Thai Law, Visa & Regulations News

LH Financial Group will start trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on May 10 as the first listing by a commercial bank in the 15-year period.

LPN Development is expected to be a prime beneficiary of a government plan to offer zero interest loans for first-time homebuyers who purchase properties costing below Bt3 million, said DBS Vickers Securities (Thailand).

SET still holds long-term potential for investors willing to endure occasional volatility. Despite high volatility and dips last week, the Thai stock market is still considered attractive for long-term investors who want to start accumulating good stocks at discounted prices or long-term equity funds, say analysts.

Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines will be adversely affected if crude-oil prices reach the critical level of US$130 per barrel this year, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) says.

As expected, the Cabinet quickly approved the huge Bt66-billion budget for its populist policies with the hope of winning majority support in the next general election.

Silver has been a lucrative investment option as its price has risen by 70% since January of last year, while analysts expect the rise to continue as the US dollar depreciates.

The Bank of Thailand expects an eventual balance between capital inflow and outflow this year, with such a position likely to be even more clearly seen next year.

Food prices are expected to rise on growing demand from catastrophe-hit Japan and more frequent natural disasters cutting the supply of ingredients.

As forecast by many brokerages, the SET Index broke its resistance level to hit a high of 1,113.63 points last week. Continued foreign fund inflows, a positive outlook ahead of the midyear election, and robust Asian markets all drove trade.

The new government should focus more on tax restructuring, as it is the key to maintaining fiscal discipline amid greater need for infrastructure investment and spending on social programmes, economists say.