Kaohoon’s Top News on December 7, 2021

– Ms. Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, Secretary-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealed that the SEC is currently monitoring three cryptocurrencies: KUB, JFIN, and SIX, due to their high volatility, and that any stock manipulation could lead to the violation against the Digital Assets Act. According to statistics, the number of bitcoin exchange accounts increased from 170,000 at the end of 2020 to 1.6 million in November 2021, with retailers accounting for 90% of the accounts. Meanwhile, stocks that are ready to conduct cryptocurrency transactions have begun to rebound following a sell-off caused by the Bank of Thailand’s statement opposing bitcoin use.

– Thailand has detected its first case of Omicron variant, according to a health official. This indicates that the screening system (RT-PCR test) is capable of detecting such viruses. It also means that the country’s reopening plan will be minimally impacted, as existing COVID-19 testing procedures are sufficient to screen out possible omicron cases. Analysts anticipate a brief period of panic in the Thai market, while JP Morgan advises investors to “BUY” reopening plays and consumer staples stocks amid market turmoil.

– BGRIM expects to expand its investment in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in early January 2022, with plans to invest in a 100MW and a 30MW solar farm, respectively. BGRIM is also interested in acquiring a wind farm and solar power plant in Croatia with a capacity of 20-50MW.

– MAKRO anticipates that the Lotus merger will enable sales growth of more than 200% to THB400 billion, with profit margins increasing by 3% to 6-8 %. MAKRO has set the offering price for the company’s ordinary shares to be sold in the Public Offering at THB 43.50 per share, and subscribers may subscribe for such ordinary shares between December 4 and 9, 2021. The proceeds from the capital raise will be utilized to expand wholesale and retail operations in Thailand and abroad, as well as to establish an online platform for loan repayment and working capital purposes.

– Healthlead, or HL, got an overwhelming response towards its first ever going public, with the share price surging up to 58% from the IPO price, reflecting investors’ confidence in the company’s fundamentals. Mr. Thatchaphon Chonwattanasakul, Chief Executive Officer, stated that the business outlook for the next 1-3 years is favorable due to global health industry trends. The company intends to develop its branch network and introduce new innovative products in an effort to establish itself as a growth stock.

– PTTEP acquired 25% stake in the Concession Area C onshore the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE, with an expected completion date within 2021. The transaction aligns with PTTEP’s strategy, focusing on prolific areas in the Middle East. Analysts recommend “BUY” with a new target price of THB145.