TSD Investor Portal Data Breach Sparks Fraud Alert

Thailand Securities Depository (TSD) has announced a partial data breach of the TSD Investor Portal user account following unauthorized access. TSD confirms that this does not affect securities trading, funds, financial information, or investors’ assets. The important thing to watch out for now is that fraudsters may use this information to make fraudulent calls, send SMS messages, or emails to trick you into revealing your passwords and OTPs. You should change your password and avoid clicking on links from unreliable sources. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board meeting on July 27 is under close watch after an internal LINE message inviting staff to show support for NBTC Chairman Prof. Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck was leaked. Attention is also focused on whether Sarana will chair the meeting, after the NBTC selection committee unanimously ruled that he may be disqualified from holding office. Meanwhile, the Digital TV Association plans to submit a letter opposing Sarana’s continued duties until his legal status is clarified. Sources said that if Sarana chairs the meeting, some board members may boycott it over concerns that any resolutions could later be challenged. If he steps aside temporarily, the board is expected to appoint an acting chair for the meeting, Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanapan Haraijaroen and Police General Nathathorn Prousoontorn. Amarin Online has laid off 12 employees as part of an organizational overhaul aimed at improving efficiency and better aligning the business with its operational needs. The affected employees individually on July 23 that their employment was terminated with immediate effect. They would receive severance pay in accordance with Thai labor law, plus an additional one month’s compensation. The restructuring was announced to the entire online team the following day. According to reports, Amarin Online had already reshuffled its management team before deciding on the latest layoffs after concluding the existing structure was no longer meeting business needs. A new organizational structure is expected to be introduced in early August. The move follows Workpoint TV’s restructuring announced, which included the resignation of veteran news director Somphop Rattanawalee and staff reductions. The back-to-back announcements underscore mounting pressure on Thai media companies as advertising spending continues to shift toward digital platforms and broadcasters grapple with a weak advertising market. Palm production dips due to El Niño The El Niño weather phenomenon and drought have caused palm oil production to drop by 20–30%, leading to a market shortage. Rising Prices: Palm oil extraction plants and collection yards are fiercely competing to buy raw materials, pushing fresh palm fruit prices up to 9.80 Baht per kilogram. Farmers’ Demands: Palm farmers are urging the government and the Ministry of Commerce to lift price controls on bottled palm oil and let prices float according to market mechanisms. The Cabinet is expected to consider a reshuffle of senior Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives officials after Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit submits a list of appointments. While the annual reshuffle follows upcoming retirements, it has drawn political scrutiny over allegations that appointments are influenced by vested interests rather than performance. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas will propose extending welfare benefits for 13.18 million state welfare card holders by 2 months, through August and September 2026, while authorities verify eligibility. He said the upcoming registration round is intended to include low-income people who missed the program, which has not reopened for about 5 years. Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said the government will begin dissolving overlapping state agencies, starting with the Land Bank Administration Institute by the end of September, which may be merged with the Office of the National Land Policy Board. Authorities will also review the Office for National Reform, National Strategy and Reconciliation and four to five other public organizations that have repeatedly failed performance reviews. Pakorn said protests against the restructuring would not change the plan, adding that Thailand must cut redundant agencies to ease budget pressures. The Office of the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission will assess government agencies, while the Ministry of Finance will evaluate state-owned enterprises. It is not Thailand that’s ageing as fast as Japan, Nikkei reported that it was Singapore that is becoming a “super-aged” society, with more than a fifth of citizens over the age of 65, the government has set aside 3.5 billion Singapore dollars to develop elder care, ranging from humanoid robots to support for home care. Thailand’s leading business groups said the new 12.5% U.S. tariff under Section 301 is unlikely to significantly weaken the country’s competitiveness because most rival exporters face the same rate, while urging the government to accelerate negotiations on an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with Washington and strengthen compliance with international labor standards. Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Poj Aramwattananont said Thailand remains on a relatively level playing field in the U.S. market because most competing countries face the same 12.5% tariff, while those subject to 10% enjoy only a limited advantage. He said Thailand should use the latest U.S. measures as an opportunity to strengthen labor standards and supply chain transparency while expediting ART negotiations to address broader trade issues, including potential future U.S. action on products linked to excess production capacity. The ART negotiations would help secure a balanced outcome and preserve the competitiveness of Thai exports. Meanwhile the Ministry of Commerce Thailand posted a trade deficit of $31.74 billion in the first 6 months of 2026 as imports continued to outpace exports. From January to June, exports rose 17.6% year-on-year to $196.74 billion, while imports surged 38.0% to $228.49 billion, resulting in a cumulative trade deficit of $31.74 billion. In June alone, exports increased 20.8% from a year earlier to $34.66 billion, while imports jumped 50.3% to $41.19 billion, leaving a monthly trade deficit of $6.53 billion. The latest figures show export growth remained strong through the first half of the year, but was outweighed by a much faster increase in imports, keeping the country’s trade balance in deficit. The Finance Ministry has raised its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.5% from 1.6% projected in April, citing stronger exports, accelerating private investment and resilient domestic demand. The ministry now expects the economy to expand within a range of 2.0%-3.0%, with merchandise exports in US dol