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SOMRUEDI BANCHONGDUANG
The energy and commodities sectors are expected to be the main source of loan demand in the second half, as other sectors have delayed investment plans due to the slowing economy.
Kavee Chukitkasem, head of research at Kasikorn Securities, said demand for corporate loans in the second half would be primarily driven by energy and commodities companies.
Energy firms, led by PTT Plc, would look to maintain their investment schedules for new refineries and power plants given rising demand.
Commodities prices meanwhile are expected to remain high, both for metals such as steel and agricultural products such as rice and sugar.
''These industries will definitely continue to need working capital to support their operations,'' Mr Kavee said.
An analyst at Asia Plus Securities agreed, adding that petrochemical and auto parts companies also were expected to continue new investment in the second half.
Most banks reported relatively sluggish growth in the corporate loan market, due to economic uncertainties and rising interest rates.Two major syndicated loans were closed last week, both to the energy sector: 5.8-billion-baht for Siam Power Generation and 28.98 billion for Bangchak Petroleum. While bankers are hopeful that loan demand would rise over the next few months with the launch of the government's infrastructure megaprojects, analysts are more pessimistic.
One analyst said a ''best-case scenario'' would include contracts being awarded for the Red and Purple mass-transit lines in the second half.
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