Fixed Income Market
Despite Bank of Thailand holding rates on 5th August at 1.5%, markets were generally weak due to external and domestic factors. Lingering concerns on the timing of Federal Reserve’s next hike meant yields were pressure higher. Better than expect 2Q16 GDP growth coupled with the passing of national referendum create head winds for fixed income investors as growth prospects brightened. Government bond switching program, which allows investors to sell short dated government bond for longer dated tenures, drew demand away from government bond auctions last month as bid amounts were below the issue size.
Fixed Income
The recent weakness in Thai bond market had made valuations more attractive despite our view of no cuts in policy rates from the Bank of Thailand. We would look to add duration should we see further widening of yields between 2year and 10year government bonds.