Learning to invest in Thai Stocks

Asian Economies Hot Again — And So Are Stock Markets

Published: Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010, 5:08 PM ET
By: Albert Bozzo

As the US and European Union economies struggle through the hangover of a deep financial crisis, countries in Asia that suffered their own crisis a dozen years ago are posting some of the fastest growth rates in the world.

South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and others in Southeast and East Asia are benefiting from an export-driven regional boom, which, to varying degrees, is also lifting their stock markets.

“They've learned a lesson from the crisis,” says Simona Mocuta, who follows Asia-Pacific economies for IHS Global Insight, referring to the regional economic meltdown of 1996-1997. “The fundamentals were solid when the exports came back," following the global recession of 2008-2009..........

“Most of these government are more proactive than western countries,” says Mansoor Dailami, manager of international finance at the World Bank. “It’s fiscal prudence.” .......

“The region has become more dependent on what happens in China than the U.S.," says Alec Young of Standard & Poor’s.

For that reason alone, experts are predicting a slight slowdown in second-half growth, as China puts the brakes on its own economy..........

For full article: http://www.cnbc.com/id/38737434

Wonder if this was it?


World stocks fall as global recovery stumbles
World stocks fall as shock drop in US housing data sparks global recovery worries
ap

A man watches the electronic stock indicator of a securities' firm in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index lost 101.79 points, or 1.1 percent, to 8,893.35. Japanese exporters were lower as the yen hit a 15-year-high against the dollar overnight amid mounting concern over the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Joe Mcdonald, AP Business Writer, On Wednesday August 25, 2010, 5:42 am

BEIJING (AP) -- World markets slid Wednesday as a shock drop in U.S. housing sales and slowing growth in Japanese exports added to evidence of a waning global recovery.

Global markets have spent most of August in the red as economic indicators from the U.S., Japan, China and elsewhere suggested global growth will slow in the second half, dimming earnings prospects for manufacturers and other exporters. Oil prices hovered under $72 a barrel after tumbling the day before.

"The dismal July sales data on previously occupied U.S. homes spooked investors around the region. It has a direct psychological impact," said Huang Xiangbin, an analyst for Cinda Securities in Beijing.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 149.75 points, or 1.7 percent, to a 16-month low of 8,845.39 after the yen hit a fresh 15-year-high against the dollar overnight, adding further pain for the country's exporters.

In a bid to curb the yen's rise, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters Wednesday that Japan will "respond appropriately when necessary." Japan has not intervened in the foreign exchange market since March 2004. Sentiment in Tokyo also took a hit from news that Japan's export growth slowed for the fifth consecutive month in July.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares lost 9.66 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,146.29. Germany's DAX fell 10.4, or 0.2 percent, to 5,925.21 and the CAC-40 in France declined 9.13, or 0.3 percent, to 3,481.99. Wall Street, however, was set to rise modestly with Dow futures up 15, or 0.2 percent, at 10, 038.00.

Most other markets were also in the red. China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 53.73, or 2 percent, to close at 2,596.58. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 23.73, or 0.1 percent, to 20,634.98.

South Korea's Kopsi shed 1.5 percent to 1,734.79 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.4 percent to 4,320.10. Benchmarks in India, Taiwan and Indonesia also retreated.

In New York on Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 133.96 points, or 1.3 percent, to 10,040.45. July sales of previously occupied U.S. homes plunged more than expected to the lowest level in 15 years, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 15.49, or 1.5 percent, to 1,051.87, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 35.87, or 1.7 percent, to 2,123.76.

In currencies, the dollar rose to 84.60 yen in Asia after trading as low as 83.61 yen in New York on Tuesday. The euro fell to $1.2674 from $1.2653.

Benchmark crude for October delivery was up 32 cents at $71.95 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.47 to settle at $71.63 on Tuesday.