New govt to boost market

The Securities Analysts' Association yesterday held a seminar entitled "Economics and Stock Market Trends in 2008: Chance or Risk?" Securities analysts believe the new government, led by the People Power Party (PPP), will support these three sectors.

Asia Plus Securities (APS) research manager Poranee Thongyen told the seminar the three sectors were outlined in the PPP's policy statement.

The party has targeted 20 million tourist arrivals this year, up from 14.5 million last year. Entertainment businesses will benefit from the economic recovery.

Poranee said the hospital industry was expected to expand, because people aged over 30 were more focused on their well-being, while the number of foreign patients in private hospitals increased 20 per cent last year and was expected to rise 10 per cent this year.

The new government should help encourage tourism, and APS recommended the Erawan Group, Minor International and Central Plaza Hotel as having good outlooks in the sector.

Kasikorn Securities assistant vice president Tharisa Shaisunthornyothin told the seminar that the entertainment sector - MCOT in particular - was interesting, because revenue should pick up this year.

The transformation of TITV into a public broadcaster is likely to affect programme producers like Workpoint Entertainment and the Kantana Group.

Thanachart Securities senior director Pichai Lertsupongkit agreed the new government was likely to focus on promoting tourism. He, too, recommended the Erawan Group, Minor International and Central Plaza Hotel for the sector. For the long term, Pichai recommended hospital stocks, saying the outlook for that sector was also good.

Pichai recommended Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services and Bangkok Chain Hospital.

Siriporn Chanjindamanee

The Nation