Cash in with secure deposit rates

- The 11th series of Bangkok Bank savings bonds, worth Bt800 million, are now available at branches across the country (but not micro branches) until August 26. The threeyear bonds offer a coupon rate of 4.60 per cent per annum. Each investor is limited to one account, with minimum and maxi¬mum amounts of Bt10,000 and Bt500,000 respectively.

- TMB Bank launches "TMB Happy Time Deposit 9Month", with an interest rate of 4.15 per cent, again per annum as all the rates are. The bank will pay interest on a quar¬terly basis. The minimum and max¬imum deposits are Bt50,000 and Bt5 million. Each depositor can open only one account.

- United Overseas Bank (Thai) offers 3.80 per cent for its three, four, five and sixmonth fixeddeposit accounts. Those who deposit the fivemonth fixeddeposit and deposit further for another five months will receive a 4.2percent interest rate. Depositors who are eligible for the special interest rate are required to deposit at least Bt100,000 at the bank's branches nationwide. This offer runs through August 22.

- Thanachart Bank launches a threemonth fixeddeposit account with a 5percent interest rate for deposits of between Bt100,000 and Bt5 million. Only the bank's new customers who deposit the money at its 10 new branches within the first 15 days after their inauguration are eligible for the special interest rate and each customer is limited to one account.

They are also required to open a savings account with an amount not less than Bt5,000 and to pay for an ATM card. The 10 new branches scheduled to open this month are at McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, in Phatthalung province, and in Bangkok on Asoke Road, at Sukhumvit 47, Phahurat, Bang Bua Thong, Lat Phrao 101, Buddha Monthol 4, Pak Nam and Pattanakarn Road.

- Siam Commercial Bank offers a fourmonth fixeddeposit account with an interest rate of 3.80 per cent. Interested persons must deposit between Bt100,000 and Bt10 mil¬lion by August 25.

- Siam City Asset Management is launching an initial public offer¬ing (IPO) of its Urbana Sathorn Property Fund (leasehold) until Thursday.

The fund has a 30year leasehold right in the 154 fully furnished units of Urbana Sathorn, which has 15,464 square metres of serviced apartments. The Bt1.4billion fund will provide minimum return guar¬antees for the first three years of 8, 9 and 10 per cent respectively and 6 per cent from the fourth year onwards. The initial minimum amount required is Bt1,000.

- ING Funds (Thailand) offers an initial public offering of ING II 3M3 until Monday.

The fund has a policy of invest¬ing at least 80 per cent of its net asset value in investmentgrade structured notes or creditlinked notes issued by overseas govern¬ments, state enterprises and finan¬cial and corporate institutions. The fund is expected to give a 3.45 per cent return to unittrust holders. The initial minimum investment is Bt10,000.

- Asset Plus Management intro¬duces its equity fund bundled with derivatives - socalled ASPSSF 18/18 - which features auto redemption when the fund's net asset value (NAV) rises by 18 per cent from the Bt10 unit trust par value for three consecutive days or 18 months after the inception, whichever happens first. The fund requires an initial minimum invest¬ment of Bt5,000 and is available from now until Thursday.

- Krung Thai Asset Management launches two new fixedincome funds from now until Wednesday.

KTST6M37 will invest in sixmonth local government bonds and financial institution debentures and deposits, while KTST3M40 will invest in threemonth local govern¬ment bonds and financial institu¬tion debentures and deposits.

The sixmonth and threemonth maturity funds are expected to yield 3.70 per cent and 3.60 per cent per annum respectively.

- UOB Asset Management has unveiled its Bt1.4billion principalprotected fund linked to the Spectrum index issued by BNP Paribas Bank. The fund's initial public offering is between now and Wednesday. The threeyear matu¬rity fund will invest in zero coupon bonds in US dollars issued by KBN, a Norwegian state enterprise, or KfW, in order to fully protect its principal. It will also invest in euro currency options, with the return linked to the Spectrum index issued by BNP Paribas Bank. Interested persons are required to invest Bt10,000.