PETROLEUM
Local retail fuel prices may soon top 50 baht a litre as world oil prices continue to rise on the weakening US dollar, supply tightness and political tensions in oil exporting regions, Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop warned yesterday.
STOCK MARKET
Thai shares fell 1.68% yesterday as investors retreated to the sidelines over political uncertainties as a number of key court cases will be decided over the next several weeks.
Sahaviriya Iron and Steel Co (SIS), the operator of a 500-billion-baht smelting plant, expects to start construction by the fourth quarter of this year once it receives the green light on environmental assessment, financing and investment privileges, says acting president Win Viriyaprapaikit.
RETAILING
Siam Makro Plc, the local unit of the Netherlands-based cash-and-carry store operator SHV Holdings, has become a new market focus for the Dutch company after it sold its stake in Makro Indonesia.
TaxCORNER
Many of you may have heard of or invested in instruments known as zero-coupon bonds or zero-coupon bills. The magic of these investment instruments is that when the bond is sold in the secondary market at a price that includes the accrued interest up to the transfer date, or the so-called "dirty price", the Revenue Code does not recognise the dirty price as interest, but classifies it as capital gains instead.
INVESTING
SCB Asset Management will maintain its growth target of 120 billion baht for the year even as growth for the fund industry remained flat in the first half.
Laos has joined with the Korea Exchange to create an over-the-counter securities market in Vientiane starting this year, according to Phouphet Khamphounvong, the governor of the Bank of Lao PDR.
Thailand's young people should be given the opportunity to help set the country's vision for its development over the next 20 years, according to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee.
TOURISM & CONVENTIONS
High oil prices have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to trim its 2009 revenue projection to 630 billion baht, a 5% gain from 2008.
A global campaign is under way to promote Bangkok as the Exhibition City for Asean. The campaign aims to boost Bangkok's competitiveness in the meeting, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) industry.
ECONOMY
A preoccupation with politics and a lack of unity among the government's economic planners are stalling efforts to improve the country's economy, business leaders said yesterday.
STEEL DUTIES
The Customs Department vows to press forward with a six-year case against importers of silicon electrical steel to pay unpaid taxes and fines.
BYInvitation
Counterfeit products have long been widely available in Thailand, but the people responsible for their production, distribution and sale today are dealing with the same kinds of competitiveness problems as their legitimate peers.
Small and medium enterprises in the provinces are starting to feel the impact of high prices of high raw material prices, says the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Santi Vilassakdanont.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) has suggested that Thai industries focus on innovation when adding value to their products.
PROPERTY
The homebuilding firm Four Pattana Co expects the lowest margin in a decade _ below 7% _ this year as rising construction costs hurt demand, said managing director Pramote Theerakul.
The mobile operator DTAC expects no organisational changes and is preparing to move forward as planned after CEO Sigve Brekke leaves.
ENTERTAINMENT
The operator of Century: The Movie Plaza, has revised its revenue projection upward to 300 million baht this year from 240 million projected earlier, thanks to its better-than-expected performance in the first half.
RETAILING
The local operator of Loft specialty stores has delayed its plan to open two new stores this year due to delays in securing locations and political insecurity, according to a company executive.
STOCKS
Thai energy stocks remain relatively inexpensive compared with their regional peers, according to local analysts.
INBrief
ENVIRONMENT : Bangkok Bank has announced a new Bualuang Green Loan programme aimed at small and medium-sized operators seeking to invest in alternative energy, waste management or new technology to reduce energy consumption.
