Baht seen weakening to 37 soon.

Byline: Darana Chudasri

Jul. 6--The baht should weaken to between 36 and 37 against the US dollar in 2008 as economic activity picks up over the next several months, according to Standard Chartered Bank. Usara Wilaipich, senior economist at Standard Chartered, said a pickup in private investment, led by state enterprises, as well as a recovery in domestic consumption, would help spur a "V-shaped" economic recovery.

Standard Chartered projects economic growth next year at between 4.7 percent and 5.5 percent, compared with 3.8 percent this year.

Ms Usara said the bank had earlier forecast that the baht would weaken to around 36 by the end of the year, …