Reuters Wednesday 21st May, 2014

* Army declared martial law on Tuesday, denies staging coup

* Acting PM says he is still in charge, has proposed Aug. 3 election

* Anti-government protesters oppose an early election

* Pro-government "red shirts" warn of trouble if government ousted (Adds army chief calling meeting, analyst comment)

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Amy Sawitta Lefevre

BANGKOK, May 21 (Reuters) - Thailand's army chief summoned leaders of rival political groups and parties, Election Commission members and senators to a meeting on Wednesday, a day after he declared martial law, to discuss a way out of the country's political turmoil.

Although the military denied Tuesday's surprise intervention amounted to a coup, General Prayuth Chan-ocha appears to be setting the agenda by forcing groups and organisations with a central role in the crisis to meet.

"General Prayuth has called a meeting at the Army Club with all sides to talk about ways out of the country's crisis," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters, adding it would start at 1:30 p.m. (0630 GMT). ...

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UPDATE 1-Thai army chief summons political rivals to seek end to crisis

General Press Releases Tuesday May 20, 2014 16:41

Bangkok--20 May--Mileage (Thai)

Largest Pan-Asia PR Group with 15 offices in 9 countries to capitalize on growing economic opportunities in South Korea

Mileage (Thai) Co. Ltd. today announced that the Mileage Group extended its footprint into South Korea by opening its newest branch in Seoul. Known as Mileage Communications (Korea), the joint venture is formed with local established PR veteran, John Kim, and his team.

Mr. Yap Boh Tiong, Chairman of the Mileage Group said: Korea is Asias fourth largest economy and the business outlook is positive. We have clients pushing for work to be carried out in the Korean market and having an office in Seoul will be a boon for our clients.

The agency is headed by Mr. John Kim, a professional marketing communications consultant with more than 30 years of experience with top international companies such as LG, GM Korea and GlaxoSmithKline.

Mr. John Kim, Managing Director of Mileage Communications Korea, said: We are very proud to be part of the Mileage Communications Group in Korea. This is an opportune time when the center of the world economy is shifting to Asia. Mileage Korea will play an important role in contributing to the Asian economy by strengthening the mutually-beneficial relations between Korea and the other countries in Asia.

Plugging into the Mileage Groups network of offices in Asia presents huge opportunities for Mileage Korea. Another important point to note is that Korean government agencies are keen to strengthen relations and carry out collaborative projects with their South East Asian counterparts. We can play a supportive role in this regard, added Mr. Kim.

We have been using the services of John and his team in the past and they had supported our clients admirably. This included handling a recent major shipping incident in Korea. Thus, it is logical for us to formalize this partnership by establishing Mileage Korea, added Mr. Yap.

The joint venture company is well positioned to assist Korean companies in their marketing communications needs in Asia where the Mileage Group has offices. Similarly, Mileage Korea can also assist companies that wish to break into Korea.

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Mileage Communications Opens Korea Office

BANGKOK: Most Southeast Asian stocks gained on Friday, with Thai shares climbing to a two-week high amid hopes for a solution to the political crisis, while Indonesia rose for a fifth day with PT Bumi Resources Tbk outperforming. Bangkok's SET index ended up 0.7 percent at 1,405.26, the highest close since May 2, with large cap stocks leading the pack. The SET rose 2 percent on the week, the biggest gain since the week ended March 7. Members of Thailand's Senate trying to devise a "road map" out of a long political crisis are expected on Friday to propose the appointment of an interim prime minister, a move which would infuriate supporters of a beleaguered caretaker government. Jakarta's Composite Index rose 0.8 percent on popular Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo increasing chances in July's presidential election on Tuesday. The index, Southeast Asia's best performer this year according to Thomson Reuters data, notched up a weekly gain of 2.7 percent. Shares of PT Bumi Resources extended gains on Friday, rising as much as 8.1 percent, after the Indonesian coal miner said earlier this week it swung to a net profit for its first quarter from a loss a year ago. Vietnam's benchmark VN Index ended up 1.04 percent amid bargain hunting. It fell 2.4 percent on the week, the region's worst, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute between Vietnam and China over parts of South China Sea. Stocks in Singapore and Malaysia posted modest gains on the week. Philippines was down 0.4 percent on the week after seven consecutive weeks of gains. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 423.56 423.04 +0.12 Singapore 3262.59 3272.49 -0.30 Kuala Lumpur 1883.34 1879.83 +0.19 Bangkok 1405.26 1395.21 +0.72 Jakarta 5031.57 4991.63 +0.80 Manila 6817.71 6849.33 -0.46 Ho Chi Minh 529.49 524.05 +1.04 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 423.56 388.37 +9.06 Singapore 3262.59 3167.43 +3.00 Kuala Lumpur 1883.34 1866.96 +0.88 Bangkok 1405.26 1298.71 +8.20 Jakarta 5031.57 4274.18 +17.72 Manila 6817.71 5889.83 +15.75 Ho Chi Minh 529.49 504.63 +4.93 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - Reuters

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Southeast Asia stocks: Thai at 2-week high

BANGKOK: Thai shares fell on Thursday after violence erupted in Bangkok and a meeting to set an election date was disrupted, while the Vietnam index reversed gains due to late selling amid spreading anti-China riots. After a range-bound session, the Thai SET index ended down 0.06 percent at 1,395.21, after earlier hitting 1,396.84, the highest since May 8. The political tension hit tourism stocks, including Thai Airways International. Protesters seeking to oust Thailand's government broke into the grounds of an air force compound on Thursday where the acting prime minister was meeting the Election Commission to fix a date for new polls, forcing him to flee. The disruption came hours after gunmen attacked anti-government protesters that killed three people. Some investors bet a solution to the prolonged political crisis was near which helped limit market losses, said strategist Viwat Techapoonphol of broker Tisco Securities. "Foreign interest remained weak. But in terms of sentiment, there's a bit of hope to see clarity on the political problems," said Viwat Techapoonphol, a strategist at broker Tisco Securities. In Manila, shares fell after two days of gains amid domestic-led selling, though foreign investors piled into stocks for a third session on Thursday, adding a net 305.6 million peso ($7 million), exchange data showed. Nomura said in a report dated May 14 that it preferred Singapore and the Philippines but was cautious on ASEAN markets overall due to elevated valuations, diminished growth prospects and returning risks from external funding pressures. "We see long-term potential in the market... but the near-term prospects are muddled by high valuations and imminent tighter financial conditions," it said of the Philippine stock market. Singapore rose for a second session, up 0.4 percent at a three-week high. Malaysia also closed slightly higher, with foreign investors buying about 140 million ringgit ($43.49 million), stock exchange data showed. Indonesia was shut for a market holiday, and will reopen on Friday. Jakarta has been Asia's best-performing market this year, according to Thomson Reuters data. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 422.87 423.87 -0.24 Singapore 3272.49 3259.09 +0.41 Kuala Lumpur 1879.83 1879.20 +0.03 Bangkok 1395.21 1396.03 -0.06 Manila 6849.33 6880.44 -0.45 Ho Chi Minh 524.05 529.53 -1.03 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 422.87 388.37 +8.88 Singapore 3272.49 3167.43 +3.32 Kuala Lumpur 1879.83 1866.96 +0.69 Bangkok 1395.21 1298.71 +7.43 Jakarta -- 4274.18 +16.79 Manila 6849.33 5889.83 +16.29 Ho Chi Minh 524.05 504.63 +3.85 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ($1 = 43.5550 Philippine Pesos) ($1 = 3.2190 Malaysian Ringgits)- Reuters

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Southeast Asia Stocks: Thai Shares Pare Gains

BANGKOK: Thai shares ended at a six-week low on Monday amid caution over political protests, while the Philippines snapped two days of gains as profit-taking hit large caps such as Philippine Long Distance Telephone. Bangkok's SET index ended down 0.16 percent at 1,375.14, the lowest since March 28, as foreigners net sold stocks worth 1.3 billion baht ($40 million) ahead of a market holiday on Tuesday. The Thai stock market will reopen on Wednesday. Two anti-government protesters were injured in a blast outside the Thai prime minister's offices, police said on Sunday, as the two sides in a long political crisis squared off over who would run the country. Thailand's interim prime minister expressed hope on Monday that February's annulled general election could be re-run soon, and said anti-government protesters would not succeed in getting the Senate to impose an alternative premier. In Manila, foreign investors led the selling, with data from the stock market showing net foreign outflows of 600 million peso ($13.8 million). The main index eased 0.5 percent, coming off an 11-month high hit on Friday. Singapore shares shed about 1 percent to close at a near one-month low, while Malaysia ended slightly lower. Both are closed for a market holiday on Tuesday. Vietnam dropped 4.7 percent to its lowest close in more than four months, as tensions with China mounted. Indonesia bucked the trend, extending its gains for a second session, with shares of coal miners such as Harum Energy and Adaro Energy outperforming after better-than-expected quarterly results, brokers said. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 417.50 419.16 -0.40 Singapore 3222.43 3252.13 -0.91 Kuala Lumpur 1866.08 1866.72 -0.03 Bangkok 1375.14 1377.37 -0.16 Jakarta 4912.99 4898.14 +0.30 Manila 6811.34 6847.26 -0.52 Ho Chi Minh 517.05 542.46 -4.68 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 417.50 388.37 +7.50 Singapore 3222.43 3167.43 +1.74 Kuala Lumpur 1866.08 1866.96 -0.05 Bangkok 1375.14 1298.71 +5.89 Jakarta 4912.99 4274.18 +14.95 Manila 6811.34 5889.83 +15.65 Ho Chi Minh 517.05 504.63 +2.46 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ($1 = 43.6500 Philippine Pesos) ($1 = 32.6000 Thai Baht)- Reuters

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Southeast Asia stocks: Thailand, S'pore, M'sia weak ahead of holiday

BANGKOK Philippine shares rose to their highest in 11 months on Friday as market cheered the surprise Standard & Poor's credit rating upgrade, while Thai stocks suffered their worst weekly drop in 19 weeks as the political stalemate hurt investor sentiment. The Philippine main index was up 1.2 percent, ending the week up 1.6 percent, a seventh consecutive week. The market rally took its year to date gain to 14.8 percent in terms of local currency, Asia's best performing market. S&P raised the Philippines' credit rating to two notches above investment grade, the first debt watcher to do so, saying reforms are likely to continue beyond the administration of President Benigno Aquino. The report came late on Thursday. Philippine bourse recorded a net foreign inflow of 758 million peso ($17.2 million) on the day, the biggest in more than one week, according to Thomson Reuters and stock exchange data. In Bangkok, foreign investors further cut positions in shares, sending the SET index 0.1 percent lower on the day and down 3.1 percent on the week, Southeast Asia's second worst performer after Vietnam, which was down 6.2 percent. Thai police fired teargas on Friday at royalist protesters bent on bringing down a caretaker government after a court threw Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra out of office and an anti-graft agency indicted her for negligence. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 419.16 417.95 +0.29 Singapore 3252.13 3247.69 +0.14 Kuala Lumpur 1866.72 1862.84 +0.21 Bangkok 1377.37 1379.02 -0.12 Jakarta 4898.14 4860.89 +0.77 Manila 6847.26 6765.21 +1.21 Ho Chi Minh 542.26 527.09 +2.92 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 419.16 388.37 +7.93 Singapore 3252.13 3167.43 +2.67 Kuala Lumpur 1866.72 1866.96 -0.01 Bangkok 1377.37 1298.71 +6.06 Jakarta 4898.14 4274.18 +14.60 Manila 6847.26 5889.83 +16.26 Ho Chi Minh 542.26 504.63 +7.46 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ($1 = 44.1825 Philippine Pesos) - Reuters

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Southeast asia stocks: Philippines rises, Thai lag on week

BANGKOK: Thai stocks fell to their lowest in nearly three weeks on Tuesday as investors cashed in on recent gains ahead of a court ruling on Wednesday in an abuse of power case against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Thai SET index finished down 1.2 percent at 1,404.01, the lowest close since April 16. Shares of Banpu Pcl were among top percentage losers, down 4.1 percent. The stock hit a four-month high last week on expectations that the coal miner would post strong earnings for the January-March quarter on the back of high coal sales. Shares of Vietnam were among underperformers, with the benchmark stock index sliding to a near three-month low amid widespread selling by retail investors. In Jakarta, shares eased 0.2 percent as recent weak first quarter GDP growth kept investors wary ahead of Bank Indonesia's policy meeting on Thursday. Indonesia's central bank is expected to keep its benchmark policy rate unchanged, as pressures over inflation and a widening current-account deficit have eased, a Reuters poll showed. Domestic investors led among sellers in the region while foreign investors recorded modest net buying after a subdued session due to holidays in key Asian markets, including Japan . Malaysian shares recorded foreign inflows of 25.14 million ringgit ($7.7 million), Philippine a net 479.2 million peso ($10.8 million) and Indonesia a net 102.4 billion rupiah ($8.9 million), stock exchange and Thomson Reuters data showed. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 418.94 419.80 -0.20 Singapore 3245.56 3241.60 +0.12 Kuala Lumpur 1860.43 1860.54 -0.01 Bangkok 1404.01 1421.48 -1.23 Jakarta 4834.47 4842.50 -0.17 Manila 6765.93 6766.46 -0.01 Ho Chi Minh 555.11 564.85 -1.72 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 418.94 388.37 +7.87 Singapore 3245.56 3167.43 +2.47 Kuala Lumpur 1860.43 1866.96 -0.35 Bangkok 1404.01 1298.71 +8.11 Jakarta 4834.47 4274.18 +13.11 Manila 6765.93 5889.83 +14.87 Ho Chi Minh 555.11 504.63 +10.00 * The Thomson Reuters South East Asia Index is a highly representative indicator of stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ($1 = 3.2555 Malaysian Ringgit) ($1 = 44.4100 Philippine Pesos) ($1 = 11517.5000 Indonesian Rupiah) - Reuters

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Southeast Asian stocks: Thai falls, M'sia records foreign inflows of RM25.14mil

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Home | Spice Thai Restaurant (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, Thai ...

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the department, said that as the Asean Economic Community (AEC) approaches, that market would be targeted for export expansion this year and next.

"Despite low growth in exports to Asean |markets [currently], the promotion plan for |the second half should encourage more growth and ensure that Thai products will enjoy borderless trading among Asean countries," Nuntawan said.

Under the promotion plan, several trade |missions will be held in the second half. The department will invite a group of Thai traders |to promote their goods in each target market |at "Thai Week" events, including to Yangon, |Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Singapore, Jakarta and Surabaya.

Thai traders will also join seven international trade exhibitions in Asean, including a technology and telecommunication fair in Singapore, |machinery fairs in Vietnam and Indonesia, |trade exhibitions in Cambodia, food and foot-|wear fairs in Malaysia, and a fashion fair in Indonesia.

The department also plans to organise 13 trade missions for specific Thai industries to promote their goods in Asean markets. These include food, agricultural products, automobiles and parts, electrical appliances, electronics, construction materials, machinery, and plastic and fashion goods.

Asean is currently Thailand's largest export destination, accounting for 25 per cent of total value. However, exports to Asean declined 3.2 per cent year on year in the first two months of this year to US$4.78 billion (Bt154 billion). Last year, export to Asean totalled $31.59 billion, an increase by 5.9 per cent from 2012.

To ensure sustainable trade growth with Asean, the department also plans to encourage Thai enterprises to invest more in the region, particularly Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, to benefit from their tariff privileges provided by developed countries.

The department has set up AEC Business Support Centres in eight countries in Asean, the exception being Brunei. The department has also a DITP AEC Club, with 750 members, to discuss and exchange ideas and plans for trading and investing in Asean markets.

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Asean trade-promotion plan for second half unveiled