Thailand's PM appoints Pichai Chunhavajira as Finance Minister and Deputy PM to ease tensions over monetary policy and stimulus plan.

Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has appointed capital markets veteran Pichai Chunhavajira as the country's new Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Pichai's appointment aims to ease tensions between the Prime Minister and the Bank of Thailand over monetary policy and address opposition to the government's plan to provide a 10,000 baht ($270) stimulus to 50 million Thais later this year. Thailand's economy is expected to expand 2.7% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.