CKP Lower loss QoQ in 2Q13 — CKP reported a net loss of Bt77mn in 2Q13, better than the loss of Bt106mn in 2Q12 but lower than net profit of Bt92.8mn in 1Q13. Behind the negative earnings was a FX loss of Bt246mn vs. FX gain of Bt192mn in 1Q13. Excluding FX impact, its normalized profit showed improvement from a loss of Bt60mn in 1Q13 to a profit of Bt120mn in 2Q13. This was driven by higher electricity sales of hydro power plant and solar farms.

IVL revises revenue goal — IVL, the world’s largest polyester chain producer, has trimmed its revenue growth target this year to 15% from 19%. Its appetite for acquisitions has also waned in the wake of protracted global economic slowdown. The company plans to increase revenue from value-added products instead. (Bangkok Post, 14/08/13)

Comment: Should their spreads begin to improve then we would be interested again, hard to time these commodity plays

M “M” to begin trade — Shares of MK Restaurant Group will begin trade tomorrow under the “M” symbol, the SET announced yesterday. The 905.85mn shares will trade in the Food & Beverages sector. (Bangkok Post, 14/08/13)

Comment: Heavily oversubscribed IPO we’re expecting a debut similar to NOK

MCOT Lower ad spending dampens MCOT revenue: MCOT witnessed only a slight increase in revenue in the second quarter, due to lower advertising spending via its Modernine TV station and intense competition among the two market leaders in the television broadcasting industry. (source: The Nation)

PS Pruksa to strengthen prefab output — PS plans to spend at least Bt2.6bn building three prefabrication factories on 110 rai near Navanakorn Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani and a mobile factory in Phuket. CEO Thongma Vijitpongpun said the three plans in Pathum Thani will require Bt2.5bn and have a combined monthly production capacity for 450 single houses of about 150sqm each. Production starts in August next year. (Bangkok Post, 14/08/13)

TUF eyes 10 percent full-year sales growth: Thai Union Frozen Products is still fishing for sales growth of 10 per cent to close to US$4 billion (Bt125 billion) this year after second-quarter sales climbed 9.7 per cent to $935 million from $852 million in the same quarter of 2012. (source: The Nation)

Comment: Still an amazing business despite the issues the company has faced in the past 6 months

RS scrambles for La Liga subscribers toward target: Goes for Bt2 billion in revenue for 3 seasons after licence delay. RS, the country’s leading music and entertainment house, needs at least 500,000 active pay-TV subscribers for Spanish La Liga soccer matches to achieve its revenue goal of Bt2 billion for three seasons. (source: The Nation)