1) Thai stock market overview
Thailand’s SET Index closed at 1,625.91 points, increased 2.78 points or 0.17% with a trading value of 55 billion baht. The analyst stated that the Thai stock market moved in both positive and negative territory, following the regional markets as investors awaited Fed’s meeting and the announcement of U.S. inflation data tonight. The analyst noted that lower-than-expected CPI would be a boon to stock markets, but if in line or close to estimations, the market could continue moving in sideways trend with a support level at 1,620 points and a resistance level at 1,635 points.
2) China and Hong Kong will begin quarantine-free travel in January
China and Hong Kong will begin quarantine-free travel as early as January, according to local media reports, as the mainland swiftly loosens its Covid Zero controls.
Meanwhile, China will also remove a state-mandated app used to follow when travelling to Covid-hit areas, the latest move to ease restrictions of some of the world’s hardest anti-virus rules.
According to the report, travel might resume as soon as January 9, citing unnamed sources from the Guangdong health commission. It was also said that tourists coming to China from Hong Kong would be subject to a three-day home monitoring program.
Hong Kong’s economy would be greatly boosted by the return of mainland tourists after more than two years of border restrictions due to the Covid outbreak.
3) China launches WTO dispute against U.S. chip sanctions
Beijing’s commerce ministry issued a statement late Monday accusing Washington of endangering global supply chains by restricting chip exports and announcing that China had launched a dispute with the World Trade Organization over US chip sanctions.
The US imposed new export curbs in October aimed at limiting China’s ability to buy and manufacture high-end chips with military applications, hampering Beijing’s effort to establish its own semiconductor sector and advanced military systems.
As part of these sanctions, exports of certain chips used in supercomputing are being restricted.
