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Thai economy shrinks less than expected, outlook raised

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Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/11/16/thai.jpg"/><figcaption>Buildings are seen during sunset in Bangkok, Thailand November 15, 2020. Jorge Silva, TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY via Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>BANGKOK - Thailand&#x27;s economy shrank more slowly in the third quarter, with the contraction limited to 6.4 percent thanks to a recovery in domestic activity after coronavirus restrictions were eased but an ongoing travel ban has kept most foreign tourists away.The data released on Monday by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDB) showed a marked improvement from the June quarter, when the economy suffered a 12.1 percent decline, the sharpest fall in over two decades.On a quarterly basis, the economy expanded a seasonally adjusted 6.5 percent in the September quarter, the fastest pace in more than eight years, after a record contraction of 9.9 percent in the prior quarter.Economists in a Reuters poll had forecast the economy would shrink 8.6 percent year-on-year and grow 3.8 percent quarter-on-quarter.As a result, the government raised its 2020 outlook for a contraction of 6.0 percent from a previous forecast 7.3 percent to 7.8 percent decline. It now expects exports to fall 7.5 percent this year, rather than drop 10 percent.The upgrade came in amid a slump in tourism, tepid global demand, a strong baht and months of domestic political protests.&quot;The Q3 data was quite a surprise but the economic picture has not changed and we expect a decline until the first quarter,&quot; said Thammarat Kittisiripat, economist of Tisco group.While Thailand has removed most restrictions as local infections slow, its economy continues to suffer from soft global demand and the absence of foreign tourists. It started last month to let some foreign visitors return.&quot;A rising trend in the number of COVID-19 cases globally during the Northern Hemisphere winter will subdue the economy for the next two quarters,&quot; said Kobsidthi Silpachai, head of capital markets research of Kasikornbank.On Monday, the NESDC said it expected 6.7 million foreign tourists to come to Thailand this year - between April and early October there were none - after last year&#x27;s record 39.8 million with their spending accounting for 11.4 percent of GDP.It predicts only 5 million foreign visitors in 2021.The government has supported the economy with a 1.9 trillion baht ($63 billion) stimulus package, while the central bank has slashed interest rates by 75 basis points this year to a record low of 0.5 percent.The main stock index rose 1.37 percent at 0340 GMT while the baht was little changed at 30.14 per dollar. <div>($1 = 30.28 baht) (Additional reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai, Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)</div>

Japan's economy grew at the fastest pace on record in the third quarter, rebounding sharply from its biggest postwar slump, as improved exports and consumption showed the country is recovering from damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan's economy grew at the fastest pace on record in the third quarter, rebounding sharply from its biggest postwar slump, as improved exports and consumption showed the country is recovering from damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Thai economy shrinks less than expected, outlook raised

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Thai economy shrinks less than expected, outlook raised

Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon,

Reuters

Published November 16, 2020 12:30 PM PHT

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Thailand

GDP growth

Thai economy

COVID-19 pandemic

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