Shares in BAM, country’s largest NPL manager, drop 6% #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Shares in BAM, country’s largest NPL manager, drop 6%

EconAug 31. 2020

By The Nation

The price of shares in Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM), the country’s biggest manager of distressed assets, fell 6 per cent to Bt23 in today’s morning session (August 31) after it reported a disappointing second-quarter performance.

BAM’s second-quarter profit was Bt136 million, down 82 per cent year on year.

Thanatphat Suksrichavalit, an analyst at Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand), said BAM shares dropped due to a Q2 performance that was lower than market expectations of 80 per cent.

The decline was mainly due to the Covid-19 fallout and changes in financial reporting standards that meant the company was unable to recognise revenue despite cash flowing in.

“In fact, BAM was still able to generate cash flow of about Bt2.7 billion. Although it was 6 per cent down year on year and 14 per cent down quarter on quarter, it was still higher than the 20 per cent drop expected by the market,” said the analyst.

He forecast BAM’s performance would recover to its first-quarter level now that the Legal Execution Department has reopened after the Covid-19 lockdown, allowing the BMA to auction off non-performing asset [NPA]s.

“We found signs of NPA sales growth after the company held an [assets] auction in June,” he added.

“As the company is not facing cash flow difficulties, we expect it to pay a dividend of Bt1 per share as the market expects.”

An analyst at Trinity Securities said BAM revenue from NPLs dropped 28 per cent quarter on quarter because the Legal Execution Department was closed from April to May, causing auctions of collateral assets to be postponed.

“Although profit from selling NPAs increased by 92 per cent quarter on quarter, it could not compensate for the loss in revenue from NPLs,” the analyst said. “The company’s operating cost dropped slightly in line with its revenue, while expected credit loss [ECL] rose slightly from the deduction of NPL income from accrued income.”

The analyst expected the cash flow from NPLs to recover over the remainder of this year, while cash flow from NPAs should be high as the BAM will launch promotions to boost sales.

“BAM has reassessed the value of deferred tax asset [DTA] and found an increase in deferred tax liability (DTL) from the Legal Execution Department’s debtors, causing the company’s remaining DTA to be Bt5 billion,” he added.

An analyst at Yuanta Securities (Thailand) said BAM shares were still interesting because its performance has bottomed out, while its NPL and NPA sales are likely to recover steadily.

“In addition, BAM gained positive sentiment from financial institutions’ bad debt, which is expected to increase in 2021, resulting in a rise in NPLs,” the analyst said.

New partnership sees guests insured on every night spent at an OYO hotel #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

New partnership sees guests insured on every night spent at an OYO hotel

Aug 31. 2020

By The Nation

OYO, an Indian hospitality chain, signed a strategic partnership with insurance firms Chubb Samaggi and Qoala on Monday (August 31) to provide complimentary insurance coverage to guests who book rooms at any of the 800-plus OYO partner hotels in Thailand.

This is the second time that OYO and Qoala have partnered in Southeast Asia. The first such partnership was signed in Indonesia a few weeks ago.

The insurance coverage – Hotel Protection – is underwritten by Chubb Samaggi, a member of the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, and powered by Qoala, the fast-growing and leading multichannel insurtech in Southeast Asia.

The policy covers hotel guests for personal accidents, emergency hospitalisation, loss of luggage or personal effects and other benefits for every night they spend at an OYO partner hotel.

Krungsri appoints new head of consumer group #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Krungsri appoints new head of consumer group

Aug 31. 2020Nayanee Peaugkham Nayanee Peaugkham 

By THE NATION

Krungsri Group has appointed Nayanee Peaugkham as head of Krungsri Consumer Group, effective from Tuesday (September 1).

Nayanee was managing director of Ayudhya Capital Services Co Ltd, where she managed the support functions and operations of Krungsri Consumer Group, including the brands Krungsri Credit Card, Krungsri First Choice, Central The 1 Credit Card, and Tesco Lotus Visa Card, the company said.

Seiichiro Akita, Krungsri president and chief executive officer, said: “Nayanee has

long-standing experience and unparalleled expertise in consumer finance. As managing director of Ayudhya Capital Services Co Ltd, her role in spearheading the operations and support functions of Krungsri Consumer Group including operations, finance and accounting, risk management, internal audit, legal and compliance, HR, corporate communications and AEC business development, has helped propel Krungsri Consumer’s growth in recent years. She has played a vital role in driving Krungsri Consumer’s business to become the leader in credit card and personal loan industry, with over 9 million accounts of customers and the biggest market share.”

“In her new role as Head of Krungsri Consumer Group, Nayanee would definitely take Krungsri Consumer to the next level of success,” he added.

As head of Krungsri Consumer Group, Nayanee will be responsible for overall strategic direction, and management of the credit card and personal loan businesses, as well as embracing innovation for new products and services of Krungsri Consumer Group.

Nayanee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Assumption University, and a master’s degree programme in marketing (International Programme) from Thammasat University.

Dentsu Aegis Network tops Thai ad industry ranking for size and quality #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Dentsu Aegis Network tops Thai ad industry ranking for size and quality

Aug 31. 2020

By The Nation

Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) Thailand has once again been named Thailand’s top media and advertising firm, with a 33 per cent share in the Thai ad industry and a No 1 ranking for quality.

Carat, DAN’s media arm, contributes the strongest to these successes after achieving a growth rate of five times the industry average while also acquiring the highest quality marks.

The assessment was made by RECMA, the leading research company evaluating media agencies worldwide.

R3, another global independent consultancy firm, also named Carat as the highest achiever in its June 2020 New Business League rankings for Thailand.

Parithas Moongprasittichai

Parithas Moongprasittichai

Parithas Moongprasittichai, Carat Thailand’s chief executive officer, commented: “The media industry and technology have evolved so quickly. And so have our consumers! To ensure our clients’ enhanced competitiveness, we cannot just keep up with the industry’s offerings. To win, we must defeat standards. The growth we achieved and the positions we earned are simple proofs that our policy produced pleasing results – especially in growing our digital activities by winning new prominent partners such as Minor Food Group, Estee Lauder Companies, SCB Abacus, to name a few.”

Wisarn Sirijantanon, Carat managing director, added: “To maintain our leadership positions and continuously widen the winning gap, it is essential that our people are empowered to deliver at a pace much faster than the industry’s, despite growing economic difficulty. Data-powered, Local Focal, Startup-Minded Ecosystem, Academy Cloud, Talent First – these are some of the strategies we deployed to excel growth.”

Parithas concluded: “Competing as the winner will be tough as people will look at you with an expectation. This year we’ve laid a strong future-proofing foundation, so going forward, we’ll focus more on client servicing and services integration. The future is clear. We’ll continue to create value for our clients through our data-driven, ideas-led, tech-enabled solutions through profound service of specialists.”

About Carat

Carat (Thailand) Co Ltd is an independent media and communications specialist, a member of Dentsu Aegis Network, headquartered in London. Dentsu Aegis Network consists of a group of world-class marketing communications specialists: Creative – Dentsu, Dentsu One, Media communications – Carat, dentsuX, Vizeum, Digital marketing – Columbus, iProspect, Isobar | Out-of-Home – Posterscope.

GSB earmarks Bt15 billion as soft loans for tourism SMEs #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

GSB earmarks Bt15 billion as soft loans for tourism SMEs

Aug 31. 2020

By THE NATION

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) is offering soft loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by Covid-19 in the tourism industry, GSB president Withai Ratanakorn said.

“Two loans are now being granted. One is the ‘Loan for Restoration of Thai Tourism’ with a budget of Bt10 billion. Eligible applicants must be operators or supply chain providers in tourism-related businesses who have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.

“The maximum loan limit is Bt20 million per customer, whereas GSB will provide loans to commercial banks and state-run financial institutions at 0.01 per cent interest annually, while the institutions will grant the loan to customers at 2 per cent interest annually. This campaign is expected to start by mid-September.

“The other one is the ‘Loan for Tourism SMEs’ with a budget of Bt5 billion. Eligible applicants include operators of such businesses as hotels, guest houses, restaurants, spas, traditional massage parlours and tour guides that have been doing business in tourism field for at least two years,” added Withai.

“The loan limit for each customer is Bt500,000 with fixed interest rate at 3.99 per cent annually and five years repayment plan. This loan will offer a one-year grace period and will require a personal guarantor,” he said.

“We hope that the loan programmes totalling Bt15 billion will help operators of tourism-related businesses to get back on their feet from the impact of Covid-19 and continue their businesses in the new normal era,” Withai added.

Interested people can contact GSB’s SME Call Centre at 02-299-8899.

Tips on refinancing your car #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Tips on refinancing your car

Aug 31. 2020

By The Nation

Do you need to refinance your car? Is it time to save more money or change your terms?

Check out some tips on refinancing your car.

For many of you who have recently purchased a car, it is unlikely you have paid in full for your comfy set of wheels and chances are that you took out a loan. If you are unhappy with your current loan conditions, or would simply like to alter some of the details, you should look into refinancing your car. This can reduce your monthly payments, lower your interest rate, or change the length of your loan to either longer or shorter, depending on your needs.

Of course, you need to be aware that there is much to learn and this article will only cover the basics. If you wish to find out more information, look online for more details.

Well, to start with, many of you might ask: “What is car refinancing?” Simply put, it means you take out a new loan to pay off an existing one, using your car as collateral. This loan is a new contract between you and the lender, with new terms upon which you both agree. These fresh terms, that should better suit your budget, are the main reason people opt to refinance their cars.

New terms include reducing or extending the duration of the loan: lengthen your loan if you believe you need more time for repayments and smaller monthly payments; reduce your loan if you wish to pay off your car sooner. Of course, this means larger monthly payments.

You could also change the amount of the current monthly repayments on the original loan. Refinancing by lowering the interest rate and therefore the repayments is one option, or you could lengthen the loan, or both.

If you choose and qualify for this lower interest loan, you may reduce the total interest paid on completion.

Keep in mind that there is likely to be a transaction fee if you decide to refinance. For those of you who would like to examine the numbers, plenty of online websites offer refinancing calculators that provide you with exact amounts and details.

If you are still undecided, here are some helpful hints to guide you. This process, unlike home or credit refinancing, is relatively quick and easy. No appraisal is necessary, and if there are fees, they are minimal.

The six scenarios outlined below help you decide when you should consider refinancing your car.

1. Look at your current interest rate. If it is over 6 per cent, consider refinancing.

2. Your credit score has improved. This will allow you to have lower interest rates. Check your credit score to see if this applies to you.

3. The current lease on your car is set to expire, and you wish to purchase the vehicle. Fulfilling the terms of a lease usually grants you the option to buy.

4. A drop in interest rates. If rates have dropped since you bought your car, you could save money. Even a drop of 1 per cent could save you a lot of cash over the course of the loan.

5. Your financial situation has taken a turn for the worse. In the event of a financial emergency in which you find yourself struggling to make the repayments you had budgeted for, refinancing can ease this problem by lowering your monthly costs.

6. You currently have a bad rate of interest on your loan. Even a solid credit rating when you purchased the vehicle does not mean you will have a good interest rate on the loan. Many customers are unaware of this fact. Look into this in more detail if you believe it applies to you.

If you decide to refinance your vehicle, shop around first for one that will ultimately work for you. Don’t jump for the first option you find.

EasyCompare is a leading online insurance broker enabling you to customise and easily view quotations from a range of quality insurance products. Our comparison services from our partner insurers make it easy for you to buy the right level of cover.

Housing venture shifts focus from buyers to renters #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Housing venture shifts focus from buyers to renters

Aug 31. 2020A artists' rendering of an aerial view of HOMA Phuket Town
A artists’ rendering of an aerial view of HOMA Phuket Town 

By The Nation

HOMA, a rental housing venture between Asia Capital Real Estate (ACRE) and NOON Capital (NOON), is putting together a portfolio of rental properties and co-living spaces that combine residential and hospitality features across Thailand’s key economic centres.

The first two projects are based in prime Phuket locations.

HOMA Phuket Town, scheduled to open in the third quarter of next year, is a 505-unit rental housing property in Phuket Town, which is within walking distance of Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Vachira Hospital and Rajabhat University.

HOMA Cherngtalay, scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2022, is a 422-unit property located near Bang Tao Beach and is within walking distance of Boat Avenue, Porto de Phuket and Laguna Phuket Resort.

Luca Dotti, co-founder of HOMA, said: “HOMA provides a place like home with hotel services that provide privacy when you need it and community when you want it. Co-living in Thailand meets the needs of an emerging generation and older professionals who are increasingly working remotely. What sets us apart is that we also cater to families.

“We are committed to Thailand and Asia Pacific for the long term. This reflects our confidence in the country and its ability to bounce back as the Thai economic recovery continues gaining momentum.”

Blake Olafson, founder and managing partner of ACRE and co-founder of HOMA, added: “After investing in more than 20,000 apartments in the United States over the past eight years, we are also seeing a trend developing in Southeast Asia that is making rental property more appealing to young professionals and young families.”

The company is pioneering long-term Thai residential rental market by shifting the focus from buyer to tenant. In the next five years, ACRE and NOON aim to invest more than US$250 million (Bt7.9 billion) in the development of six HOMA projects across Thailand, and plan to later introduce the brand to other major markets across the Asia-Pacific region.

BGrimm Power shows interest in community power plants #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

BGrimm Power shows interest in community power plants

CorporateAug 31. 2020BGrimm Power president Preeyanart Soontornwata BGrimm Power president Preeyanart Soontornwata 

By The Nation

Energy company BGrimm Power is keen to invest in community power plants, its president Preeyanart Soontornwata said in response to Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow’s recent declaration that he will continue with these projects pending revision of details.

Preeyanart said BGrimm has seen potential in six to seven locations where bio-mass power plants can be set up. Most of these sites are in the South and the Central region.

She said the company wants to share its experience and help communities generate sustainable income.

Stock market gets a boost from tweak in Fed policies #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Stock market gets a boost from tweak in Fed policies

EconAug 31. 2020

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index rose by 7.31 points, or 0.55 per cent, to 1,330.62 on Monday morning.

An analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the index to rise between 1,330 and 1,335 before falling in response to positive news that US President Donald Trump will sign the US$1.3-trillion Covid-19 relief bill.

“Meanwhile, the market gained positive sentiment from the Federal Reserve’s move to change its approach to inflation to support the US economy,” the analyst said.

He recommended that investors buy stocks whose third-quarter performance will improve, such as CPF, GFPT, TU, ASIAN, KCE, HANA, DELTA, HMPRO, GLOBAL, DOHOME, COM7, JMT, CHG, BCH, PTG, PLANB, CBG and TASCO.

The SET Index had closed at 1,323.31 on Friday (August 28), down 3.50 points or 0.26 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt54.673 billion with an index high of 1,337.61 and a low of 1,319.45.

Fed policies, weakening dollar push gold prices up #ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Fed policies, weakening dollar push gold prices up

EconAug 31. 2020

By The Nation

The price of gold rose by Bt50 per baht weight in morning trade on Monday (August 31), the Gold Traders Association reported.

As of 9.23am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt28,800 per baht weight and selling price Bt28,900, while gold ornaments were priced at Bt28,288.56 and Bt29,400, respectively.

At close on Saturday, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt28,750 per baht weight and selling price Bt28,850 while gold ornaments were priced at Bt28,227.92 and Bt29,350, respectively.

Hong Kong gold price rose by HK$220, opening at $18,250 (Bt73,090.99) per tael this morning.

Spot gold price moved to US$1,970 (Bt61,173.39) per ounce on Monday morning after the price rose by $42.3 to $1,974.9 (Bt61,307) per ounce at Friday’s close.

Gold price closed in positive territory after the US Federal Reserve announced changes to its approach to inflation to support the labour market and economic crisis, as well as maintain the interest rate at a low level.

Also, gold price gained positive sentiment from the weakening dollar as well.