Bank of Thailand Raises Growth Forecasts but Warns Recovery Remains Concentrated

Thailand Business News - Oct 31, 2026

Thailand’s central bank raised its GDP forecasts to 2.4% for 2026 and 2.1% for 2027, citing stronger technology exports and private investment

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Can battery swapping and energy storage power CATL’s next phase of growth?

Oct 31, 2026

Can battery swapping and energy storage power CATL’s next phase of growth?

Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) has doubled down on new businesses including battery swapping and energy storage as the world’s largest battery maker seeks new growth drivers amid intensifying price wars and mounting pressure on profitability. But the new path is far from straightforward. Established players like Nio have already built a strong presence in battery swapping, while BYD has reinforced its position in energy-storage systems. Lucas Zhang Liutong, director of Hong...

PH debt climbs to record P19.66T in September

Oct 31, 2026

PH debt climbs to record P19.66T in September

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s outstanding debt climbed to a record P19.66 trillion in September, fueled by additional borrowings and the depreciation of the peso. Total liabilities rose 0.27 percent from August, while increasing 12.63 percent from a year earlier, according to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury. The September figure is

El Niño seen pushing up rice prices in 2027

Oct 31, 2026

El Niño seen pushing up rice prices in 2027

MANILA, Philippines — Global rice prices are projected to rise by nearly 18 percent on average next year as a strong El Niño threatens harvests across major producing countries, particularly those in Asia, according to Fitch Solutions research unit Business Monitor International (BMI). Rice prices were expected to remain elevated through the first quarter of

Gasoline prices to rise anew in 1st week of November

Oct 31, 2026

Gasoline prices to rise anew in 1st week of November

MANILA, Philippines — Fuel retailers are expected to implement mixed adjustments in the prices of domestic petroleum products in the first week of November, with gasoline on track for another increase. Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said gasoline may see a price jump ranging from P2.90 to P3.20 per liter. Diesel may record a slight

As AI cyber risks grow, Chinese chip expert urges shared ethics standards with US rivals

Oct 31, 2026

As AI cyber risks grow, Chinese chip expert urges shared ethics standards with US rivals

The co-founder of Chinese chip giant Cambricon Technologies urged the introduction of universal ethical requirements for leading Chinese and American artificial intelligence models on Friday to mitigate growing risks to society. Chen Yunji’s remarks at an event in Shanghai come as the rapid advance of AI systems globally has resulted in a string of high-profile cyberattacks that have threatened critical infrastructure and breached government servers. Predicting that AI advances would develop...

Peso weakness pushes PH debt to new record high of P19.66 trillion

Oct 31, 2026

Peso weakness pushes PH debt to new record high of P19.66 trillion

The Philippines" sovereign debt piled up to a new historic high of P19.66 trillion as of the end of September, mostly driven by the peso"s weakness, which in turn raised the value of foreign currency-denominated obligations.

Asia’s Economic Cycles Turn Inward as Regional Finance Gains Influence

Oct 31, 2026

Asia’s Economic Cycles Turn Inward as Regional Finance Gains Influence

For decades, Asia’s macroeconomic fortunes were viewed through two external lenses: Western demand drove its factories, while the Federal Reserve and the dollar shaped its financial conditions. Both remain important. But this perspective increasingly misses how much the region itself now matters. Across ASEAN+3 (ASEAN, plus China, Japan, and Korea), changing production and demand structures […]

Binance seeks to shore up confidence after record $6.3 billion heist

Oct 31, 2026

Binance seeks to shore up confidence after record $6.3 billion heist

Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, worked on Friday to shore up public confidence after a record $6.3 billion hack of its platform, promising it would cover all losses from company funds and allow clients to trade again within days.

Scary deals? What makes Hong Kong shun death-linked homes while France embraces the risk

Oct 31, 2026

Scary deals? What makes Hong Kong shun death-linked homes while France embraces the risk

Even as Hong Kong remains the world’s least affordable housing market, many buyers still shun heavily discounted homes linked to an “unnatural death”, such as murder or suicide, according to property agents. Prices for such properties could fall by as much as 50 per cent, while rents were typically about 20 per cent below market rates, they added. The aversion stands in stark contrast to parts of Europe, particularly in France, where buyers are often willing to purchase homes under a “vente en...

BSP: Oct inflation could top 8%

Oct 31, 2026

BSP: Oct inflation could top 8%

MANILA, Philippines — Consumer price growth may have accelerated to a more than three-year high in October, potentially breaching 8 percent as higher domestic energy prices and transport fares drove up the cost of living. In a statement on Friday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said inflation likely ranged from 7.1 percent to 8.1

PH exports hit new peak in Sept; semiconductors for AI lead surge

Oct 31, 2026

PH exports hit new peak in Sept; semiconductors for AI lead surge

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine exports hit a record high in September, buoyed by the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, which fueled demand for locally made electronics. But the semiconductor-led surge underscored the need to diversify the country’s export base to protect the gains should the technology-driven demand suddenly falter. READ: Exports soar to all-time high, curbing

BDO sets new 9-month profit record high at P63.6B

Oct 31, 2026

BDO sets new 9-month profit record high at P63.6B

MANILA, Philippines — BDO Unibank Inc. set a new record for its nine-month net income at P63.6 billion in 2026, up from P63.1 billion a year earlier, as stronger lending and improved asset quality supported its core businesses. The Sy family-led bank said on Friday that its net income grew by about 0.8 percent despite

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