Kittiratt heaps more pressure on BoT

CURRENCIES

Published: 15 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

The baht's surge to a 19-month high this week has prompted renewed pleas by the finance minister for the Bank of Thailand to rethink its monetary policy.

A man pauses to watch the exchange rate board in front of TMB Bank in Bangkok yesterday. PATIPAT JANTHONG

The currency touched 29.55 to the US dollar on Wednesday, its strongest level since August 2011, and has gained 3.2% year-to-date, the most among Asian currencies.

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petar
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Discussion 5 : 17 Mar 2013 at 03.005
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Question:More money the way out,ore way in?
If exports greater than imports so weak baht is no problem.The other way round ,maybe the price of
coca-cola will stumble the thai economic down!(irony on)
So what do one want:An selfworthy economy, or one depending on fictionary way away of true live.
Beware of the rice scheme
(now a little example of hoplesness:as long as there is thai-politics only about triyng to bring the fugitive back,(to Thailand,but not into the prison).......
This land will fail!
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djay
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Discussion 4 : 15 Mar 2013 at 08.344
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BOT Governor statement 1: the strength of the baht is no concern. Statement 2: the strengthening baht will hurt the country's exports and economic growth. Thai logic?
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barryw
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Discussion 3 : 15 Mar 2013 at 08.143
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Since I moved into the house I rent in Bangkok about 15 years ago, the cost in sterling has risen from 80 to 135. Yet I'm still paying the same amount in Baht. Unbelievable. You don't really notice the drip drip, but that really hits home how much things have changed here.
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faranginkorat
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Discussion 2 : 15 Mar 2013 at 07.212
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The real purchasing power of the US$ is falling like a rock.
Why do so many people want the THB to chase after it???
The (very bad) health of the US economy (and others) is what will primarily determine export levels, not the exchange rate.
Any significant attempts to weaken the THB against the US$ will also weaken it against a kilo of rice, a liter of petrol, etc.....i.e. it will increase inflation, and inflation is already at least 5 times what the governments of both countries are telling us.
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boons
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Discussion 1 : 15 Mar 2013 at 06.121
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This is all about debt. Thailand's national debt and the debts on the books of Thailand's banks are dollar denominated. The BoT is not concerned with Thai business. They are operating out of self interest.

What is consistently amazing is the widely held belief that the BoT and Thailand's banking "system" operate for the public benefit. Where these crazy ideas come from I will never understand.

This is a privately owned cartel which operates to its own benefit. It is not, and has never been a form of public utility as is commonly misunderstood.
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Kittiratt heaps more pressure on BoT | Bangkok Post: business