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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’s economic fundamentals are sound enough to ride out the global financial crisis, though the domestic political turmoil is making a bad situation worse, experts say. Consumer fears: Thai consumers are now more fearful of the future than when they were living under military rule last November, says Moodys Economy.com

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’S biggest mobile phone operator has denied reports that it has slashed its 3G budget because of the credit crunch. But it has ‘consolidated’ its plan to roll out 3G technology because of red tape, its president said.

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GREG LOWE in BANGKOK KIM Eng Securities (Thailand) said yesterday that despite reporting declining third-quarter profits in the face of the global financial crisis, the firm would maintain annual performance at last year’s levels. The company posted Q308 profits of 88.61 million baht (S$3.73 million), down 55.89 per cent, or 112.28 million baht, from a […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK CONVENTIONS and exhibitions in the region will weather the global financial storm, despite a drop in delegate attendance, but corporate meetings and incentive travel will plummet as budgets are cut, those in the industry say.

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by Greg Lowe Thailand´s property market will see little direct impact from the Lehman Brothers sell-off and corresponding US financial crisis, according to local analysts, but secondary knock-on effects may crimp sales, particularly at the top end. Lehman Brothers Holdings, one of America´s oldest investment banks, went bankrupt last September, with assets worth US$613 billion […]

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Shop ’til you drop? For the true test of retail therapy’s outer limits,try touring four of Asia’s leading mega malls BANGKOK If shopping malls are cathedrals of consumerism, then Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district could be likened to Vatican City, with CentralWorld taking pride of place as its St Peter’s Basilica. But what makes this complex stand […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAILAND’S industrial estate market remains upbeat thanks to government tax exemptions for developers, which will drive supply, demand and occupancy, in the face of the credit crunch, domestic politics and inflationary pressures, according to realtors Colliers International Thailand. But local industry experts disputed the findings of its report, forecasting flat […]

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GREG LOWE in Bangkok Thai politics will have a heavier impact on the country’s economy than the global financial crisis, according to a report from Moodys Economy.com yesterday. The standoff between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy sent business and consumer confidence into a tailspin, according to the […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK POLITICAL violence and global economic turmoil caused the Stock Exchange of Thailand to nosedive to a five-year low yesterday. Domestic consumption and tourism will be hard hit by the double economic impact, experts said. SET closed at 492.34 points yesterday, down 6.88 per cent in trade worth 17.46 billion baht […]

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By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK SCORES of people were injured when violence erupted on the streets of Bangkok yesterday after police deployed teargas to disperse anti-government protesters. Hopes of a peaceful resolution to the country’s political impasse lay in tatters, observers said. Around 100 people were reported injured, more than 20 seriously, after police used […]

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