News feed

The Cabinet yesterday approved increasing the allowance for low-level government officials by Bt500-Bt1,000, retroactive to October 1.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said after the Cabinet meeting yesterday that officials currently earning less than Bt10,000 per month, including salary and allowance, would get that boosted to Bt10,000 by increasing the allowance. 

For example, those with a monthly salary of Bt9,000 will get an allowance totalling Bt1,000. Those earning less than Bt13,000, which included monthly salary and allowance, will see their allowance increased to reach the Bt13,000 figure. A total of 400,000 government employees are expected to be affected by this move.

 

SEC sets up info booth

The Securities and Exchange Commission is welcoming the public to visit its presented under the theme “Be Smart, Ask First” at “SET in the City 2014”. The event will be held at Royal Paragon Hall, fifth floor of Siam Paragon, from tomorrow through Sunday. 

At the SEC booth, visitors will learn to ask the right questions to gain more knowledge and understanding on capital market products and services before making investment decision. 

 

Asia-Pacific report

Three of the 18 Fitch-rated Asia-Pacific sovereigns are on “negative” outlook with one on “positive” outlook and the rest “stable”, Fitch Ratings said yesterday in a report, “Asia-Pacific Sovereign Credit Overview November 2014”.

This is one fewer “positive” outlook than last quarter because Vietnam was upgraded to “BB-” with “stable” outlook from “B+” with “positive” outlook on the back of improved macroeconomic stability and stronger external balances. 

Structural economic challenges, including China’s rebalancing and reform processes, and tighter US monetary policy, are contributing to the broadly stable outlook for regional sovereign credit.

 

Online collaboration

Naspers, Schibsted Media Group, Telenor Group, and Singapore Press Holdings announced an agreement to establish joint ventures for the development of their online classified-ads platforms in four key markets – Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia and Bangladesh. They say the transaction will bring substantial benefits to consumers. Combining the platforms will make it faster and easier for people to trade and turn their items into cash.