briefs

SET index boosted by inflows

The SET Index hit a 16-year closing high yesterday of 1,472.05 points on the upturn in regional investment sentiment.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand ran up 10.64 points or 0.73 per cent on brisk turnover of Bt59 billion.

Foreseeing a further rise to 1,482 points, Asia Plus Securities warned that Thai shares were trading above their fundamentals. Regional bourses began the week with optimism, fuelled by India's plan to increase the rupee-denominated bond holdings of foreign investors by US$10 billion to $75 billion and the increase in China's industrial profits for the fourth month.

Speculation is rampaging out of control and some investors may get hurt if foreign investors stop buying or start selling Thai shares, it said.

A factor to watch this week is the resolution of the US Federal Open Market Committee's meeting today and tomorrow. If the quantitative-easing measure is to be ended this year, this could cast a pall over the global investment mood.

TV licence discussion

Television broadcasters and content producers will discuss in a focus group on Friday the regulator's plan to auction commercial digital TV licences and possibly also the starting price of the licences.

The results of this meeting will be a key part of the spectrum auction by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission for licences to operate 24 digital terrestrial TV channels commercially. Five channels will be for children/family programmes, five for news programmes, 10 for standard-definition variety programmes and four for variety programmes in high definition. - The Nation

Bt100m marketing budget

Paradise Park, an upscale shopping mall on Srinakarin Road, has earmarked more than Bt100 million for event marketing to become foremost in the minds of eastern Bangkok shoppers.

The strategy focuses on promotions and marketing activities throughout this quarter starting with the "Paradise Midnight Sale" campaign to welcome the Year of the Snake, "Paradise the Great Chinese New Year" to enhance luck with the Guan (the god of loyalty), "Summer Paradise", plus the two events to welcome the Chinese New Year and school break. - The Nation

Myanmar housing project

Soe Tint, deputy minister of Myanmar's Construction Ministry, said yesterday that the government-initiated low-cost-housing project was now open for the participation of local and foreign private investors.

Construction of the Ayeyar Wun and Yadana projects will commence this year and is expected to be completed by 2015. The project comprises 64 17-storey buildings with about 5 billion kyats (Bt174 million) of construction cost.

"Any company is welcomed to build at least one or more out of those 64 buildings," the deputy minister said.

An official from the Human Settlement and Housing Department (HSHD) said the rules and regulations for projects would be described for the participants.

A rule for sure is that the investor is required to use ready-made items such as walls, frames and doors made by the HSHD, IGE Construction Company and Shwe Taung Company. Most of the construction materials will be provided by IGE and Shwe Taung, he said.

Both housing projects will be of a high standard with recreation centres, gyms, supermarkets, religious halls, schools, clinics, business offices and administration wards.

The pricing varies from 15 million to 20 million kyats per unit, depending on the space. - Eleven Media

Cirtek to acquire Bangkok firm

Laguna, Philippine-based semiconductor firm Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp announced it was "all set" to acquire a Bangkok-based semiconductor assembly and test company.

However, the identity and latest terms of agreement will be disclosed in due time, it said.

"We are acquiring a company that has an excellent reputation for product quality and better-than-industry cycle time," Cirtek said.

The company added that the Thai firm would complement its existing services, particularly in the areas of high-volume, "mature packages". This would mesh well with Cirtek's strength in intricate, customer-specific packages, the company said.

The acquisition will also allow Cirtek to get top-tier customers, as the Bangkok company has several big clients the company can add into its portfolio for future growth.

And with Bangkok as a favoured hub for semiconductor assembly and test activities, the acquisition will give Cirtek so-called site redundancy to ensure that operational disruptions are minimised.

Cirtek said that with additional investment in production equipment, the Bangkok company has the potential to generate sales of more than US$40 million (Bt1.2 billion) over the next three years. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

Energy firm set for MAI debut tomorrow

Energy Absolute will start trading on the Market for Alternative Investment tomorrow.

EA is involved in production of biodiesel and high-speed diesel and the solar-power-plant business. It sold 560 million new registered-capital shares from January 21-23 at Bt5.50 each. The Bt3.08-billion proceeds will be used to establish a 90-megawatt solar farm in Nakhon Sawan and to augment working capital.

All 560 million shares were subscribed by 10,754 investors, of which 10,620 were individuals and 134 institutional investors.

Wind-power plant ready to supply Egat

Demco expects to commence commercial supply of electricity from its 90-megawatt Hua Bong 2 wind-power project to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in the middle of next month.

The test run of the turbines in the project is expected to be finished this month.

The company also expects orders to design and produce 1,800-2,000 towers for the third-generation cellular network this year. It has a backlog of Bt4.5 billion, of which Bt3.150 billion is for the renewable-energy business and Bt1.4 billion for the engineering and telecom-system businesses.

Nu Skin sees Bt5-bn sales in 3 years

Nu Skin Thailand expects to double its sales to Bt5 billion in three years.

The company posted a 16-per-cent increase in sales to Bt2.4 billion last year and a 20-per-cent increase in distributors.

The company yesterday revealed the TV commercial "Nu Skin the Reunion" to advertise the strength of its anti-ageing products to customers. It also plans to launch anti-ageing products to drive growth by 20 per cent this year.

Designed and created by TBWA (Thailand), the TV spot emphasises brand image and brand creation with the anti-ageing products as the focus. Anti-ageing innovation has been the key to increasing sales thanks to its advertised ability to prevent wrinkles and maintain healthy skin.

The company anticipates that after this commercial is launched, it will receive a warm welcome from its target customers who like its products and can afford them. It is counting on its brand awareness jumping 50 per cent within three months.

Envirosell plans consumer research ahead of AEC

In preparation for regional economic integration by 2015, Envirosell Thailand will conduct in-depth consumer research in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).

In three years, the consumer-insight research subsidiary of Index Creative Village targets Bt50 million in revenue from the research confirmed by its 15 local customers.

Last year, the company completed its consumer survey in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. Throughout the second half of this year, it plans to survey consumer behaviour, lifestyles, attitudes, media consumption and product preferences as well as related business trends in other key cities in that country, namely Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, along with Laos and Cambodia.

Managing director Sarinporn Jivanun said yesterday that 15 companies from various industries in CLMV countries had commissioned research projects to ensure that they have enough consumer and market insight before further expanding into those neighbouring countries.

By 2015, the 10 Asean member countries will integrate their economic zone into a single market under the Asean Economic Community framework. This development is expected to open more doors for local Thai companies that are eyeing regional expansion.