Travel and Lifestyle Press Releases Tuesday April 22, 2014 09:34

Bangkok--22 Apr--Grand Millennium Sukhumvit

Mr. Thomas Christiansen (far left), General Manager of Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, recently in corporation with Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur to promote an exotic Thai cuisine presented by hotels Thai chef and team led by Chef Suksan Phontun (center) Demi Chef de Partie for the Thai Buffet Night on April 23rd May 24th, 2014 at Mill Caf, Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur.

Seen pictured from left:

1. Mr. Thomas Christiansen General Manager

2 Thitima Phongsakyothin Restaurant supervisor (Atelier Restaurant)

3. Chef Suksan Phontun Demi Chef de Partie (Atelier Restaurant)

4. Nantiya Kortsombat Hostess (Atelier Restaurant)

5. Chef Pierre Andre Hauss Executive Chef

Thai cocktails made using local ingredients such as lemongrass, galangal, chili and exotic fruits will be prominently featured at this sky-high venue during April, complemented with tasty tapas from Saffron; our Thai Signature restaurant. Chill and...

Read more:
Photo Release: Grand Millennium Sukhumvit brought an exotic Taste of Thailand to Kuala Lumpur

Asian stocks traded mixed after midday. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average remained under pressure today and last settled at 15,797, down 112 pts or 0.7%; S&P/ASX 200 and New Zealand Exchange 50 Gross Index softened after early gains; Philippines Stock Exchange PSEi Index slipped 0.5% to 5,955; S&P BSE SENSEX Index and Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index last stood at 20,689 and 4,187, down nearly 0.5% and 0.4% respectively.

In contrast, Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI Index and Stock Exchange of Thailand SET Index stood at 1,965 and 1,240, up 0.6% and 0.8%; Taiwan Weighted Index mounted 0.3% to 8,527; Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Stock Index/ VN-Index kept moving higher by 0.6% to 512; Straits Times Index STI and Hang Seng Index edged up 0.2%. In addition, Shanghai Composite Index and Shenzhen Component Index last held flat at 2,046 and 7,818.

AAStocks Financial News Web Site: http://www.aastocks.com

See the original post:
Seoul, Thai stocks inch up 0.5%; Nikkei dips 0.7%

HANOI: Thai shares on Friday closed at their highest since late November on solid buying while Vietnam's benchmark tumbled to a nine-week low amid widespread selling. Bangkok's SET Index edged up 0.03 percent to mark a third straight day of gains, led by telecom firm Advanced Info Service Pcl which rose 1.27 percent. "Decent foreign equity inflows may continue to support SET in the near term," KGI Securities said in a note to clients. Foreign investors were net buyers of shares worth 7.5 billion baht ($233.1 million) in the $386-billion market in seven consecutive trading sessions as of Friday , Reuters data showed. But analysts expect the index to face some selling off around a resistance level of 1420. "Catalysts for possible near-term correction remain local institutional selling and the longer than expected drag from politics," KGI said. Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Composite Index witnessed a second day of gains after hitting a three-week low on Wednesday. It edged up 0.12 percent to end at 1852.69. The Vietnamese index, however, plummeted 2.58 percent to its lowest level since Feb. 2 on widespread offloading of stocks amid strong selling on expectations of further losses. VN Index has dropped 5.16 percent this week, losing its title as Southeast Asia's best performer so far this year. Stock markets in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines were closed for a holiday and will resume trading on Monday. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 421.09 421.55 -0.11 Kuala Lumpur 1852.69 1850.54 +0.12 Bangkok 1409.18 1408.78 +0.03 Ho Chi Minh 565.33 580.31 -2.58 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 421.09 388.37 +8.42 Singapore 3253.80 3167.43 +2.73 Kuala Lumpur 1852.69 1866.96 -0.76 Bangkok 1409.18 1298.71 +8.51 Jakarta 4897.05 4274.18 +14.57 Manila 6671.18 5889.83 +13.27 Ho Chi Minh 565.33 504.63 +12.03 * 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 = 32.1750 Thai Baht)- Reuters

Read more from the original source:
Southeast Asia Stocks: Thai shares close at 5-mth hHigh; M'sia 2nd day gain, Vietnam falls

Army dismisses coup speculation

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Winthai said the speculation was just a rumor spread via social media networks. He said the Army would still focus on helping the people. The ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Facebook wall, Somchai said he expected that the new election date would be either July 20 or 27. He said the EC and the government would hold a meeting on April 29 or 30 to select the new election ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

TOKYO - Failed Bitcoin exchange MtGox was Wednesday placed in administration by a Japanese court, with an order for bankruptcy expected to be issued soon, its administrator and chief executive ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Brussels - Nato will deploy more airplanes, ships and military staff to its eastern member states in response to the crisis in Ukraine, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says. ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Read the original:
Dining Out Million Thai Restaurant a tidy addition to 118th Avenue

Army dismisses coup speculation

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Winthai said the speculation was just a rumor spread via social media networks. He said the Army would still focus on helping the people. The ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Facebook wall, Somchai said he expected that the new election date would be either July 20 or 27. He said the EC and the government would hold a meeting on April 29 or 30 to select the new election ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

TOKYO - Failed Bitcoin exchange MtGox was Wednesday placed in administration by a Japanese court, with an order for bankruptcy expected to be issued soon, its administrator and chief executive ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Brussels - Nato will deploy more airplanes, ships and military staff to its eastern member states in response to the crisis in Ukraine, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says. ...

The Nation - Wednesday 16th April, 2014

See the original post:
Thai Shares May See Mild Upside

VoA - News Wednesday 16th April, 2014

Hundreds of them, in fact, descended on Ho Chi Minh City this weekend for Saigon Tex, a garment and textile expo. Sharing a border with China, Vietnam boasts geographic convenience, as well as political stability and low costs. Those attract companies like Spain-based Jeanologia, which showed off its laser-on-denim technology at the expo.

"It is becoming such an important hub for American and European brands," Jeanologia area manager Borja Trenor Casanova said of Vietnam.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) helps, too. As one of 12 countries negotiating the trade pact, Vietnam stands to benefit most from a clause that would cut tariffs on textiles and apparel, which are among the nation's top exports.

To take advantage of the tax reduction, foreign companies are shifting their factories to Vietnam. Nguyen Thi Cam Tu is general manager at Thach Anh Vang, which represents manufacturers from Germany, Turkey, the United States, and others. She said the TPP is part of the reason her company saw a 50 percent increase in annual turnover in 2013,

"I see a lot of investment going on, because we see quite a lot of inquiries recently," Cam Tu said, as a giant yarn spinner roared at the vendor slot next to hers at the expo.

The growth is reflected across the country. Textile exports increased 20 percent in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

While production and revenues have risen steadily, Vietnamese companies and officials recognize a gaping weakness in the garment industry: It buys most of its materials from other countries. The Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa told an audience at the expo that Vietnam must set targets to produce more fabrics on its own.

"These targets demonstrate an urgent need for technological innovation, improvement of quality control, labor management, environmental management, as well as improvement in the textile and garment supply chain in accordance with international standards," Kim Thoa said.

If it doesn't develop more local suppliers, Vietnam won't be able to tap the full potential of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The agreement is likely to include a yarn-forward rule, which requires Vietnam to make clothes with materials from TPP member countries in order to receive tax-free import benefits.

See the original post here:
With an Eye on TPP Garment Companies Flock to Vietnam

Bangkok Bank, the country's largest by assets, will reopen a branch in Cambodia. Although that country's economy is small, the bank has determined that having a presence there could help it make investment and trading connections with regional companies, BBL executive vice chairman Deja Tulananda said.

BBL will consider opening branches in other Asean countries when it sees its Thai customers setting sufficient footprints in those markets. However, the goal of its re-entry to Cambodia is to support financial services for non-Thai companies.

Deja said the bank would focus on corporate customers doing business in Cambodia, noting that the sugar industry had high potential, followed by retail.

Meanwhile, the bank also plans to open one or two more branches in Vietnam, where it already has two in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, he said.

The Vietnamese government is restructuring the economy and amending regulations to stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment, which would present opportunities for the banking industry, he said.

Krungthai Bank, which has two branches in Cambodia, is upgrading its financial-services centre in Chong Jom, a border town in Thailand's Surin province, to a branch to cash in on rising border trade, first senior executive vice president Weidt Nuchjalearn said.

He said the prospects for trade and investment in Cambodia were brighter than in Laos because Cambodia has a greater population, providing a market for Thai consumer products and services.

Meanwhile, Kasikornbank plans to establish a 'footprint' in Vietnam and Indonesia. In the first phase, it will open representative offices in those countries to offer trade-finance services to Thai companies, said president Predee Daochai. It will upgrade these offices to branches as the next step.

He said the bank last month also submitted a proposal to Laos to reopen a branch there. It is expected to be opened this year.

KBank is the only Thai bank that is active in China apart from BBL, which has acquired local-bank status in that country. KBank recently opened a sub-branch in Longgang district of Shenzhen.

Link:
Thai banks set to expand across region

If you're interested in taking up a martial art, there are a ton of great styles to choose from. There's Judo, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and of course my own personal style Larussote, which is basically an all Crane Kick form of Karate based on the climactic final scene of the Karate Kid. No matter which style you choose, martial arts can be a great past time. They teach the importance of discipline and physical conditioning. Bonus: You won't have to worry about the Cobra Kai any more if you take up Larussote.

Of all the martial arts, one that is often overlooked is Tai Chi. Sure, we've all heard about it for relaxation and to give older people an excuse to go to the park in pajama pants but what if I told you that Tai Chi also allows its masters to harness the power of telekinesis? Sort of like a Street Fighter character, only there's no tournament so you're pretty much just using your powers for menial tasks at work. Interested? Here's just a sample of the power of Tai Chi telekinesis.

WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME (Unless you film it. Then, please send us a link to the video).

Quick question. WHO was doing WHAT is that video? Once I know I think I'll be able to do telekinetic Tai Chi.

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Originally posted here:
Oh, THIS Is What Telekinesis Is? We Had It All Wrong

BANGKOK: Most Southeast Asian stock markets were flat-to-weaker on Friday as investors cashed in on rallying markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of U.S. jobs data, while Thai shares pared gains amid fears about political tension during a long weekend. Indonesia was an underperformer after a bout of profit-taking in financials and large caps while the market's high valuation was also a concern. Jakarta's Composite Index ended down 0.7 percent at a one-week low. Shares of Bank Mandiri lost 1.7 percent after a nearly 9 percent rally this week when foreign inflows gave a boost to the market. The benchmark was up 1.9 percent on the week, taking its year-to-date gain to 13.7 percent in local currency term, among Asia's outperformers. A Bank Indonesia survey showed Indonesia's consumers were more optimistic in March, bolstered by expectations that the economy will improve in the next six months. The Philippine index fell 0.4 percent. It jumped 3.2 percent on the week, Southeast Asia's best performer. Foreign investors were net buyers for an eighth session, purchasing a net 442 million peso ($9.8 million) worth of stocks, data showed. Thai SET index closed nearly flat on the day, up almost 2 percent on the week. Thai baht underperformed in Asia on rising political tension. Thai market will be shut on Monday for a public holiday, reopening on Tuesday. Hundreds of thousands of Thai government supporters are expected to descend on Bangkok this weekend in a symbolic show of force after months of sometimes violent protests aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The region was broadly rangebound on the day as global market investors took to the sidelines ahead of monthly U.S. employment data, seen as a key variable on the direction of the Federal Reserve's policy. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Prev Close Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 413.81 414.08 -0.06 Singapore 3212.72 3220.06 -0.23 Kuala Lumpur 1856.61 1855.63 +0.05 Bangkok 1392.01 1391.22 +0.06 Jakarta 4857.94 4891.32 -0.68 Manila 6561.20 6587.08 -0.39 Ho Chi Minh 593.04 589.44 +0.61 Change on year Market Current End 2013 Pct Move TR SE Asia Index* 413.81 388.37 +6.55 Singapore 3212.72 3167.43 +1.43 Kuala Lumpur 1856.61 1866.96 -0.55 Bangkok 1392.01 1298.71 +7.18 Jakarta 4857.94 4274.18 +13.66 Manila 6561.20 5889.83 +11.40 Ho Chi Minh 593.04 504.63 +17.52 * 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 = 32.4800 Thai Baht) ($1 = 44.9450 Philippine Pesos) - Reuters

Continue reading here:
Southeast Asia stocks: Down in strong week, M'sia up