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The SET rose 0.5% today, higher than the level recorded before the military staged a coup last week. The coup leader have reassured investors that they intend to kickstart the economy. Lets hope they do !!!. There has been no further bloodshed, thank goodness, since the government was removed and it now appears the markets are responding positively. Long may that continue. Obviously the situation is still fragile and key economic agencies have said they a project 6.3% growth in 2015. Lets hope for a political settlement in the near future also.

An unpopular as it is, I dont the current coup will be a short live affair. I think this may rumble on for some time. Hopefully all remains quiet and safe.

I think the markets will turn, the statement from the US will have spook people. However the Thai military have a good record of safe stewardship, I think it will calm. The biggest challenge going forward is finding a peaceful political settlement. Thios looks significantly challenging

Does anyone know the reason for a big falls recently?

Yes definitely, although I am not sure how we will overcome the politcal stalemate .... The opposition need to get their act together to garner nmore votes....

maybe it was the ex divident date?

Thanks to some good media coverage

Have we hit rock bottom and on our way back up? or is this a dead cat bounce? Personally, I think it will be a long few months, but we will be back on track by the end of the year......... Yingluck is gone (I thought she looked weak during the floods), new cabinet will oversee until an election date is negotiated. fingers crossed Personally I think reform of the opposition is what is needed, they seem to be stuck in second place.

Looks like some good political news, assuming some form of compromise is reached. According to media reports. Thailand is looing to its Senate to Solve a Deepening Political Crisis. The upper house met Monday to discuss options after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine of her cabinet members were removed from office last week by the nation’s Constitutional Court.

Pressure building in Thailand May 9, 2014 : After the ousting of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the opposition 'yellow shirts' are making a fresh push to oust the government. But loyalist 'red shirts' are planning their own demonstration. Michael Peel reports from Bangkok.

http://www.google.co.uk/alerts just subscribe to the alert and you will get daily updates .... I use 'thailand' and I get everything in the news each day.

Thailand has exported about 2.2 million tons of rice in January - March period of 2014, up about 43% from about 1.54 million tons exported during the same period in 2013, according to data from Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA). Thailand has exported about 799,534 tons of rice in March, 2014, up about 13% from about 709,832 tons exported in February 2014, and up about 47% from about 531,803 tons exported in March 2013. Of the total March sales, white rice accounted for about 476,129 tons, Hom Mali rice accounted for about 120,012 tons, brokens accounted for 79,726 tons, glutinous variety accounted for 10,773 tons, parboiled rice accounted for about 101,538 tons and husked (brown) rice accounted for about 11,356 tons. In March 2014, exports earned about 13,002 billion baht, up about 6% from 12,234 billion baht in February 2014, and up about 16% from 11,246 billion baht in March 2013. In dollar terms, total exports in March earned around $396 million, up about 6% from $372 million in February 2014 and about 4% from about $378 million in March 2013. Average price of white rice declined to about $385.4 per ton, down about 5%, from about $405.23 per ton in February 2013. Average price of Hom Mali rice declined to about $1,032.4 per ton, down about 6%, from about $1,089.4 per ton in February 2013. Average price of brokens increased to about $391 per ton, up about 5%, from about $375.75 per ton in February 2013. Average price of glutinous rice increased to about $919.63 per ton, up about 5%, from about $878.68 per ton in February 2013. Average price of parboiled rice increased marginally to about $465.90 per ton from about $464.75 per ton in February 2013. Average price of husked (brown) rice increased to about $594.33 per ton, up about 4%, from about $570.66 per ton in February 2013. - See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/thailand-exports-22-million-tons-rice-january-march-2014-43-last-year#sthash.TMmHSKtS.dpuf

THAILAND’s prime minister was ordered by a court to step down today in a divisive ruling that handed a victory to anti-government protesters who have staged six months of street protests - but does little to resolve the country’s political crisis. The Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra guilty of abusing her power by transferring a senior civil servant in 2011 to another position. It ruled that the transfer was carried out to benefit her politically powerful family and, therefore, violated the constitution - an accusation she has denied. The ruling also forced out nine Cabinet members but left nearly two dozen other ministers in their posts, including Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, who was quickly appointed the new acting leader. The judgment marks the latest dramatic twist in Thailand’s long-running political crisis. It was a victory for Yingluck’s opponents, mostly from the urban elite and those in the south, who have been engaged in vociferous and sometimes violent street protests demanding she step down to make way for an interim unelected leader. However, the ruling leaves the country in limbo and primed for more violence. It casts doubt on whether new elections planned for July will take place, which would anger Yingluck’s mostly rural supporters who have called for a major rally Saturday in Bangkok. Her ouster will doubtless swell those numbers, and some fear it could lead to more violence. Since November, more than 20 have been killed and hundreds injured in sporadic gun-battles, drive-by shootings and grenade attacks. It also remains far from clear whether her opponents will be able to achieve other key demands, including creating a reform council overseen by a leader of their choice that will carry out various steps to rid the country of corruption and what they claim is money politics, including alleged vote-buying. The campaign against Yingluck, 46, has been the latest chapter in Thailand’s political upheaval that began when her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a polarizing figure who was ousted by a 2006 military coup after protests accusing him of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for constitutional monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Since then, Thaksin’s supporters and opponents have engaged in a power struggle that has occasionally turned bloody.

Ten largest equity holdings % Siam Commercial Bank 6.2 PTT Exploration and Production 6.1 Bangkok Insurance 6.0 Kasikornbank 6.0 Siam Cement 5.4 BEC World 4.7 Tisco Financial 4.1 Hana Microelectronics 4.1 Big C Supercenter 3.9 AEON Thana Sinsap Thai 3.6

LONDON (Alliance News) - Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust PLC Friday said that non-executive Director Clare Dobie bought 1,262 shares at a price of 393.0 pence per share on Thursday. Dobie only holds these shares in the company. Shares in the trust were trading 2.1% higher Friday afternoon, at 398.25 pence

LONDON (Alliance News) - Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust PLC Friday said that non-executive Director Clare Dobie bought 1,262 shares at a price of 393.0 pence per share on Thursday. Dobie only holds these shares in the company. Shares in the trust were trading 2.1% higher Friday afternoon, at 398.25 pence

3 Ways To Play A Mining Recovery: BHP Billiton plc, BlackRock World Mining Trust and Ferrexpo Plc When commodity prices were rising, companies, desperate to increase their production, poured money into huge, expensive projects with little thought on costs. But with the price of commodities now falling, miners have realised that the growth-at-all-costs strategy no longer works. Instead, miners have begun to shift towards a more sustainable business model, shedding unprofitable mines, focusing on free cash flow and dividend yields. The mining industry is changing and miners are now putting their shareholders first. So, here are three ways to play this trend. The bigger the better BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT) (NYSE: BHP.US) is the world’s largest miner by market capitalisation and I believe it deserves a place within any portfolio. Indeed, one of BHP’s most attractive qualities is the company’s diversification. In particular, BHP’s business is based around four key pillars: coal, copper, iron ore and most importantly oil. BHP has recently changed its strategy, slowing plans for growth, ramping up output at existing mines and paying down debt. Actually, BHP has just revealed record production figures for the nine months to March, despite slashing capital spending by around 20% during 2013. Further, there are rumors that BHP could spin off around $20bn worth of non-core, low margin assets, as part of the company’s plan to return to growth. A disposal of this kind would leave BHP debt free with plenty of cash to return to investors. What’s more, BHP is targeting cost efficiencies of $5.5bn by the end of the 2014. Rising production and falling costs only mean one thing; rising profits. It would seem that City analysts universally agree BHP’s plans to boost profits will ultimately result in multi-billion dollar shareholder returns. Low risk Another great pick for any portfolio focused on the mining industry is BlackRock World Mining Trust (LSE: BRWM). BlackRock World Mining Trust is a specialist investment trust that invests predominantly in the shares of mining and resources companies. The trust’s three largest holdings are, BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore Xstrata, so investors can benefit from exposure to the mining industry’s three key players. Management’s goal is shareholder returns, only investing in companies willing to return cash to shareholders in the form of dividends. The trust also invests in bonds and other securities such as, royalty payments, which give the trust rights to a share of future mine income in return for a loan. At present the trust offers a gross yield of 4.6% and trades at a 4% discount to net asset value.

LONDON (Alliance News) - Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust PLC Wednesday said its fortunes took a turn for the worse over the course of its most recently ended financial year, with net asset value per share declining by 25.6% on a total return basis amidst political upheaval in Thailand. In its report for the year ended February 28, the trust, managed by Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd, said NAV per share on a total return basis fell to 418.64 pence, while its benchmark, the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index, adjusted for sterling, declined by 26.6%. The investment manager said the portfolio's marginal outperformance was driven by picking stocks that were "relatively resilient." The trust's objective is to provide shareholders with a high level of long-term, above average capital growth through investment in Thailand. The share price fell by 33.3% on a total return basis to 353.75 pence, reflecting a widening of the discount to the NAV including income per share to 15.5% from 5.6%. Chairman Nicholas Smith called the results "a dramatic reversal" from a year earlier, when its share price total return was 77.2% and its NAV per share total return was 59.6%. Nevertheless, the trust increased its dividend per share by 1.0 pence to 8.0 pence. Smith said the Thai stockmarket had been one of the best performers globally when "Fed stimulus led investors on a hunt for yield." "But the imminent end of easy money resulted in bouts of indiscriminate selling of emerging market assets, and Thailand was among the hardest hit. Compounding the decline was the Baht's fall of 20% against sterling over the year ended 28 February 2014, in tandem with many of its peers in the developing world," Smith said in a statement. Despite the tough year for Thailand, Smith said he remains "confident" of the country's prospects. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra administration's attempt to push through an amnesty bill that could have paved the way for the return of deposed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was met with mass protests. In February, Thailand's elections were annulled, but the country's Election Commission and the caretaker government Wednesday agreed to hold new elections on July 20 after several months of political turmoil and uncertainty. Election Commission Chairman Supachai Somcharoen announced the date after meeting with members of Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet, local media reported. In his statement, written before news of the election date, Aberdeen New Thai's Smith said "matters will be resolved through national consensus." "Thailand should rebound and be stronger for it. Improving external conditions, namely a recovery in the US and Europe, could help buttress exports this year, partially mitigating the impact of the political unrest. In the longer term, the nation is poised to be a beneficiary of rising regional trade. Its strategic geographic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27249730

Thailand opposition urges delay to elections Thailand's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during a news conference at a hotel in Bangkok, 3 May 2014 Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government should step down and be replaced with an interim cabinet The leader of Thailand's opposition has called for elections scheduled for July to be pushed back by up to six months. In a 10-point package of proposals, Abhisit Vejjajiva said the prime minister and her government should resign, allowing an interim cabinet to oversee a referendum on reforms. A government minister has rejected the proposals as unconstitutional. Thailand has been in political deadlock since anti-government protests began in Bangkok in November 2013. Ms Yingluck's government announced the 20 July polls after a previous snap election in February was declared unconstitutional. The ruling Pheu Thai party had been expected to win the February vote. However, the opposition boycotted the polls and protesters disrupted voting. At the height of the anti-government demonstrations, protesters shut down key road junctions and blockaded government ministries. Their number has since declined. 'Breathing space' Ms Yingluck's supporters have held rallies showing their support for the government On Saturday, Mr Abhisit said his opposition Democrat party would not contest July's polls. Abhisit Vejjajiva says he wants to help Thailand avoid a slide into violence with his 10-point plan. But there will be strong objections. First he is offering this as an all-or-nothing package. No discussion. If the government does not like it, he will abandon it. Second he wants the prime minister and her cabinet to resign immediately, before next week's expected verdict by the Constitutional Court on one of the cases against her. It is very unlikely her side would take such a step so quickly, if at all. Third, there will be legal objections to Ms Yingluck's replacement by an appointed prime minister, even for just a few months, as unconstitutional and undemocratic. Mr Abhisit also wants his proposed reform council to include the hard-line People's Democratic Reform Committee anti-government movement, but not the government's own supporters. "We need breathing space, we need a cooling down period before we go to elections, given the kind of violence that is happening around the country," he told the BBC. "In my discussions with the Election Commission, with other political parties, none of them seriously believe