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Thailand Joins China in Seeking an Alternatives to the US Dollar

Thailand Joins China in Seeking an Alternatives to the US Dollar

According to a central bank official, Thailand intends to promote the use of yuan and other Asian currencies in trade and investment in order to reduce the baht’s wild swings versus the US dollar.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) expects more usage of regional currencies to help decrease currency risk because they frequently move in tandem with the baht, according to assistant governor Alisara Mahasandana in an interview last week in Bangkok.

While Thai efforts to promote currencies other than the dollar have been ongoing for more than a decade, she says they are gaining traction today with a spate of bilateral central bank agreements and the construction of financial infrastructure.

depending on trade and tourism Thailand is one of several countries taking steps to reduce the risks posed by a still-strong dollar, which has undermined domestic currencies and become a tool of economic statecraft.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has been collaborating with counterparts in China, Malaysia, and Indonesia to promote local currencies in their respective nations. According to SCMP, there will be more growth in the second half.

Thailand’s action comes amid a growing global pushback against the US dollar’s monopoly. China has inked a flurry of agreements to increase yuan commerce, India is promoting the rupee, and countries ranging from Brazil to Argentina are actively looking for alternatives to the dollar.

After declining for three months in a row, the baht rose 3% in July, the most among major Asian currencies. A measure of baht price swing forecasts is nearing its highest level since May.

“The dollar-baht volatility has increased since last year, so it’s important to have more tools to deal with that,” said Alisara, who supervises BOT’s financial markets operations group.

Bank of Thailand Introduces New Measures to Protect Consumers from Cyber Risks in Mobile Banking

Thailand’s central bank began a revision of its foreign exchange policies in 2020, with the baht on the US Treasury’s list of currency manipulators to watch.

However, the baht fell to a 16-year low last year because to an unusual current-account deficit during the pandemic, primarily due to the loss of billions of dollars in tourism revenue. Since then, it has recovered roughly 10%.

Thailand has been pushing the use of regional currencies since 2011, but acceptance has been slow due to obstacles such as rigid foreign exchange restrictions, a lack of local currency liquidity, high hedging costs, and a lack of knowledge, according to BOT.

Yuan-denominated commerce with China, Thailand’s largest trade and investment partner, grew to just 1.2 percent of total trade last year, up from roughly 0.3 percent in 2015. However, with China lately loosening laws and corporations being more open to exploring options to lessen currency risks, Alisara believes that wider yuan use is now viable.

“It’s not easy to reduce the dollar’s usage because it’s the most liquid and widely used currency,” Alisara added. “However, that does not mean we should abandon this programme.” At the very least, we should provide them with an alternative to help them reduce escalating foreign exchange risk.”

The BOT’s foreign exchange reforms are intended to guarantee the baht’s orderly movement, according to Alisara, who will take over as deputy governor for monetary stability on October 1.

“We want the baht to move in accordance with market mechanisms and fundamentals,” Alisara stated. “We may consider intervening in the currency only if the movements are excessive and contrary to the currency’s fundamentals.” The best way for firms to prepare for the anticipated volatility is to plan ahead of time.”

ASEAN countries dump US dollar

ASEAN countries reached an agreement at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, to advocate for improved regional payment connectivity and the usage of local currency transactions (LCT).

Since the Federal Reserve began its aggressive interest rate hike approach, developing-country central banks have been forced to boost their own interest rates in order to prevent the steep devaluation of their currencies.

The move is considered as part of the EU’s effort to shift away from established trade currencies such as the US dollar.

ASEAN nations are also concerned about the role of the US dollar in sanctions imposed by the US. In an effort to destroy Russia’s economy, the US and the EU froze over $300 billion in Russian foreign reserves and barred its main banks from accessing the SWIFT network.

As a result, these restrictions have compelled ASEAN countries to reduce their risks and diversify their reserve currencies. They are also concerned that the US may exploit the strength of its currency to harm them in the future.

China has been selling US Treasury Bonds and now has $870 billion in US debt, the lowest level since 2010. Iraq has now agreed to settle trade with China in yuan, and China and Saudi Arabia are contemplating pricing some oil supplies in yuan.

Indonesia and South Korea’s central banks have agreed to increase the use of each other’s native currency for bilateral transactions, with India and the UAE also finalising a pact to trade in respective currencies.

Thailand Unites With 10 Countries to Use Local Currencies

 

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

Pepsi

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

Infosys

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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