Fitch Ratings today said the outlook on Thai banks should remain stable for the next 12 to 18 months as economic conditions are expected to remain supportive of banks’ overall performance during the period of time.
However, the global rating agency also sees several main risks which include strong credit growth in some large corporate and retail sectors, surging funding costs and potential asset quality pressure due to higher interest rates from rising inflation, and lingering global uncertainties.
According to the report, entitled “Thai Banks: Annual Review and Outlook – Resilient Economy …

Thailand’s Cabinet yesterday endorsed the nomination of Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul, currently the president of Kasikornbank Plc, as the new governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT).
The 58-year-old, Harvard-educated, banker will succeed Dr Tarisa Watanagase who will retire at the end of September, after receiving a Royal appointment from His Majesty the King.
Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering respectively at Chulalongkorn University and the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok before moving to Harvard for an MBA and doctorate on a scholarship from the Ananda Mahidol …

Mark J Arnold, the new president and CEO of Bank of Ayudhya

Bank of Ayudhya Plc (BAY) and GE Capital, the major shareholder of the Thai bank, recently appointed Mark J Arnold as new BAY president and chief executive officer, succeeding Tan Kong Khoon.
Mr. Mark J Arnold, who previously served as the CEO for GE Capital Global Banking in Southeast Asia and also a director on the BAY Board, is an accomplished GE leader with over fifteen years in the financial services sector in management roles in Asia and Europe.
BAY …

Seen during the agreement signing ceremony are: (from left) Mr. Yuichi Akai of Daiwa Capital Markets Singapore, Dr. Apichai of EXIM Bank, and Mr. Tomohiro Watanabe of Mizuho Securities.
The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) recently appointed Daiwa and Mizuho as joint lead managers for the selling of its floating rate notes (FRN) worth 200 million US dollars to leading institutional investors.
The agreement has been signed on Monday by Dr. Apichai Boontherawara, president of Thailand’s EXIM Bank, Mr. Yuichi Akai, chairman of Daiwa Capital Markets Singapore Ltd, and Mr. Tomohiro …