Latest:

• Huge economic task may take longer than one obama term

  The euphoria over US presidentelect Barack Obama will end quickly after he takes office on January 20. The task of restoring the health of the US banking system and putting the US economy back on track will be tremendous.

• Global financial crisis tops G20 agenda

  Finance ministers and central bank governors from the G20 group of developed and devel¬oping nations will convene in Brazil this weekend, ahead of the G20 summit in Washington on November 15.

• SURVEY PREDICTS LOWER SPENDING ON NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES

  Consumers are likely to spend less dur¬ing the New Year festivities this year due to weak economic sentiment, according to a survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce.

• Big plunge in car rental market

  The car rental business expects to see the market drop 37.5 per cent to Bt10 billion this year, the first downturn in 11 years, hammered by the global economic crisis and the country's political unrest.

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  street wise

• JBP International paints a good picture for the downturn

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• Funding

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• Srtithai Superware production upgrade to go ahead

  Firm says export markets safe from crisis

• Phatra sees listed firms' 2009 earnings growth in negative territory

  With a global recession looming, Phatra Securities has warned that listed companies' earnings growth will drop well into negative territory next year.

• Sharpest decline in major economies' growth since WWII: Fitch

  Fitch Ratings predicts that the world's major advanced economies - the United States, the United Kingdom, the euro area and Japan - will next year experience the steepest decline in economic growth since World War II.

• SUCHART URGES BOT TO CUT RATE

  Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvech has urged the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to slash its policy interest rate of 3.75 per cent to below the deposit interest rate. He said the central bank should also reduce bond issues to financial....

• Bond Outlook

  The Thai bond market rallied last month, driven by a dovish Bank of Thailand monetarypolicy outlook and capital flight. The US dollar liquidity drought early in October drove foreignexchange swap points deep into discount (from premium in....

• StreetWise

  Somsak Chalachol is a man of details. That is what the public and his clients have realised throughout the long period since he launched his first hair salon in Soi Thong Lor.

• Briefs

  US extends Thailand's GSP privileges

• Company Reports

  LPN DEVELOPMENT posted a thirdquarter consolidated net profit of Bt364.99 million, up from Bt360.19 million in the same quarter last year.

• Company Reports

  KULTHORN KIRBY reported a planned investment of about Bt300 million for new machinery and equipment. Bt200 million will come from the company's recapitalisation, and the rest from financial institutions and working capital.

Keeping them smiling