Bangkok: Capital markets and money markets are closely monitoring the Prime Minister's audio clip case, with the stock index expected to fluctuate before the verdict is announced this afternoon. Today, the Constitutional Court judges convened a meeting to consider the voting results in the audio clip case filed against Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra. The verdict will be read at 3:00 PM. Analysts predict that the Thai stock index will fluctuate while awaiting the verdict. Once the verdict is reached, they believe it will ease the political divide in Thailand, with greater clarity on any future direction. According to Thai News Agency, a money manager at Bank of Ayudhya revealed that the baht opened this morning at 32.29 baht/dollar, strengthening from the previous evening's close of 32.37 baht/dollar. The baht moved in line with global markets after the dollar weakened due to market expectations that the US Federal Reserve is close to cutting interest rates at its September meeting. This was also supp orted by the global gold price rising over $40/ounce and the market awaiting the Constitutional Court's ruling on the audio clip case this afternoon. Poon Panichpibul, a strategist at Krungthai GLOBAL MARKETS, Krungthai Bank, revealed that market players are awaiting the Constitutional Court's ruling on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's case. This issue could lead to short-term political turmoil in Thailand, particularly if the Constitutional Court's ruling on her tenure as prime minister is finalized. This would necessitate a vote to elect a new prime minister, and there's also the risk of parliament being dissolved and new elections. He sees a 60% chance that the Pheu Thai Party can garner support from coalition parties to support its candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri, as the next prime minister. There's also a 25% chance that General Prayut Chan-o-cha could return as prime minister. A 15% chance is a parliamentary dissolution and new elections. Regarding the baht's trend, it is estimated that the baht is li kely to move sideways near 32.30 baht per dollar for the time being, as the market gradually absorbs the outcome of the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Prime Minister's case. "We assess the baht's potential for high volatility as the market gradually absorbs the verdict in the prime minister's case. If the verdict reflects a trend of increasing political turmoil in Thailand, it could put some downward pressure on the baht, aligning with foreign investors' selling of Thai assets. However, if the Constitutional Court's decision does not increase political uncertainty in Thailand, we believe the baht could fluctuate sideways, awaiting the release of the US PCE inflation report tonight," said Mr. Poon.