"Economic"

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Thailand’s 2021 GDP estimation to 0.8 per cent from its previous estimation of 3 per cent in April amid continuing concern over the Covid-19 pandemic across Asia.

"As the economy moves forward into the later months of 2021, federal aid will taper off and there will be an important focus on the ability of the labor market to generate ongoing strength in wages and salaries to support spending," economist Jack Kleinhenz said.

Despite a slowdown in output growth during August, service providers signalled a robust and accelerated rise in employment numbers, said the report.

Last summer, when a deadly explosion ripped through Beiruts port, chef and restaurateur Riad Aboulteifs barbecue joint was destroyed. No one was injured.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Monday said that he made clear to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell that the central bank should take any steps deemed to be needed to combat rising inflation and support the economic recovery.

WASHINGTON - The Biden administration mounted an aggressive push reshaping national housing policy in a span of 48 hours this past week, replacing a key regulator and pushing a flurry of other changes to try to address growing concerns within and outside the White House about a housing crisis for millions of renters and vulnerable Americans.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that there had been an increase in foreign tourists visiting Thailand in January 2021, despite the second Covid-19 outbreak from December.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called for greater transparency around the use of International Monetary Fund resources and on existing stocks of debt as global finance chiefs consider an expansion in the IMF's lending firepower.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,496.78 on Thursday, up 5.67 points or 0.38 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt124.12 billion with an index high of 1,511.30 and a low of 1,494.36.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 13.62 points, or 0.91 per cent, to 1,504.73 in the morning session on Thursday.

The price of gold dropped by Bt100 per baht weight in morning trade on Thursday, the Gold Traders Association reported.

U.S. equities reversed losses and staged a rally as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reaffirmed his view that the economy needs support. Government bond yields climbed along with oil prices.