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Reports on data from Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Board that the country's economic growth rate slowed to six percent in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Reports on the initial public offering of Thai Oil of Thailand.

Reports that Thailand's oil refiner Thai Oil will start selling its shares to the public on October 7, 2004. Expected earnings by buyers of distressed Thai Oil debt in 2000; Effects of high oil prices; Market share in refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel fuel.

Reports that high oil prices and an outbreak of bird flu has combined to slow Thailand's economic growth in the second quarter 2004. National Economic and Social Development Board statistics; Economy grew 6.3 percent in the three months ended June 30.

Reports on the increased second quarter 2004 profit of the PTT, a government-controlled oil and gas company in Thailand.

Reports on the upgrade of Thailand's creditworthiness by the Standard and Poor. Reduction of government debt; Alleviation of the foreign reserves; Improvement of the benchmark stock index.

Focuses on Thirachai Phuvanat-naranubala, the secretary general of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand. Rules imposed by Thirachai on stock trading to end market fluctuations caused by what is perceived to be stock-price manipulation and insider trading; Concern among regulators and economists that the Stock Exchange of Thailand is still more like a casino; Effort of the Thai government to prevent a repeat of the investment bubble that presaged the financial crisis of 1997 and 1998.

Reports on the state of the rubber industry in Surat Thani Province in Thailand as of February 2004. Surge in global commodity prices; Debates about the merits of the economic policies of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; Popularity of pneumatic tire for bicycles and automobiles that made it critical to industrialization; Demise of the International Natural Rubber Organization; Increase in rubber exports.

Reports on the conflict between Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and securities regulator. Shinawatra's request for the securities commission to protect small investors; Investment rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission..

The article reports that Thailand is going to takeover a television station which is expected to end a dispute between a broadcaster and the military-appointed government. Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra once controlled the television station which is known as iTV. According to the government, the license of iTV will be terminated by it if a $2.9 fine is not paid by the broadcaster.

The article reports that Thailand might make stricter laws for foreign investors. The decision by the military appointed cabinet has brought the Thai index down by 2.7 percent. Regional analyst at Standard & Poor, Ping Chew, said that the decision is not at all sensible and rational. If the decision would be accepted by two government bodies then some foreign investors have to sell their holdings that exceed 50% in companies based in Thailand.

The article focuses on the condition of Thai financial markets after the implementation of the financial policies of the military-appointed government. Thai officials were trying to convince markets that the imposition and lifting of capital controls were consistent. There has been a 15.45 points drop in the benchmark Thai stock index while in Asian trading, the Thai currency lost 1.6 percent against the dollar.

The article reports on a declaration made by Tarisa Watanagase, governor of Thai Central Bank, that the decline of the dollar is affecting the smaller economies in Asia. She opined that Thailand is a victim of the huge imbalances in trade and savings. It is to be noted that the surge of funds increases the value of currencies. This makes Asian exports more expensive on global markets.

The article reports that the Thai government is reversing the planning of the central bank to impose capital controls to lower the value of Baht, Thailand's currency. The stock market of Thailand faced a one-day plunge of about 15%. Pridiyathorn Devakula, finance minister of Thailand, announced to revise the policy of the central bank.

The article presents information related to the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of Thailand to uphold the decision against iTV Corp., a local broadcaster. The company was formerly owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted prime minister of the country. The court has rejected appeal by the company and has said to increase the annual fee it pays to the government. The decision has made the company liable for $2.7 billion in fines.

The article presents information on the legal confrontation between Singapore and Thailand that has emerged after Singapore's investment arm, Temasek Holdings Ltd., purchased a controlling stake in Thailand's dominant phone company, Shin. The purchase stoked public protests in Thailand and culminated in a coup in September 2006. The new Thai government is preparing a criminal case against Temasek and its Thai partners over the purchase.

Reports that the automobile industry in Thailand have depend largely on the sales of their pickup trucks as they become they became the largest vehicle producer in Southeast Asia.

Reports on the increase in consumer credit in such Southeast Asian countries as Thailand. Growth of an educated population that can manage debt; Comments from Chamikorn Buranananda, managing director at Capital OK, a consumer finance startup with ties to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; Impact of strengthening economies in Southeast Asia that enable more consumers to emerge from poverty to the lower middle class.

Presents briefs related to world business. How the Gucci Group replaced Giacomo Santucci as chief executive of the Gucci brand; Consideration of how India raised the limit on foreign equity in airline companies to 49 percent from 40 percent; Cut in delivery forecasts by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer; Increase in the benchmark interest rate to 1.75 percent at Thailand's central bank, the Bank of Thailand; Others.

Offers business news briefs for October 14, 2004. Data showing an increase in Japan's trade surplus; Selection of Rolls-Royce engines by All Nippon Airways for the Boeing 7E7 jets that start service in 2008; Decision of the Bank of Japan to keep short-term interest rates low to fight deflation; The amount raised by Thai Oil in its initial public offering; Profit reported by ASML Holding, a semiconductor-equipment company; Challenge to a German law that protects Volkswagen from hostile takeovers; Proposal by the European Commission to change price-fixing laws affecting shipping companies.

Reports on the increase in market shares for Thai Oil Co. Ltd.'s oil products in Thailand.

Reports that creditors of Thai Petrochemical Industry PLC has approved a plan aimed at restructuring its debts and finding a related company to buy a stake in Thailand.

Reports on the intention of Thai Oil to publicly sell nearly $700 in shares of stock. Impact of world-wide demand for oil on Thailand's oil industry; Role of Thai Oil in Thailand's oil market; Financial history of the company and plans for development; Prediction of a high profit from the sale of Thai Oil stocks; Potential impact of the world economy on Thailand's exports and production.

Presents news briefs related to world business. Forecast for economic growth in Thailand; Forecast for slower chip sales at the South Korean electronics company, Samsung Electronics; Broader sales for the no frills "Logan" automobile from French maker Renault; Others.

Reports on the growth of the economy predicted by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand.

Reports that Thailand's central bank has tightened rules on how much cash commercial banks must set aside against delinquent loans. State of Thailand's real estate business; Order of the central bank to Krung Thai Bank in classifying $1 billion in loans; Criticism on the bank's lending activities.

Reports on the decision of the Bank of Thailand to raise its benchmark interest rate to curb the inflationary impact of higher oil prices in Thailand.

Reports that Standard & Poor's raised one of its leading measures of Thailand's creditworthiness, saying hefty foreign reserves and dwindling government debt were offsetting the effects of higher global oil prices and concerns about the nation's financial sector. Placing of Thailand's ability to repay on a par with Barbados, China, and Poland; Unchanged rating on Thailand's local-currency debt and short-term foreign currency.

Presents world news briefs related to business as of August 26, 2004. Increase in interest rates in Thailand; Rise of shares for Tata Consultancy Services, India's largest software services outsourcing company; Decline of second-quarter profits for airline maker Bombardier; Others.

Reports that the Krung Thai Bank has disclosed it has been compelled to reclassify more than $1 billion of loans as nonperforming despite the fact they are still being paid. Blame which was placed by the central bank governor on Krung Thai for lax lending standards; Belief of some that government pressure on Krung Thai is what caused the bank's rush to lend; Reaction of investors who had paid the government for a stake in the bank as a partial privatization; Concerns over the fiscal policies of Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra; Analysis of the bank's fiscal condition; Reaction of the stock market.

Presents world news briefs relating to business and finance. Slowdown in Indonesia's economy; Oil profits for Thailand's government-controlled oil and gas company, PTT; Competition between oil companies Royal Dutch/Shell and BP to conduct a technical assessment of Iraq's largest oil fields; Sale of three million shares in company stock by Eugene Melnyk, chairman and chief executive of Canadian drug maker Biovail; Others.

Reports on an effort to curb fuel consumption in Asia as record-high oil prices begin to affect the economy. New rules in Thailand imposing a curfew on gasoline stations and raising taxes on gas-guzzling automobiles; Dependence on the Middle East for half of its oil; Concern about an attack on Middle Eastern oil shipments by terrorists; Highlights of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Agreement to improve the climate for investment in oil exploration and infrastructure and to raise the amount of power derived from renewable energy sources.

Reports that unions representing public-sector workers have put off a decision on whether to conduct a general strike in Thailand. Aim to negotiate with prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over his plans to privatize part of the government-owned utility.

Presents world news briefs relating to business and finance. Privatization negotiations between unions representing Thailand's public-sector workers and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; Cut in interest rates by Hungary's central bank; Stock offering by the biggest cosmetics company in Brazil, Natura Cosméticos; Others.

Cites the plan of unions representing Thailand's public-sector employees to use a huge May Day rally to call for a general strike against plans by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to privatize part of the national electric utility, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Aim to easily finance new power plants to feed rapidly growing electricity demand; Daily demonstrations stage by EGAT employees to denounce a plan to sell part of the authority on the stock market.

Reports on the call for a general strike by Thailand's public sector employees who have been protesting for two months against the plans by Prime Minister Tahksin Shinawatra to privatize part of the national electric utility. Plan by Shinawatra to sell part of the Electricity Generating Authority on the stock market to raise enough money to finance new power plants to feed the growing need for electricity; Expectation that the public offering would raise $1.8 billion for 30 percent of the company; How the union protests have delayed the sale; Background on the policies of Shinawatra.

Reports that Thailand's cabinet has approved tax incentives it hoped would steady the country's stock market by attracting longer-term investments. Examples of measures that were approved.

Presents business news briefs. Agreement in Canada for Chum Ltd. to buy Craig Media; Resignation of Ecuador's energy minister; Rapid economic growth in Thailand which has increased its need for petroleum; Rise in industrial output in India; Record sales of stocks to foreigners in Japan; Rise in the trade balance in Japan; Steel profit which rises in South Korea.

Reports on the escalation of the export trade despite the bird flu outbreak and a resurgent Muslim rebellion in Thailand.

Reports on the delay of plans to privatize the national utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand facing protests from labor unions.

Presents world news briefs relating to business as of March 16, 2004. Losses for Volvo, Europe's largest truckmaker; Delay in Thailand to privatize the national utility, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand; Tentative contract proposal at the Canadian National Railway Company; Others.

Discusses how Thailand's secretary general of the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission, Thirachai Phuvanat-naranubala, imposed new rules on stock trading in order to curb market swings. Efforts to introduce order that will rid of insider trading practices and the manipulation of stock prices; How Thai authorities support the stock market in an effort to reduce an overreliance on banks; Development of government education programs to encourage stock ownership; Creation of tax incentives that would cause companies to list their shares; Records associated with consumer spending and exports.

Reports on the financial performance of Thailand's sole satellite communications company Shin Satellite PLC as of February 2004. Profit; Plan to sell its shares in a public offering to finance expansion and pay debts.

Focuses on the Surat Thani Province in Thailand as the center of a rural economic boom created by China's demand for cars. Importance of Thailand as the largest producer and exporter of natural rubber; Increase in demand, thanks largely to China, and a consequent increase in prices; Part of a broader surge in global commodity prices; Controversy over whether Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's popularity is merely a benefit of a cyclical economic upturn.

Reports on the plan of the Thai government for its central bank to purchased foreclosed assets to bolster the bottom line of other banks.

Reports on the Thailand Stock Exchange's formation a task force with regulators in response to a request by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to monitor possible stock-price manipulation.

Reports on the consumer spending for cars in Thailand. Promotion of ownership of homes and computers; Rise of consumers based on retail sales; Outcome of the research on consumer confidence.

Reports that Moody's Investors Service Inc. raised its rating on Thailand's debt to reflect the country's improving economy.

Describes the efforts of government officials in Thailand, including prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to protect the booming economy. Details of the economic boom in Thailand; Concerns that speculators are using investor enthusiasm to push stock prices unduly high; Rule enacted by Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission to limit day trading; Restrictions imposed by the Thai central bank to limit foreign investment, and property speculation; Reactions from Thaksin, other government officials, and brokerage officials.

Analyzes the economic policies of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. His efforts to stimulate domestic spending until exports pick up; Effectiveness of these efforts; Repayment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan taken out in 1997; Increasing value of Thai currency, the baht; Other actions by Thaksin to bolster the Thai economy; Analysts' warnings regarding eventual need for corporate and financial-sector restructuring.