Positives Global Europe: Germany raises growth forecast — The German economy is expected to grow by 0.5% this year, up from the previous estimate of 0.4%, the German Economics Ministry announced on Thursday. German GDP is still expected to grow 1.6% in 2014, unchanged from previous growth prediction. (Xinhua, 25/04/13) US: In the week ending […]

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MAKRO SET to probe Siam Makro trades —The SET will investigate trading that preceded the announcement of the country’s largest takeover bid, the purchase of discount wholesaler Siam Makro Plc (MAKRO) by 7-Eleven chain operator CP All Plc (CPALL). Siam Makro’s shares rose 30% in the six trading sessions before CP All’s US$6.6bn bid was […]

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BGH BGH plans hospital in Chinatown — Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc (BGH), Thailand’s largest hospital group, is to invest 700-750 million baht to set up a new hospital in Bangkok’s Chinatown aiming to tap into affluent ethnic Chinese and Indian residents. The investment includes 30-year rental and renovation costs for two old buildings, one […]

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BBL BBL gets into auto lending with specific loans for first car buyers — Even though Bangkok Bank is not ready to enter the hire-purchase (lease-to-own) business, it has developed a product called Bualuang Poonphol for First Car to help it become more familiar with the car-loan market. “We are learning about the auto-loan market […]

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KTB changes tack to focus on fees — State-owned Krungthai Bank (KTB) is focusing more on high-yielding retail banking and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loans in order to boost non-interest income, underscoring the fierce competition in these segments among big banks. Thailand’s second-largest lender by assets targets retail and SME loans of 60% of […]

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