Archive

ROH disputes hotel sale: buyback right still stands, unitholder vote on 28 Oct Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

ROH and the GROREIT trustee disagree on whether ROH's right to buy back the Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel has expired. ROH is taking legal advice. Unitholders vote on 28 Oct 2026 on a sale; options include selling to ROH at 4,873 mn baht, a rival bid from Orchid Hospitality at 5,300 mn baht, or an open auction. ROH's shares are suspended (SP), and its 280 mn-baht rights issue at 0.60 baht per share has a record date of 5 Oct and subscription 20-27 Oct 2026. If you deal with ROH, its suppliers, or hold its shares, check your exposure now.

Bangkok approves BTS Chit Lom walkway upgrade and unified fare system for January 2027 Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

Bangkok's transport committee approved BTS upgrades to the Chit Lom elevated walkway linking Gaysorn Plaza, Hyatt Erawan and Amarin Plaza: non-slip flooring, roofs, lighting and more CCTV. Also: the Green and Gold line assets and debts are being transferred to MRT authority (MRTA), and a unified fare system is set to start 1 January 2027 with a fare-reduction policy and card-reader readiness checks. For shops and offices near Chit Lom, expect walkway works and possible foot-traffic disruption; for transport-dependent businesses, a single fare card is coming in early 2027.

Bangkok's two children's museums close from 1 October over a contractor gap Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

Bangkok's Chatuchak and Thung Khru children's museums close temporarily from 1 October 2026 while the city procures a new operator under the government procurement law. The deputy governor says it is a budget year-transition gap, not a policy to shut them, and reopening dates depend on the procurement timeline, which is not set. For a Thai SME, this only matters if you run a business tied to school-holiday family visits in these two areas or sell services to the museums; otherwise, no action needed.

Gold prices fell 100 baht today on 22 Sep 2026, with jewellery sold at 69,300 baht per baht weight Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

Gold prices dropped 100 baht from yesterday's close, per the Gold Traders Association as of 09:00. Jewellery (รูปพรรณ) sells at 69,300 baht per baht weight and buys back at 66,931.40 baht, a gap of about 2,370 baht. Bars sell at 68,500 and buy back at 68,300. Spot gold is at US$4,350 per ounce. If you hold gold stock or take gold in trade, check your buy-back and resale prices before you transact. The spread on jewellery is wide, so buying and reselling it in the short term loses money.

Crude oil prices fall on US-Iran talk hopes, easing near-term fuel cost pressure Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

On 21 Sep 2026, West Texas crude fell to US$95.78/bbl (down $4.52) and Brent to US$100.34/bbl (down $3.53), as markets priced in possible US-Iran diplomacy. US Centcom reports Strait of Hormuz energy flows at a six-month high, and a supertanker cluster is loading at Gulf export ports. For a Thai SME, this is a short-term easing of fuel and energy cost pressure, not a settled trend. Don't lock in fuel or freight budgets on the assumption prices stay low; the article gives no baht price forecast and the talks could still fail.

Health costs are outpacing GDP, and KKP sees public health benefits squeezed from around 2030, pushing more Thais to buy private health insurance The Standard Wealth · Sep 22, 2026

KKP Securities analyst Teerapol Udomvej says Thai health spending has grown faster than GDP (share rising from 3.08% in 2000 to 4.54% in 2023), and the state may hit its limit by 2030, forcing changes to the UC, social security and civil servant schemes. Only 6.4% of Thais hold private health insurance versus an OECD average of 36%, and premiums grew about 8% a year over 2019-2025. For an SME, this is a forecast, not a rule change yet: review staff health cover and out-of-pocket medical costs now, and watch for tax-deduction or co-payment changes. The article is a broker's outlook, so treat its timing as an estimate.

TCAS 70 adds a central online portfolio and job-match signals for university applicants The Story Thailand · Sep 22, 2026

Thailand's TCAS admissions system now has a central online Portfolio that is free to fill in, so applicants no longer need to submit a physical file to each university. My TCAS uses AI to rate course choices green, yellow or red for admission odds, with a smiley marking courses linked to job demand. Activities recorded by schools (such as SOVN camps) can be pulled in automatically via TCAS Verified. For a business owner, the main relevance is to family members or staff applying to university: the Portfolio is free and online, and course-to-job data is now visible before choosing a faculty.

Government plans to tighten standards on 1.5 million rooftop solar installs Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

The Ministry of Industry plans to set quality standards for the 1.5 million-household rooftop solar programme to keep out substandard equipment. Imported gear must first meet international IEC standards, which can then be adopted as Thai TISI (มอก.) standards. Installers must be certified by the relevant electricity authority or an accredited institution. Suppliers and installers should check that panels, inverters, DC breakers, fuses, cables and lithium batteries carry the listed มอก. numbers or IEC certification before quoting for solar jobs. The article gives no effective date, so treat this as a planning signal for now.

Baht opens stronger at 33.22 per dollar on 22 Sep, with a 33.15–33.30 range expected for the day Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

The baht opened at 33.22 per dollar, up from 33.29 at yesterday's close, as the dollar weakened after oil prices fell more than 2% for a fourth straight day. Support is seen at 33.15 and resistance at 33.30 for the next 24 hours. Foreign investors sold 2,734 million baht of Thai bonds and bought 4,633 million baht of Thai stocks the day before. For an importer or exporter, this is a small move; check the rate before pricing or settling dollar invoices, and watch the Trump–Xi summit this week, which could move the dollar.

Diesel and gasohol prices on 22 Sep 2026: B20 at 35.69 baht, B7 at 40.69 baht per litre Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

Per Bangchak's reference prices on 22 Sep 2026: diesel B20 35.69 baht/litre (up 0.85 baht from the previous day), diesel B7 40.69 baht, gasohol 95 39.94 baht, gasohol 91 39.57 baht, E20 34.94 baht. Prices exclude Bangkok's local land tax and take effect from 05:00 the next day. Check your local station before budgeting, since fuel costs feed directly into delivery, transport and production expenses.

Cabinet to decide on extending the "Thai Help Thai Plus" scheme and reshuffle Finance Ministry's top tax posts Prachachat · Sep 22, 2026

The Cabinet meets this week (around 21 Sep 2026) and the Finance Ministry will propose extending phase 2 of the "Thai Help Thai Plus" scheme. Details of the form the extension takes have not been announced yet; a press briefing was scheduled after the meeting. The Revenue Department director-general retires 30 Sep, so a new head is expected. Also on the agenda: revised plans for the Map Ta Phut port (EEC), a World Bank loan for low-carbon cities, and a draft cannabis control act. Watch the post-meeting briefing for the scheme's terms before planning around it.

Middle East tourist arrivals may dip as Riyadh attack hits travel sentiment Bangkok Post · Sep 22, 2026

Atta says the Houthi strikes near Riyadh airport could further weigh on Middle East travel, which has not fully recovered from earlier Gulf conflict. Thai flight operations to Thailand remain normal, and Q4 is the low season for this market, so a severe impact is not expected. Arrivals from the region may still fall short of last year's 752,510, due to conflict, reduced flight capacity and high airfares. Tour operators are shifting to longer stays, higher-value packages and medical or five-star offerings. If you serve Gulf visitors, consider upselling value and length of stay rather than chasing volume.

Government mulls fuel excise cut for E20 and palm biodiesel, possibly from fiscal 2027 Bangkok Post · Sep 22, 2026

Finance Minister Ekniti says a fuel excise cut is under consideration to ease energy-crisis costs, targeting E20 (sugarcane/cassava ethanol blend) and palm-based biodiesel. It would likely take effect in fiscal 2027, not yet decided, and depends on fiscal room. Public debt is 67.45% of GDP against a 70% ceiling. The Thais Help Thais Plus stimulus is due to expire at month-end; the Finance Ministry will ask cabinet on Tuesday for an extension. Plan fuel and transport costs on current prices for now, and watch for the cabinet decision on the stimulus extension.

US tariff talks on Thai exports could land within weeks, with a possible extra Section 301 duty in play Bangkok Post · Sep 22, 2026

Thailand wants to keep its US tariff at the agreed 19% and is racing to close talks before Washington publishes Section 301 findings on forced labour and overcapacity, which could bring extra tariffs. Thailand currently faces a 12.5% forced-labour-related tariff, versus 10% for neighbours with US deals. If you export to the US, price and margin plans should assume the rate could move up. Watch for the Section 301 announcement and the Prime Minister's US visit. No deadline has been set in the article.

Thai TV satellite dish phase-out may leave millions of households without signal Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Consumer Council is pushing the NBTC and operators such as AIS and True to set up a transition working group for the C-Band satellite TV shutdown under the 2026–2030 TV roadmap. The band (3700–4200 MHz) is being reassigned to 5G/6G. Over 8 million households could be affected, and the council warns that rural, elderly and vulnerable viewers may have to pay for new equipment alone. The proposal is still at discussion stage; no compensation scheme or timetable has been set. For a small business, the practical impact is limited: if you run a shop or venue that relies on satellite TV, watch for a switch to Ku-band or IPTV dishes and budget for replacement equipment once rules are announced.

Shipping freight rates hit near 5-year highs on war and El Niño, so Thai exporters and importers should expect higher freight costs for the next 4–6 months The Standard Wealth · Sep 21, 2026

Baltic Dry Index hit 3,488 on 3 September, its highest since October 2021, and the Shanghai container index is up over 200% year on year. Freight on Shanghai to US East Coast is near COVID-peak levels after roughly quadrupling since the Iran war began in late February, and bunker fuel (VLSFO) rose from about $544 to $902 per tonne. An analyst expects rates to stay high for another 4–6 months, with a super El Niño adding Panama Canal drag into late year. For a Thai SME, this means freight and fuel surcharges on imports and exports are likely to stay elevated this quarter, so review shipping quotes and pricing. The article's focus is stock valuation, so the share-price advice is not relevant to a business owner.

Thailand races to finalise US trade deal before Section 301 ruling The Standard Wealth · Sep 21, 2026

Commerce Minister Supajee Suthammarpan says Thailand and the USTR have agreed the framework for a reciprocal trade agreement (ART) and are now checking the wording. The aim is to announce results before the US publishes its preliminary Section 301 finding on structural excess capacity, expected soon. The goal is to keep US tariffs within the rate agreed last year. For exporters to the US, the tariff rate is not final until the deal is signed, so keep export pricing and US orders flexible for now and watch for the announcement.

Chiang Mai survey: Kon Khrueng Plus and Thai Chuay Thai ease living costs but add few new sales Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

A Chiang Mai University survey of 299 buyers and sellers (August 2026, mainly wet markets in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang) found the two handout schemes mostly covered everyday goods: 74.7% of spending went to essentials, and only 5.4% of sellers gained genuinely new customers, though total sales rose 77.2%. 56.4% of sellers worry that scheme sales data will be used for retrospective tax audits, yet all of the most worried sellers still plan to join the next round. Practical steps: keep clean records of scheme sales, check how your transactions are reported, and do not count on a lasting sales lift once the 10-day spending surge ends.

Bank-sold used homes jump 122.9% in Q2 as supply grows, Korat transfers pick up Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

REIC and GHB's Q2 2026 report: listed used-home supply rose 6.1% to 195,941 units, and bank-listed units rose 122.9%. Listings priced 7.5-10 million baht sold least. Transfers were strongest in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan, with Nakhon Ratchasima up fastest in value. Phuket is slowing. Used-home buyers and sellers in those areas should price and time deals accordingly; bank-listed stock is a source of competing supply for anyone selling or building a property-related business.

Reuters reports LNG buyers and sellers are seeking more supply diversity amid the Iran war. Article text was unavailable, so this is based on the headline alone. For Thai SMEs, watch for possible effects on gas and fuel-linked energy costs.