The baht has been highly volatile over the first two quarters of this year, weakening about 10 per cent against the US dollar in the first quarter, moving from about Bt30 to the dollar to about Bt32.7. However, over the past two months, it has risen by about 5 per cent, staying at about Bt31.3 against the dollar. 

Emergency payroll loans totaling $221 million have gone to at least 21 publicly traded energy companies, and a survey of those companies' finances shows just how volatile and troubled that sector of the economy has been.