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Published on December 22, 2007

Among the amendments is a provision to allow small shareholders to file damages claims against listed firms and executives.

The amended law would give higher autonomy to the Securities and Exchange Commission as the finance minister would no longer automatically be named SEC chairman. There will be a supervisory board to issue regulations to control private transactions, leaving the SEC to focus on national policies.

Fuel extras

Thai Airways Interna-tional has followed other air carriers worldwide and raised the fuel surcharges for domestic flights in order to partially compensate for higher fuel costs.

Pandit Chanapai, executive vice president (commercial), said the surcharges had been raised due to the continual increase in fuel costs in the world market.

The adjustment will affect all classes of travel and those whose tickets were issued by THAI ticketing offices and sales representatives worldwide.

For tickets purchased or issued abroad, the surcharges will double to US$20 (Bt673) per flight coupon from January 10. Surcharges on tickets bought or issued in Thailand were raised to Bt650 from Bt400 on Monday.

Ethanol plant

Mae Sot Clean Energy has laid the foundation stone of a plant to produce ethanol from sugar cane in Tak's Mae Sot district .

The firm is a joint venture between Padaeng Industry, Thai Oil and Petrogreen, which is a subsidiary of Mitr Phol Sugar. Established last year, it will promote the planting of sugar cane in Mae Sot and produce ethanol from sugar-cane by-products.

Reserves fall

Thailand's foreign reserves as of December 14 showed a slight drop to US$84.7 billion (Bt2.85 trillion), from $85 billion the week before, according to the Bank of Thailand. 

The Nation