* Foreign investors sold $2.1 bln of Thai bonds in 2020
* Policy rate seen at record low 0.50% this year, liquidity high
* Thai bond returns low - association
BANGKOK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Foreign investors are expected to keep steering clear of the Thai bond market in 2021 after two years of selling due to low returns, while the country’s benchmark interest rate is unlikely to fall further this year, an industry body said on Wednesday.
Other global risk assets offered quicker and higher returns, including stocks and Bitcoin, particularly given the U.S. dollar is expected to weaken, Tada Phutthitada, president of the Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA), told a news conference.
“The spreads between Thai debt and U.S. treasuries are also very small, so foreign funds may not flow in anymore,” he said.
Ten-year Thai bonds yielded 1.25% on Wednesday while 10-year U.S. treasury yielded 1.12%.
Foreign investors have sold about 7 billion baht($233.5 million) so far this year, after dumping 64 billion baht worth last year and 84.5 billion baht in 2019, association data showed.
“But not too much money may flow out as passive funds will keep investing,” Tada said, noting foreign investors still held 857 billion baht of Thai debt at the end of 2020, or 9.1% of the total outstanding.
Thailand’s policy interest rate should remain steady at a record low of 0.5% this year, as liquidity is not an issue, he said.
“Up to three-year bond yields are below the policy rate, reflecting amble liquidity,” Tada said.
The association sees new corporate bond issues of 700 billion-750 billion baht this year, after a 36% drop to 684 billion baht last year, when more firms sought other funding sources while investors shifted to deposits as Thailand saw its first coronavirus cases in early 2020.
Thailand on Wednesday reported 157 new coronavirus cases in a new wave of infections detected last month. ($1 = 29.95 baht) (Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Satawasin Staporncharnchai Editing by Ed Davies)
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January 13, 2021 at 03:12PM
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Foreign investors to shun Thai bonds amid low returns- market association - Reuters
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