- USDTHB: moving in the range 31.44 – 31.48 this morning, supportive level at 31.35 resistance level at 31.55
- SET Index: 1,253.6 (-2.15%), 8 Jan 2026
- S&P 500 Index: 6,92.5 (+0.01%), 8 Jan 2026
- Thai 10-year government bond yield (interpolated): 1.757 (+0.31 bps), 8 Jan 2026
- US 10-year treasury yield: 4.19 (+4.0 bps), 8 Jan 2026
- Weekly US jobless claims rise to 208,000
- German factory orders surge in November
- Japan November real wages fall at fastest pace since January
- Thai gold traders plan dollar-based trading to curb baht rally
- Dollar strengthens ahead of NFP data
Weekly US jobless claims rise to 208,000
Initial jobless claims for the week ending 3 January rose to 208k, slightly below expectations, leaving the four-week average at its lowest level since April 2024. Continued claims increased modestly to 1.914m, marginally above forecasts. In a separate report, Q3 productivity rose 4.9%, beating forecasts and supporting the view that firms are doing more with less labour, reinforcing a jobless expansion narrative. Unit labour costs fell 1.9%, consistent with moderate services inflation.
German factory orders surge in November
German factory orders rose for a third consecutive month in November, increasing 5.6% month-on-month and 0.7% excluding large-scale orders, signaling a tentative recovery in Europe’s largest economy. While rising defense spending may provide some support, the auto sector faces intense Chinese competition and US tariffs, with around 100,000 jobs at risk by decade’s end.
Japan November real wages fall at fastest pace since January
Japan’s real wages fell 2.8% y/y in November, the sharpest drop since January, as a steep decline in one-off bonus payments weighed on earnings, extending the downturn to an eleventh month. Nominal wages rose just 0.5%, the slowest pace since late 2021, largely reflecting a 17% fall in special payments, while base pay growth eased to 2.0% and overtime pay moderated, pointing to still-soft underlying wage momentum.
Thai gold traders plan dollar-based trading to curb baht rally
Thailand’s largest gold traders plan to promote dollar-denominated trading to reduce gold-related pressure on the baht and avert the risk of a punitive tax. Fourteen bullion dealers will upgrade their online platforms within three to six months to support USD transactions, with the Bank of Thailand working with banks to ease currency conversion. The move follows concerns that speculative gold trading has helped drive the baht to its strongest level since 2021, undermining export competitiveness and weighing on tourism.
Dollar strengthens ahead of NFP data
The 10-year government bond yield (interpolated) on the previous trading day was 1.757, +0.31 bps. The benchmark government bond yield (LB353A) was 1.703, +0.98 bps. Meantime, the latest closed US 10-year bond yields was 4.19, +4.0 bps. USDTHB on the previous trading day closed around 31.42, moving in a range of 31.44 – 31.48 this morning. USDTHB could be closed between 31.35 – 31.55 today. The dollar firmed after US data showed no imminent labour-market deterioration, with jobless claims at their lowest since April 2024 and hiring remaining modest. Ahead of Friday’s NFP, stronger private estimates suggest potential downside pressure on the unemployment rate. The firmer dollar weighed modestly on the euro amid mixed data. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen weakened as rising US yields pushed USD/JPY to test the 157.00 level multiple times.
Sources : ttb analytics , Bloomberg, CNBC, Trading economics, Investing, CEIC
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