Insiders profited from telecom sale. Economists said the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore could have served as a catalyst in driving speculators to take a punt on the baht. Speculators who would have benefited the most would be those who possessed inside information about the deal before it was made public.

Boonrawd aims for top shelf in 2006

After losing the Thailand beer market leadership eight years ago, Boonrawd Brewery Co Ltd, maker of Singha and Leo beer, has declared its ambition of reclaiming the number one position in the Bt82-billion beer market this year from its major rival, Chang beer.The proclamation was announced yesterday by Boonrawd chief executive Santi Bhirom Bhakdi to a gathering of the company’s staff and more than 1,000 dealers from throughout the country.

Direct flight foul up irks Phuket realtors

After a tough year surviving the aftermath of the monster tsunami, Phuket’s hotel and property developers now face a fresh battering from the government’s decision to route Thai Airways International’s direct flights through Suvarnabhumi when Bangkok’s new international airport opens.

Finance Ministry ‘still owns potash firm’

A former chairman of Asean Potash Mining Plc, Sommai Phasee, yesterday denied an opposition claim that the government had allowed a Chinese investor, Yien Ping, to acquire shares in the business, insisting that the Finance Ministry still holds a majority share of 71 per cent in the company.

STREET WISE: United voice as criticism grows

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his family’s decision to sell their stake in Shin Corp Plc was an act of patriotic self-sacrifice. They hope their deal with a consortium led by Temasek Holdings will put an end to the constant criticism about Thaksin’s conflicts of interest and allow him to concentrate on running the country.

ECONOMIC FORECAST: BOT sees solid growth

Oil price means a bumpy ride, but bank says exports should expand by 10-12%

BMCL to list on the SET next month

Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) will start trading on the stock market late next month, its managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said yesterday.

RIGHTS ISSUE: Cash-strapped Picnic to increase capital

Bt1.48 billion to be raised through issue of new shares to existing stockholders

Japanese fund buys into United

There will be changes to the board and management of United Securities following the purchase of a 25.43-per-cent stake in the company on Friday by a Japanese private fund, but buyer APF Holdings’ chairman Mitsuji Konoshita said the broker’s operations will remain unchanged.

Bangkok Bank refutes sale report

After a report broke that a major owner of Bangkok Bank, the country’s largest bank, might sell shares to an offshore outfit, the bank’s senior executive vice president came out yesterday to deny the story.

Aapico Hitech banks on lean manufacturing

Aapico Hitech Plc, an automotive parts company based in Thailand, is showing the way for other hi-tech manufacturers by adopting the latest computer-based technology in supply chain management, ena-bling it to fulfil complex customer requests while reducing waste in its supply chain.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT: Keppel plans city condo block

Is in talks to either buy land or form JV for project in central Bangkok

COMPANY REPORTS

DYNASTY CERAMIC posted a consolidated unaudited annual net profit of Bt746.89 million, compared to Bt675.35 million in 2004.

POWER CONSUMPTION: Electricity price set to rise Bt0.20

Non-governmental group wants Egat’s profit guarantee lowered

Somkid in Japan to boost ties, push for FTA progress

Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Taro Aso, Japan’s foreign minister, yesterday agreed to expedite efforts toward consummating a bilateral free-trade agreement, Kyodo News reported, citing Japanese officials.

Rice farmers demand action on price

Local rice farmers have urged the Commerce Ministry to allow cross-provincial selling under the national rice-pledging scheme to solve the problem of falling prices in some areas.

Suraphon fined for overspending

The deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Suraphon Avestasreni is to be fined by Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont for his poor management of a scheme to renovate the TAT’s office on Rajdamnoen Road.

Foreign telecom firms a challenge

Small telecom companies will need to strengthen their competitiveness, otherwise the influx of foreign operators, who are taking advantage of easier access to the domestic market, could lead to situations where major players dominate the scene.

MCOT puts in strong year

MCOT Plc, operator of ModerNine TV, expects its revenue to remain strong, mainly generated by its television and radio businesses, and has set a conservative net-profit growth target of 15 per cent this year.

Sugar remains in short supply

Despite the Commerce and Industry ministries’ promise to solve the sugar shortage problem “in two weeks” last year, supplies remain scarce and consumers are having to shoulder higher costs.

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