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☆ Gold rises on hopes for Fed rate cut in June, softer dollar
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullions at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices rose on Monday as renewed bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve would begin cutting interest rates in June and a softer dollar lifted bullion's appeal. The dollar was down 0.1% against its rivals, making gold less expensive for other currency holders. Looks like June is being the most probable time when they are sort of expected to pull the trigger on that first rate cut." Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Persons: Tim Waterer Organizations: Co, U.S . Federal Reserve, KCM, Traders, Fed Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

☆ Thousands, Some in Trance, Pay Homage to Sacred Thai Tattoo Master
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The gathering at Wat Bang Phra Buddhist temple is part of a Thai Wai Khru ritual where devotees pay homage to Luang Phor Pern, the temple's formal abbot, who died in 2002. He had a reputation for refining and popularizing the temple's Sak Yant tattoo style. The idea that tattoos confer magical powers has existed in many parts of Asia for thousands of years. The tattoos' magical power were on display during the ceremony where some devotees were in a trance state, or were shouting, running and had to be held back. "I was almost shot once, but the bullet didn't come out," he said, adding that the incident made him a believer of the tattoo's magical power.

Persons: Artorn Pookasook, Sak Yant, Luang, Petcharat Mothin, Monk Tuk, Napat Wesshasartar, Panu, Clelia Oziel Locations: PATHOM, Bangkok, Thai, Asia, Cambodia, Laos

☆ Dry January spurred record non-alcoholic drink sales at Soho House
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Friday, the head of the exclusive hotel and social club chain Soho House said the company saw a record rise in non-alcoholic drink sales during this year's Dry January. "What we also saw in January was a much bigger spike in non-alcoholic beverage consumption, much more than we've ever seen before," said Andrew Carnie, the chief executive officer of Soho House, on the company's earnings call. The Soho House brand has long prided itself on being associated with all things cool and en vogue — and the low-to-no booze trend is no exception. Millennials are the most interested in non-alcoholic drinks, compared with older and younger peers, per ISWR. UK bar revenues in January were down 11.5% compared with the same period in 2023, according to market researcher CGA.

Persons: —, Andrew Carnie, Blake Lively, Katy Perry, Bella Hadid Organizations: Service, Soho, Business, Soho House, Guardian, British Locations: Soho, London, Bangkok, Moscow

☆ Gold holds ground as investors seek direction from Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee arranges one kilogram gold bars for a photograph in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 13, 2016. Gold held steady on Tuesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting this week, which could offer further clues on the timing of likely interest rate cuts this year. With the Fed widely expected to hold rates steady at the end of its two-day monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, the market is awaiting policymakers' updated economic and interest rate projections. Gold prices fell 1% last week after data showed that U.S. consumer prices increased solidly in February and producer prices rose more than expected, reducing hopes around early Fed rate cuts. Traders are currently pricing in an about 51% chance of a Fed rate cut in June, compared with 56% on Monday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Persons: Gold, Jerome Powell, Tim Waterer Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Fed, KCM, PPI, Traders Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Japan, England, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Mexico, Taiwan, Brazil, Indonesia

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.7% to 40,003.60, while the dollar rose to 150.35 Japanese yen from 149.14 yen. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 7,703.20 after Australia’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady at 4.35% for a third consecutive meeting. This week's highlight for Wall Street will likely be the Federal Reserve’s meeting on interest rates, which ends on Wednesday. The widespread expectation is for the central bank to hold its main interest rate steady at its highest level since 2001. But Fed officials will also give updated forecasts for where they see interest rates heading this year and in the long run.

Persons: Australia's, Tesla, Stephen Scherr, Wayne “ Gil ”, He’s, It's Organizations: Bank of Japan, Nikkei, Reserve Bank, Bank of England, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Nvidia, Big Tech, Hertz Global Holdings, Cruise, Delta Air Lines, Boeing, Workers, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Shanghai, Seoul, U.S, Oregon, San Francisco

Germany’s DAX added 0.1% to 17,959.35 and the FTSE 100 in London edged 0.1% higher to 7,731.73. Markets are awaiting a decision by the Bank of Japan on Tuesday on whether to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in 17 years. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged 0.1% higher to 16,737.12, and the Shanghai Composite index gained 1% to 3,084.93. Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher to 7,675.80, and the Kospi in South Korea advanced 0.7%, to 2,685.84. A report on consumer prices last week showed inflation remains stubborn, ticking up to 3.2% in February from 3.1% in January.

Persons: Germany’s DAX, Australia’s Organizations: Japan’s, Federal Reserve, CAC, Dow Jones, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Honda Motor, Dongfeng Motor, Nasdaq, Software, Adobe, Microsoft, Broadcom, Google, University of Michigan, Fed, Traders, CME Group, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, South Korea, India, Bangkok, U.S

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks advanced Monday ahead of policy decisions this week by Japan’s central bank and the Federal Reserve. Markets are awaiting a decision by the Bank of Japan on Tuesday on whether to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in 17 years. A report on consumer prices last week showed inflation remains stubborn, ticking up to 3.2% in February from 3.1% in January. Another report on prices at the wholesale level also showed inflation remains hotter than Wall Street expected. The Fed's main rate remains at its highest level since 2001.

Persons: Australia’s Organizations: Japan’s, Federal Reserve, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Technology, Software, Adobe, Microsoft, Broadcom, Google, University of Michigan, Fed, Traders, CME Group, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, India, Bangkok, U.S

☆ World’s worst polluted cities are in Asia - India’s Begusarai topping IQAir report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“We see that in every part of our lives that air pollution has an impact,” said IQAir Global CEO Frank Hammes. “And it typically, in some of the most polluted countries, is likely shaving off anywhere between three to six years of people’s lives. Central and South Asia were the worst performing regions globally, home to all four of the most polluted countries last year: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Tajikistan. South Asia is of particular concern, with 29 of the 30 most polluted cities in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. One bright spot is increasing pressure and civic engagement from communities, NGOs, companies, and scientists to monitor air quality.

Persons: ”, Frank Hammes, Hammes, “ What’s, IQAir, Chiang Mai, that’s, ” Hammes Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Health, IQAir, WHO, Dhaka, CNN, America, Reuters Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, India, India’s Bihar, Guwahati, Assam, Delhi, Mullanpur, Punjab, South Asia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Lahore, New Delhi, Finland, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, French Polynesia, Canada, Alberta, United States, Minneapolis, Detroit, Columbus , Ohio, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, China, Beijing, Hotan, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangkok, Africa, South America, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Chad

☆ Bitcoin is poised to climb above $80,000 as investors pile into ETFs, Binance CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin is set to top $80,000 on strong ETF inflows, Binance CEO Richard Teng said. After hitting a record high of $73,679 early last week, bitcoin tumbled back below $70,000. The boss of the world's biggest crypto exchange, Richard Teng, said he now sees the crypto poised to jump past $80,000 after initially predicting it would end the year around that level. Related storiesHe acknowledged that volatility would still shake the world's biggest crypto and that the uptrend won't be a "straight line." AdvertisementBitcoin soared to its record high of $73,679 last week.

Persons: Richard Teng, bitcoin, —, We're, Teng, Kris Marszalek Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, CNBC Locations: Bangkok

☆ I took a luxury overnight bus in Thailand and got 10 hours of business-class service for $30. The US should take notes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Brendan Sainsbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I paid $30 to take a luxury Sombat Tour bus from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Boarding the bus was easy and the service on board reminded me of business class. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementBus transport varies considerably from country to country, from super-slick intra-city buses in Mexico to down-at-heel Greyhounds in the US. On a recent visit to Thailand, I experienced my most deluxe bus ride to date.

Persons: Chiang Mai, —, I've Organizations: Service, Greyhounds Locations: Bangkok, Mexico, Thailand

☆ After 11 years as a digital nomad, living in 60 countries, I'm settling in Mexico. It fits my lifestyle and business goals.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In 2021, I moved to Guanajuato, Mexico. Dixon posing in front of Grüner See, a lake in Styria, Austria Courtesy of Hannah DixonI'm American and British. Friends, who were fellow digital nomads, suggested we consider moving to Guanajuato, Mexico. Dixon and wife Kim Gorchs, on a colorful street in Guanajuato, Mexico. But I learned that renting a place to live in Mexico is a million times easier once you're on the ground.

Persons: —, Hannah Dixon, It's, Dixon, it's, who's, Hannah Dixon I'm, Brexit, I, Kim Gorchs, I'd, I've, Animales, we've, we'll Organizations: Service, Virtual Excellence Academy, Business, Kansas City, National Institute of Migration, Facebook, Sun Locations: Mexico, Bangkok, New York, France, Budapest, Hungary, Guanajuato, Austria, Graz, Styria, Mexican, Kansas City, Kansas, Teotihuacan, Mexico City

☆ Gold subdued as U.S. inflation surprise casts doubt on mid-year rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices were flat on Wednesday, after falling the most in a month in the previous session, as sticky U.S. inflation raised concerns an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve may be delayed beyond June. Gold's latest price drop comes as everything falls back to the inflation data, that feeds through into U.S. Fed's decision making, Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals Ltd said. Langford expects a healthy correction of up to about 10% in gold prices from here. Bullion fell 1.1% on Tuesday, after data showed U.S. consumer prices increased solidly in February, above forecasts and suggesting some stickiness in inflation. This was gold's worst single-day decline since Feb. 13, when data showed consumer prices also increased more than expected in January.

Persons: Michael Langford, Langford Organizations: Co, Federal, Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Traders, Treasury Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, Ukraine

☆ Gold retreats from near record-high levels ahead of U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices slipped from near record-high levels on Tuesday, as traders braced for key U.S. inflation report that could give more clarity on when the Federal Reserve might start cutting its interest rates. Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,178.53 per ounce, as of 0424 GMT, after rising for nine consecutive sessions. "Following the stellar run-up in gold prices, it does call for some near-term breather," IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said. Another surprise run of hotter-than-expected inflation data for February will likely challenge that, which could drive some near-term unwinding in gold prices." Traders are pricing in three to four quarter-point (25 bps) U.S. rate cuts, with a 70% chance for the first in June, as per LSEG's interest rate probability app.

Persons: Bullion, Yeap Jun Rong, there's, Tim Waterer Organizations: Co, Federal Reserve, Traders, U.S . Treasury, KCM Trade Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S

☆ Gold rally hits pause ahead of U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

One kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices took a breather from a record-breaking rally on Monday, which was fueled by a cooling U.S. labor market and remarks from the Federal Reserve, with traders awaiting a U.S. inflation report for fresh clues on the timing of rate cuts. Gold set a record peak of $2,194.99 for the fourth straight day on Friday after data signaled a cooling U.S. labor market. COMEX gold speculators raised their net long positions by 63,018 contracts to 131,060 in the week ended March 5, data showed on Friday. A cooler reading on the CPI print could help the case for an early rate cut, supporting gold prices.

Persons: Matt Simpson, Simpson, Powell Organizations: Co, Federal, Index, Traders Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

☆ 'The ultimate adventure': Why more Indian travelers are taking extreme road trips
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Kalpana Sunder | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

More Indians are taking road trips these days — both within the country and beyond, solo and in groups — as access to better vehicles and better roads grows in the country. However, Sai took her first road trip back in 2016, before it became a trend. Sai now runs an overland driving company that organizes road trips across countries like Namibia, Georgia, Armenia, Nepal and Mongolia. Source: Rishad Saam Mehta,Since then, Mehta has taken more than 100 road trips across some 50 countries. Agarwal has traveled to 92 countries and gone on road trips in six continents.

Persons: Meenakshi Sai, she's, Sai, There's, Pollachi —, Meenakshi, —, Saam Mehta, Rishad Saam Mehta, Mehta, Tushar Agarwal, Sanjay Madan, Agarwal, Madan Organizations: Tata Motors, Ferrari, Bavarian, Toyota, Ford, Discovery Locations: Coimbatore, India, St . Petersburg, Russia, Thailand, Manipur, India's, Bangkok, London, Mumbai, Poland, Uzbekistan, Meenakshi Sai, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Georgia, Armenia, Nepal, Mongolia, Delhi, Ladakh, China, Munich, Austrian, Spiti, Northern India, New England, Jordan, …, Australia

☆ These tourist hot spots are introducing entry fees and price hikes for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Maureen Ohare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

See more, pay moreMore and more tourist hot spots are introducing visitor caps and entry fees to prevent overcrowding - and, whaddya know, it gives their coffers a little boost, too. There’s a new $13 charge for climbing Japan’s famous (and congested) Mount Fuji, which follows Japan’s 70% price hike for tourist rail passes. The Louvre art museum in Paris, home to the Mona Lisa, has raised ticket prices by almost a third, ahead of the Paris Olympics this summer. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida has already introduced higher park ticket prices for next year. Some of the lowest single-day, single-park ticket prices have gone up by $10 for 2025.

Persons: whaddya, Mona Lisa, It’s, Walt, Romeo, Juliet, ”, they’d Organizations: CNN, Fuji, Paris, Walt Disney World, Eiffel, United Airlines, Airbus Locations: Paris, London, Thailand, China, Seville, Spain, Louvre, Europe, Asia, Florida, Italian, Trafalgar, Bangkok, Mumbai, Houston, Australian, Lazio, Italy, Arizona, Basilicata, United States

☆ Get Ready for the Great Trump Diaspora
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Paul Starobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Atlantic devoted an entire issue to the authoritarian horrors in store for America "If Trump Wins." AdvertisementA second Trump presidency, Speer said, could serve as a "catalyst" that further fuels the growing diaspora of Americans living in exile. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the DNC, has nearly tripled its membership. Since 2015, Democrats Abroad, the foreign-based arm of the Democratic National Committee, has nearly tripled its membership, which now numbers in the hundreds of thousands. My wife and I are both Trump decriers, although we didn't begin our Italy property search to find a refuge from MAGA-infused America.

Persons: specter, Donald Trump —, Trump, Gallup, George W, Bush's, Barack Obama's, Doris Speer, Speer, —, Roe, Wade —, Martha McDevitt, Pugh, Emily, Francophiles, Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin —, Nicole Kidman's, MAGA, batty, it's, John Galey, Paul Starobin Organizations: Washington Post, Trump, America, Association of Americans Resident Overseas, dodgers, DNC, Democratic National Committee, Leggett, Italy Facebook, Côte, IRS, Citizens Abroad, Los Angeles Times, New Books Network Locations: Umbria, Italy, Montana, Tuscany, Texas, Tennessee, America, Canada, Washington, Paris, United States, Iraq, Europe, Vietnam, Sedona , Arizona, Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Golden, California, MAGA

☆ Debate heats up as Singapore prime minister says exclusive Taylor Swift deal isn't 'unfriendly'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour. The statement is the first confirmation from the city-state that the agreement for Swift to perform in Singapore contained exclusivity terms preventing her from performing in other countries. He also did not reveal the size of the grant to Swift, but stated the amount is "not anywhere as high as speculated." During her first three concerts in Singapore, Swift asked her audience to applaud — first the locals, then those who had traveled from overseas to come to the show. Edwin Tong Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and YouthSome liken the deal to how cities vie to host major sports events, such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Taylor Swift, Swift, Edwin Tong, Srettha Thavisin, Joey Salceda, Lee, Ashok Kumar, —, Selena Oh, de Boer, Irene Hoe, — haven't Organizations: Singapore, Reuters, Thai, Swift's, Philippine, Getty, Edwin Tong Singapore Minister, Culture ,, Super Bowl Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Bangkok, ASEAN, Tokyo, Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Asia — Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Philippines, Cambodia, what's, Edwin Tong Singapore

☆ British Airways is spending $9 billion to help make it the world's favorite airline once again after years of slumping popularity
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Pete Syme | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewBritish Airways unveiled a host of new initiatives at a media event in London on Monday, as part of a $9 billion "transformation." The UK flag carrier was named the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2006, but its reputation has since faltered. With a new seat design, new routes, and upgrades to the Airbus A380, here's how BA is changing. British Airways is rolling out the new seat design to its Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets, used on its short-haul flights. The business-class configuration on BA's new short-haul seats.

Persons: —, Sean Doyle, Pete Syme, it's, There's, that's, Neil Chernoff, Francisco —, Chernoff Organizations: Service, British Airways, Skytrax, Business, Airbus, Delta Air Lines, Boeing, Washington Dulles, Dubai Airport, Beta Locations: London, Dallas , Los Angeles, Miami, Dubai, Johannesburg, South Africa, Boston, Washington, Singapore, London Heathrow, Malaysian, Kuala Lumpur, London Gatwick, Bangkok

☆ Eras Tour: Singapore defends Taylor Swift’s exclusive Southeast Asia stop after neighbors cry foul
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Singapore is drawing fans from all over Southeast Asia and beyond to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, much to the annoyance of the city-state’s regional neighbors. “[Our] agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia,” Lee said at a press conference in Melbourne while on a state visit to Australia. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”“If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to more places in Southeast Asia? Southeast Asia fans dig deep to see SwiftThe Eras Tour is a multi-continent extravaganza that surged to become the highest-grossing tour of all time – and Swift is making Singapore a lot of money. I never really spent big like six-digit (Philippine peso) amounts for someone else, just Taylor Swift,” Suizo said.

Persons: Taylor, Swift, Joey Salceda, Lee Hsien Loong, “, ” Lee, Edward Tong, ”, Srettha Thavisin, Taylor Swift, hasn’t, Edmund Ong, Yun Liu, Errol De Asis, Gilliane, Christel Kaye Kuan, Yedda Mendoza, ” Suizo, it’s, Granada, That’s Organizations: CNN, Southeast, Singapore –, ”, Singapore, Coldplay, World Bank Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, Philippines, Asia, Maybank, ASEAN, Gilliane Granada, China, Granada

☆ As gold scales all-time highs, Wall Street analysts say it has even further to go
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices pushed higher Tuesday after futures pricing for the precious metal notched fresh records in the previous two sessions — with analysts seeing strength lasting at least into the second half of the year. Spot gold was trading 0.7% higher at $2,129, though market-watchers note that in real terms, adjusted for inflation, gold is well below past peaks. In a Monday note, analysts at Citi described themselves as "medium-term bullion bulls," calling a 25% probability of gold averaging a record $2,300 per ounce in the second half. Citi describes gold as a developed market "recession hedge," and increasingly see tailwinds from uncertainty around the U.S. election in November.

Persons: Donald Trump Organizations: Co, Citi, Berenberg Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, London, Ukraine, Gaza

☆ Tesla is in talks to build a factory in Thailand, government official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kocha Olarn | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong/Bangkok CNN —Tesla is in talks with the Thai government to build a production facility in the country, the prime minister’s office told CNN on Tuesday. The government has offered Tesla (TSLA) a 100% green facility, according to Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary general to the prime minister, who added: “We are in talks with them.”According to Prommin, Tesla representatives last visited Thailand in November, the same month Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the electrical vehicle giant’s Gigafactory in Fremont, California. “It is my hope that this collaboration will cement Thailand as the hub for EV and renewable energy in the years to come,” he wrote. That factory is Tesla’s biggest car manufacturing plant outside the United States and accounted for the bulk of its global deliveries last year. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled the name of the prime minister's general secretary.

Persons: Tesla, Prommin Lertsuridej, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, ”, Elon Musk, Narendra Modi Organizations: Bangkok CNN, CNN, EV, Indian Locations: Hong Kong, Bangkok, Thailand, Fremont , California, Asia, Shanghai, United States, India, New York

☆ Charmed by a City Off Thailand’s Beaten Path
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Patrick Scott | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Thailand is renowned among hard-charging tourists for nightlife in Bangkok, full moon parties on Koh Phangan island and hedonistic walking streets in Pattaya. It’s also a magnet for the bohemian and wellness crowds who flock to the mountain destinations of Chiang Mai and Pai. But mostly ignored by foreign tourists is Lampang, in Northern Thailand. This utterly charming, riverside city of about 90,000 people has preserved the historic architecture and stately squares from its days as a major city in the ancient Lanna kingdom and a hub in the teak lumber trade. Wooden temples from centuries ago and two-story teak mansions from the late 1800s and early 1900s still stand, and alongside the Wang River, the streets in the Kat Kong Ta enclave are like an open-air museum of well-preserved Chinese shophouses and European gingerbread-style buildings.

Persons: Koh, Chiang Mai, Pai Locations: Thailand, Bangkok, Pattaya, It’s, Lampang, Northern Thailand

☆ Gold near two-month peak as anticipation builds for June U.S. rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An employee handles one kilogram gold bullion at the YLG Bullion International Co. headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Gold prices lingered close to a two-month high on Monday, after softer U.S. economic readings last week cemented prospects of an interest rate cut in June by the Federal Reserve. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $2,090.00. Traders have raised their hopes for a June rate cut, and are now seeing a 74% chance, compared with about 65% chance last Monday, according to LSEG's interest rate probability app. Lower interest rates boost the appeal of non-yielding bullion.

Persons: Edward Meir, Meir Organizations: Co, Federal Reserve, U.S, Traders Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, U.S, South Africa

☆ Taylor Swift is making Singapore a mountain of money, and some of the country's neighbors are salty about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Edwin Tong, Singapore's culture minister, told local outlet Mothership on February 28 that the amount of grant given "is not what is being speculated online." As Tong, the Singapore culture minister, told Mothership, the city-state is looking "beyond just the economic impact" of Swiftonimics. Economists estimate that Swift's concerts in Singapore could contribute up to 500 million Singapore dollars, or $372 million, in tourist receipts. AdvertisementIt's a different story for spending on experiences — and it's heightened because Singapore is Swift's only stop in Southeast Asia. Mann said the people who have money to pay for flight tickets, Swift's concert tickets, and a hotel are likely to keep spending at other tourist spots.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Srettha, Edwin Tong, Swift, it's, Yun Liu, Tong, Kevin Cheong, David Mann, Mann, Coldplay, Si Ying Toh, Cheong, Joey Salceda, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno Organizations: Service, Business, HSBC, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, Nomura, Philippine Star, Bloomberg, Vegas Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, British, Thailand, Bangkok, Indonesia, Sands

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