Yellow T-shirts have sold like hotcakes. Commemorative coins, stamps and banknotes sold out in the blink of an eye.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) issued 999,999 Bt60 banknotes in a single day and is now offering another million in response to the overwhelming demand.

To honour His Majesty and the Royal Family, the BOT will present Bt60 banknotes with serial numbers 0000001 and 9999999 to HM the King. A banknote with serial number 0000002 will be presented to Her Majesty the Queen, while others numbered 0000003 on up will go to other Royal Family members.

Gold takes a tumble

Global oil and gold prices in futures markets have been reaching record highs since last year. Nearly every day or week, prices have soared to dizzying new heights.

PTT president Prasert Bunsumpun and Gold Traders' Association of Thailand president Jitti Tangsithpakdi have become the main targets of reporters asking for comments.

Jitti has been very nice to reporters, answering every phone call since gold began to trade heavily last year.

However, this week's huge US$60 (Bt2,300) plunge in the gold price not only shocked futures investors, but also ordinary folk around the world.

Of course, Jitti automatically became targeted as the main source for dozens of reporters desperately seeking a comment.

"Oh, you're nearly the 20th caller today. I'm in a meeting now. Could you please call me back later?" Jitti replied to a phone call from one reporter on Wednesday afternoon.

But afterwards, the reporter was unable reach his mobile phone again. Did he turn it off? Or was the network too overloaded to make a connection?