ThaiVest Editorial Team

Property funds offer attractive returns but liquidity is a concern. All investors want their investments to deliver handsome returns, or at least to beat inflation.Thailand's inflation rate is expected to stand around 3-4% this year, with high oil prices caused by unrest in the Middle East one key factor.The Bank of Thailand last week lifted its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.5% to curb rising inflation.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban predicted yesterday that the election would be held on July 1 or 2, pending a final decision by a Election Commission.

Quality Houses Plc says it plans to launch 22 projects worth Bt28.6b this year, mostly detached houses.

The Erawan Group plans to sell Ploenchit Center to SCB Asset Management for Bt1.4b to help improve its financial performance this year, said its chief financial officer, Kamonwan Wipulakorn.

Thai Stanley Electric, a leading Thai manufacturer of lights for the automotive industry with a Japanese parent company, believes the quake and tsunami disaster in Japan will not affect its operations in Thailand. The company imports only one raw material from Japan, said Apichart Leeissaranukul, executive vice president of Thai Stanley Electric, adding that stocks of the item would last until the end of the month.

Thai Union Group joined The Royal Thai Government's disaster relief campaign to help the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan by presenting 200,000 cans of tuna products to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during a ceremony.

Luxury property developer Raimon Land has announced the forthcoming opening of Vue, a boutique fusion mall adjacent to The River, its prestigious development along the Chao Phraya. Located by The River's main road entrance on Charoen Nakorn Road, Vue will be completed by the end of the year, before The River's owners and tenants move in to their units during the course of 2012.

Synnex (Thailand) Plc (SYNEX) distributes computers, peripherals, software, IT systems and computer consumables of more than 50 global brands to a nationwide customer base of 5,000 retailers and wholesalers, locally branded computer manufacturers, department stores, superstores and stationery shops.President and CEO Supant Mongkolsuthree discusses the company's strategy and outlook.