Economy and commerce
Investment
Shanghai shares plunge another 5%
Shanghai shares fell more than 5% on 19 August, extending their largest daily fall in more than three weeks on concerns of waning government support. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 5.04%, or 188.74 points, to 3,559.42 during the morning session. Keep reading ...
Vietnam devalues dong by 1%
Vietnam on 18 August devalued its currency by 1% following the devaluation of the Chinese yuan and a possible US interest rate increase. Keep reading ...
ASEAN puts last touches to economic community
With most of the high-priority measures in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) blueprint already adopted, policymakers and businesses need to work closely on the remaining challenges to achieve benefits of full economic integration beyond 2015, a new report recommends. The report from Ernst & Young, titled ...
S&P: Thailand's ratings unchanged after Bangkok bomb
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services sees limited immediate impact on the sovereign credit support for Thailand in the wake of the 17 August bombing at Bangkok’s popular Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people and injured another 125. Keep reading ...
Bank of Thailand: Slower growth a regional ill
The Bank of Thailand insists that despite shocks and changes experienced in the macroeconomic environment, the country’s fundamentals remain strong, as reflected in the country’s current account surplus, stable foreign exchange rate and low unemployment. Central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul on 17 August said speeding up infrastructure investment ...
Thai entrepreneurs urged to move fast in Myanmar
Thai entrepreneurs should tap Myanmar’s high growth potential, say business leaders. However, competition has grown intense as Myanmar welcomes other foreign investors, forcing some Thai businesses to seek local partners in order to make it easier to do business there. Keep reading ...
Vietnamese companies to mine rock salt in Khammuan, Laos
Two Vietnamese companies have inked a deal for a joint venture rock salt mining project in Khammuan province, Laos, with an engineering, procurement and construction contract signed in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 14 August. Vietnam Chemical Group and Vietnam Lao Chemical and Rock Salt Limited Company signed ...
South Korean companies plan major waste treatment plant for Mekong Delta
A South Korean syndicate has proposed to build a major waste treatment plant to solve an urgent demand in the Mekong Delta where thousands of tons of waste are being discharged every day. The proposal was made by three companies in a meeting with local officials ...
Laos, Thailand seek cooperation on SEZs
Laos and Thailand are seeking bilateral cooperation at special and specific economic zones along the border of the two countries. Laos’ National Committee for Special Economic Zones and Thailand’s Policy Committee on Special Economic Zone Development are preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding to inaugurate ...
Global markets: South-east Asia's currencies are plunging like its 1998
Four years ago, a dollar fetched just over 8,500 Indonesian rupiah, and just under three Malaysian ringgit. Today a dollar is worth nearly 14,000 rupiah and almost four ringgit. Both currencies hit 17-year lows this summer, and kept falling (see chart). In Asia the rupiah and ...
