PETROLEUM
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's claim to have found a source of cheap Russian diesel has raised eyebrows at local oil companies, who wonder whether it could be possible. They say high transport costs and low quality could even make Russian diesel more expensive than what's on the market now.
ECONOMY
Consumer confidence fell to its lowest level this year in June as anti-government protests intensified and high oil prices continued to add to inflation woes.
Thai stocks fell 1.81% yesterday as investors dumped shares due to uncertainties about domestic political risk and the health of the US financial system.
Liquidity in the banking system, while tightening somewhat from last year, remains plentiful to support economic growth, according to local bankers.
INSURANCE
The SouthEast Insurance (2000) is feeling the pinch from the country's economic slowdown driven by high oil prices, admitting it is unlikely to achieve its business target for the year.
PAYMENTS
Plastic cards will become more popular than cash over the next five years, according to the Bank of Thailand.
INVESTMENT
Thailand ranks relatively high in terms of the country's ease of doing business and trade, according to a global survey by the World Bank.
Thai chicken processors and exporters expressed confidence that a biosecurity farming system, or compartmentalisation, will encourage major buyers from Japan and the European Union to resume imports of fresh chicken meat after a long break following the bird flu virus outbreak in 2004.
Leading THE WAY
Until very recently, business managers could be forgiven for concluding that their people's demands for wireless devices were less about real business improvement and more about gratifying appetites for new toys and status symbols.
Thailand is expected to surpass China as the world's largest hard disk-drive (HDD) producer within two years after existing HDD makers operating here complete ongoing expansion, the industry's research group says.
MEDIA
Advertising spending in the first half of this year grew by less than 1%, further evidence that growth for the year might be less than in 2007 or even contract due largely to political and economic uncertainties.
RETAILING
The government is being urged to set up an arbitration body to settle growing disputes in the local retail industry which is threatened by rapid expansion of large, modern operators.
PROPERTY
The homebuilder Landy Home (Thailand) Co is speeding up construction periods to keep its unit prices competitive and control costs that have been pushed higher by construction material prices, according to managing director Phiched Maneerattanaporn.
Siam Piwat Co, the operator of Siam Center and Siam Discovery, says its two shopping complexes have not been affected by the current slowing economy, thanks to continual marketing activities and promotional campaigns.
AVIATION
The slowing global economy caused by high oil prices is stalling Bangkok Airways' plan to open new international routes from its second hub on Koh Samui.
COMMUNICATIONS
Triple T Broadband, the wholly owned broadband internet arm of TT&T Plc, is preparing to launch a commercial WiMax pilot project for e-learning in Chiang Rai in September as part of a four-billion-baht plan.
INBrief
MEDIA :DC Consultants and Marketing Communications has reorganised its corporate structure to respond to the continuing growth of public relations and marketing consultancy business.
INBrief
COMMUNICATIONS : The National Telecommunications Commission yesterday refused to endorse a request by CAT Telecom to allow its mobile phone concessionaires DTAC and True Move to import equipment to provide mobile broadband services.
