Thai politicians shop for cabinet seats in Hong Kong
The News Review:
- Thai politicians shop for cabinet seats in Hong Kong
- Lucire launches in Thailand
- Decoupling: Theory vs. reality
- Building starts forecast for SE Asia up 45 percent
Thai politicians shop for cabinet seats in Hong Kong
Earthtimes – Jan 27, 2008
Hong Kong’s main draw for the bevvy of politicians has been ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who moved his centre of self-exile from London to the former British colony last month in anticipation of a favourable outcome in the December 23 general election said the Bangkok Post. The pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP) won the most seats at the polls and is expected to set up a six-party coalition government by mid-February paving the way for a safe return for the ex-premier who was toppled by the September 19 2006 coup. Thailand’s new parliament is scheduled to elect PPP leader Samak Sundaravej who has described himself as a “Thaksin nominee” as prime minister on Monday and will thereafter divy up the cabinet seats among the elected politicians and perhaps some appointees. This is apparently what’s behind the influx of political visitors to Hong Kong… Among the most prominent visitors was Warawuth Silipa-Archa son of Chart Thai Party leader Banharn. Chart Thai is one of the parties that has joined the PPP-led coalition. Warawuth told Thai reporters that he met with Thaksin while in Hong Kong and also admitted bumped in to a large number of PPP politicians while staying at the Marco Polo Hotel. “I was surprised and thought to myself – are they having a party meeting?” Warawuth told The Nation newspaper of his “chance” meeting with the PPP tourists. Thaksin’s ongoing popularity at the PPP has raised some questions about Samak’s future role as Thailand’s future “nominee” prime minister. “How does he (Samak) feel when he sees that party members seeking cabinets seats pay no attention to him at all?” asked an editorial that appeared in The Nation on Sunday. “The man who calls the shots is in Hong Kong” noted the editorial.
Lucire launches in Thailand
Scoop.co.nz – Scoop.co.nz (press release) – Jan 27, 2008
It’s very different from the home editionand it’s a classy production. ‘ In addition to itsdesign direction Mr Kirjon has commissioned manyadditional original articles for the Twinpalms’ side of themagazine. Twinpalms Phuket is a member of Small LuxuryHotels of the World one of the most exclusive collectivesof hotel properties internationally. The resort is privatelyowned with a private beach club and an enviable locationnext to Millionaires’ Cove. Lucire started as an onlinefashion magazine in 1997 and is notable for havingdiversified into print rather than adopt the print-to-webapproach of its competitors. Its Webby-nominated websiteremains a popular destination for fashion leaders while theprint magazine is regarded as a luxurious and sociallyresponsible publication. Images Images for this releasemay be downloaded at.
Decoupling: Theory vs. reality
International Herald Tribune – Jan 27, 2008
He noted that while exports to the United States of less viscous products may be at risk the growth of middle-class spending is promoting a healthy expansion of trade within the emerging world. Avery made a big bet on declining share prices late last year when he sold short derivative contracts tied to benchmark stock indexes. But his Ivy Asset Strategy Fund has substantial holdings in such plays on emerging-market domestic demand as the phone company China Mobile; Veolia Environnement a French producer of water treatment systems and Las Vegas Sands an American hotel and casino operator expanding into Macao. In addition to selling stock index futures Avery has about 10 percent of his portfolio each in gold cash and Treasury bonds as hedges against the uncertainties and jolts that would accompany a U. Tim Guinness chairman and chief investment officer of Guinness Atkinson Asset Management is another whose objection to decoupling is more a matter of how it works in practice… The correction already has been very pronounced. ” He prefers less bubbly stock markets in emerging economies where domestic demand is strong like South Korea and Thailand. Individual stocks that he favors include PTT in Thailand Singapore Petroleum and Cemig a Brazilian hydroelectric company. Applegate at Citi finds stocks better value than bonds. He particularly likes global banks and stocks in Europe and emerging markets generally although he considers China including Hong Kong fairly pricey. Bonds and equities have experienced sharply diverging fortunes recently. Many stock markets are more than 20 percent below their 2007 highs while yields on government bonds have plummeted sending their prices aloft.
Building starts forecast for SE Asia up 45 percent
Manila Times – Jan 27, 2008
In Greater China scheduled starts are up 21 percent for 2008 as property developers anticipate rising demand in the residential sector. There has been a major shift in construction starts for 2008 in China away from hotel recreation and industrial projects towards large residential projects. The reduction in forecast starts for hotel and recreation facilities in China down 23 percent and 16 percent respectively is not surprising given that most facilities for the Beijing lympics are already close to completion. The movement towards residential starts (up 44 percent) away from industrial projects (down 10 percent) reflects growing affluence in Chinese society. Forecast growth for large residential projects is strongest in Vietnam with a slew of multi-tower apartment projects slated for sites in and around Ho Chi Minh City. These projects include 11 towers at the SC5 Complex in Binh Thanh District and eight towers at The Mark in District 7 due to start construction in the last quarter of 2008. Growth in forecast starts for large residential projects remains strong in Hong Kong (up 91 percent) and in Mainland China (up 44 percent) where mega projects with at least half a million square meters of residential floor area are coming on stream… Growth in forecast starts for large residential projects remains strong in Hong Kong (up 91 percent) and in Mainland China (up 44 percent) where mega projects with at least half a million square meters of residential floor area are coming on stream. Across the region the fastest growing sector is transport (up 235 percent) driven by a slew of government-backed projects in Thailand Malaysia and China scheduled to start construction in 2008. In Thailand the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co. intends building nine stations along its new BTS Sky Train Green Route while the Mass Rapid Transit Authority intends building 35 stations along the extension of its Dark Red Route from Rangsit to Mahachai. In China construction starts for transport buildings in 2008 include the stations along the 841-kilometer High-Speed Railway from Guiyang to Guangzhou. Construction of this RMB7-billion ($845-million) railway is due to start in the first quarter of 2008 and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.
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