ID :
152634
Tue, 12/07/2010 - 16:30
Auther :

Thai baht expected to reach Bt25/US dollar next year

BANGKOK,Dec7(TNA)- Thailand’s currency, the baht, is expected to further strengthen to around 25 baht against the US dollar next year due to impacts from a spreading debt crisis in Europe, according to a Thai leading economist.

Anusorn Thammajai, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Rangsit University, said on Tuesday that the European debt crisis is spreading to Spain and Italy and may prompt the European Central Bank to relax its monetary policies, similar to those introduced in the United States, to boost the overall European economy, resulting in vulnerable exchange rates with the Thai currency further appreciating to possibly 25 baht against the US dollar next year.

Anusorn projected, however, that the Thai economy will continue to grow by 3-4 per cent next year. He also suggested that the government provide more welfare benefits to local workers.

Meanwhile, Rangsit University's Faculty of Economics and Economic and Business Research Centre for Reform, forecasts that the Thai baht will be around 26.50 baht against the US dollar next year with more strengthened Thai currency in the first half than in the second half.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) was also projected to tighten its monetary policies through increased policy interest rates by 1.5-2 per cent next year to curb inflation in the country at around 4-5 per cent annually.(TNA)

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