply in a declining bond market.
“In this backdrop there needs to be much greater (not less) monetary and fiscal coordination,” Aninda Mitra, head of Asia macro and investment strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management, said. “The sell-off in the baht appears to be the casualty of the market sensing this policy disconnect.”
Positive growth projections and expectations for the tourism industry’s revival are still present.
The head of macro strategy and Asia-Pacific developing markets research at BNP Paribas in Singapore, Siddharth Mathur, is a baht bull who thinks there are concerns in the medium term.
Despite anticipation of a large influx of Chinese travellers for the Golden Week holiday, Mathur added, “the seasonal improvement in tourism is not due until November.”
We anticipate a smaller increase in the current account surplus due to increased energy import prices and government spending plans, he said. That, in turn, makes the Thai baht vulnerable to the overall strength of the US dollar.
Teen suspect held on murder charges over Bangkok shopping mall
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy has been remanded to a juvenile detention institute for psychiatric evaluation after being charged with murder and other offences in connection with the shootings at Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok, Thailand.
On Wednesday, a day after a shooting spree at a Bangkok shopping mall left two people dead and five more wounded, the kid appeared in Juvenile Court under heavy police protection and with his face masked to protect his identity.
Due to the lack of evidence, the court ruled against transferring the suspect to a mental hospital. Tuesday’s arresting officers claimed he was too “confused” to provide a clear account of what happened and that he claimed to have heard voices urging him to kill people.
Police have initially charged the teen with five crimes: first-degree murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and discharging a firearm in a public place.
Metropolitan Police Division 6 Commander Pol Maj Gen Nakharin Sukhonthawit has stated that additional charges may be filed at a later date.
He also mentioned that investigators were thinking about filing Child Protection Act charges against the boy’s parents.
He stated that the suspect’s room at the Lak Song area residence had yielded a BB gun and numerous shells. The detectives would treat that as a separate investigation.
After a teenage shooter went on a shooting spree inside Siam Paragon in Pathumwan district just before evening rush hours on Tuesday, police quickly located and apprehended the suspect.
A Chinese mother of twins, 34, who was shopping at the mall with her daughters and a young Myanmarese employee were both slain. Two of the five people injured were in critical condition; three Thais, a Chinese, and a Laotian. People panicked and ran out of the mall.
On Wednesday, the head of the Department of Medical Services, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, claimed that the juvenile suspect had been treated at the children’s hospital, The Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, around a year ago. He would not elaborate, citing patient privacy concerns. He also mentioned that the youngster may have gone to other medical facilities for help.
Dr. Thongchai was addressing rumours that the suspect had received mental health care at Rajavithi Hospital in the past.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin promised “preventive measures” in the wake of the mall shooting.
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
SEE ALSO:
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
SEE ALSO:
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
-
News3 years ago
Let’s Know About Ultra High Net Worth Individual
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Mabelle Prior: The Voice of Hope, Resilience, and Diversity Inspiring Generations
-
Health3 years ago
How Much Ivermectin Should You Take?
-
Tech2 years ago
Top Forex Brokers of 2023: Reviews and Analysis for Successful Trading
-
Lifestyles2 years ago
Aries Soulmate Signs
-
Health2 years ago
Can I Buy Ivermectin Without A Prescription in the USA?
-
Movies2 years ago
What Should I Do If Disney Plus Keeps Logging Me Out of TV?
-
Learning2 years ago
Virtual Numbers: What Are They For?