Bank of Thailand to pause amid political drama
Aug 20 (Reuters) -The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is likely to leave its one-day repo rate at 2.50% on Wednesday after recent political drama, awaiting the formation of a new cabinet.
Former Thai leader Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has become the country'syoungest prime minister after the Constitutional Court dismissed Srettha Thavisin as premier last week.
The central bank is likely to pauseamid political uncertainty, though Paetongtarn may retain many of Srettha's policies. She has said she will assess the planned 500 billion bahtcash handouts to citizens to ensure compliance with Thaifiscal discipline laws, denying reportsthat Thaksin demanded the programme be abandoned.
The improvement in GDP growth to 2.3% year-on-year in Q2 from an upwardly revised 1.6% in Q1 will see the BOT resisting a ratecut for now. Thailand's planning agency has revised its 2024 GDP growth forecast to 2.3%-2.8% from 2%-3% in May. The BOT is also unlikely to cut rates before the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The central bank is likely to await the formation of the new cabinet, with a focus on the new PM and her government's plan to lift sluggish economic growth, attract foreign investment and boost confidence in local stocks.
Thailand's benchmark stock index .SETI has been in a downtrend since January2023, as foreign investors continue to flee. The index, still down around 8% from its 2024 peak, is among the world's worst performers.
The BOT willbe wary of piling pressure on the THB bycutting rates preemptively. Though the baht has strengthenedsince July, it remains around 5.7% weakerversus the U.S. dollar from its 32.56 highin January2023.
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Catherine Tan is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are her own. Editing by Ewen Chew and Sonali Desai
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