Baht What up with Dat?????

[UdonExpat]

The investments through the Board of Investment are business investments. Foreigners wanting to expand and/or start businesses in Thailand.

A total of 683 applications were for medium industrial projects, having investment costs between 20 million baht and 500 million baht.

[bumper]

Primarily commodities, But there are huge institutional investments, from the likes of Ford Foreign Companies companies investing with Thai company's in Alternative energy. About the only field they seem to avoid are those connected to the tourist industry. There is some of that going on. But. industry is the driving factor.

I haven't heard anything about currency investing. But, that doesn't mean it isn't happening that's not a field I have interest in. That little lame duck move once the threat was removed the SET almost hit 1000 today. 992 baht, so I would not be surprised if we see a 1000 this week.

When we talk about foreigners in this that doesn't always mean Western Countries.

Lot of infastructure work being planned high speed Rail in the Bangkok area going South in the first stage, China is putting up the money. Working a deal for a deep water port with Myramar. So lots of things going that unless your involved in it for the most part would be missed.

[Aardvark]

It would seem the Thai's are starting to argue amongst themselves about the affect of the high Baht......http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... l-lay-offs

[trubrit]

I see on todays exchange you can actually buy dollars for less than 30baht. Haven't seen that for a long time .

[bumper]

Forgot one they are also building a power grid from Lao to Bangkok, so lot so things going on.

[Zama]

"More Bad News"

Dollar tanks, stocks drop as Bernanke speech looms

By PAN PYLAS, AP Business Writer Pan Pylas, Ap Business Writer – 52 mins ago
LONDON – European and U.S. stock markets mostly fell Thursday as investors awaited a speech from the Federal Reserve chairman that is expected to give more clarity on what the central bank is planning to do to prop up the ailing U.S. economy.

However, the prospect of more dollars floating around the system continued to pile the pressure on the currency itself.

In Europe, Germany's DAX closed up 20.75 points, or 0.3 percent, at 6,455.27 while the CAC-40 in France fell 9.17 points, or 0.2 percent, at 3,819.17. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares ended 20.14 points, or 0.4 percent, lower at 5,727.21.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average was down 18.27 points, or 0.2 percent, at 11,077.81 around midday New York time while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.57 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,175.53.

Following the Asian session, when stocks remained buoyed by mounting hopes the Federal Reserve is planning to ease policy further next month, markets have been fairly steady given recent big gains.

Figures showing the U.S. labor market remains in the doldrums just added weight to what investors have already fully priced in — that the Fed is planning another monetary stimulus and possibly the creation of an inflation target.

All eyes will be on Fed chairman Ben Bernanke Friday when he delivers a speech on monetary policy, more or less at the same time as monthly inflation figures are set to show price pressures in the U.S. economy remain subdued.

Analysts said it's no longer a question of if but how and how much money the Fed will pump into the U.S. economy.

Stocks have been buoyant for over a week as investors have priced in the growing likelihood that the Fed would join the Bank of Japan in easing monetary policy further in an attempt to further drive down rates on mortgages, corporate loans and other debt in the ultimate hope of boosting economic activity and supporting prices.

Though the prospect of more dollars in the financial system has been a boon to stocks, the dollar has tanked.

"The dollar sell-off has accelerated following the release of the latest set of FOMC minutes which had signaled that members are considering more unconventional measures to lift inflation expectations including introducing a price level or nominal GDP target," said Lee Hardman, currency economist at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

"Dollar holders' anxiety over the potential implications of upcoming Fed policy actions has understandably ratcheted up another notch," Hardman added.

The already-pressured dollar was hit further by the news that the Monetary Authority of Singapore widened the trading band for the Singapore dollar amid rising worries over inflation and said it was maintaining its policy of a modest and gradual appreciation of its currency.

"This move has prompted further U.S. dollar selling, especially in Asian currencies, sending the Australian dollar near to parity, and the yen to new 15 year highs," said Michael Hewson, market analyst at CMC Markets.

By late afternoon London time, the euro was 0.7 percent higher at $1.4057 after having earlier risen as far as $1.4121, its highest level since late January. The euro has returned to favor recently given the seeming policy divergence between the Fed and the European Central Bank, which has balked at the idea of further monetary easing.

"As the ECB continues its exit from emergency monetary policies, we expect further upside pressure on the euro," said Jane Foley, senior foreign exchange strategist at Rabobank International.

Meanwhile, the British pound was 0.6 percent firmer at $1.5980, just shy of its earlier eight-month high of $1.6066, while the Australian dollar was close to breaking parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time in 28 years. It earlier traded as close as $0.9993.

The dollar was also down 0.4 percent against the Japanese yen, to 81.47 yen, following its earlier fall to a fresh 15-year low of 80.94 yen.

The yen is now within touching distance of its post-World War II low against the dollar of 79.75 yen, which will do nothing to lift the mood among Japan's export-heavy business executives, who have voiced their worries about the export-sapping appreciation of the currency.

As a result, the markets are on the lookout for another intervention from the Bank of Japan — last month it bought dollars and sold yen directly for the first time in six years to stem the tide.

"If the intervention policy is to regain its credibility they cannot really afford to let this rate crack 80 yen too soon," said Daragh Maher, deputy head of global FX strategy at Credit Agricole.

Earlier in Japan, stocks joined in the global rally and the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index jumped 180 points, or 1.9 percent, to 9,583.51.

South Korea's Kospi added 1.2 percent to 1,899.76, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.7 percent at 4,699.1, as did Hong Kong's Hang Seng index, which closed at 23,852.17.

Benchmark oil for November delivery was up 46 cents to $83.47 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


Associated Press Writer Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.

[KHONDAHM]

Dollar shock cometh...gold still looking good. If you're in Thailand long-term and you haven't put the bulk or all of your assets in THB or hard assets by now, don't whine later...

[Laan Yaa Mo]

It looks like the good old U.S. of A. is joining China as a major manipulator of currencies, and from this article, it would seem the the Americans want a weak dollar. Khon Dahm is right, it would seem, about the movement of the greenback.

Globe and Mail Update
Posted on Thursday, October 14, 2010 5:53PM EDT

Today, the markets witnessed one for the history books, a rare triple parity event for freely floated currencies, featuring the Aussie, Canadian and U.S. dollars.

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Both the Australian and Canadian currencies have been underpinned by a surge in commodity prices. And although the loonie has actually weakened against the euro and other major currencies lately, its climb against the U.S. dollar is sure to continue.

The Swiss franc, another safe-haven currency, also rose to a record level against the greenback, and the Singapore dollar moved up as well, after the government paved the way.

This is a trend that will continue, not only because of worries about the soaring U.S. budget deficit and its stumbling economy but because U.S. policy-setters want it that way.

It’s plain that the monetary brain trust has concluded the only way to restore some semblance of growth and put some badly needed inflation back into the economy is a substantially weaker currency.

Below zero real interest rates haven’t done the trick; but expectations that the Fed will flood the market with dollars through an aggressive bout of quantitative easing are definitely driving the safe-haven bond fans out of the greenback.

It’s no coincidence that the U.S. dollar has been falling ever since the Fed outlined its easier-money plans back in September. But if the decline continues to be as pronounced in the months ahead, look for other governments to start pushing for some sort of co-ordinated intervention to “stabilize” the currency.

In the meantime, won’t it be awfully hypocritical for American officials to label the Chinese as currency manipulators? They are, but they’re not alone.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... le1757674/

[nkstan]

Pretty much on the money!Hypocrits for sure,as are all politicians everywhere!America waited far to long to weaken their dollar,allowing China to build up their economy with their currency stagnant,now they are pandering to the voting public trying to increase exports by weakening the dollar with QE's!What they are really doing is manipulating the voting public as the try to get a bump up,but it will be temporary and probably worsen the situation as monetary policy changes are only permanently effective for mometary reasons ,such as stablization of fluctuating currencies!

The problem is not monetary,it is structural!Outside of getting foreign, individual increased investment(a dollar strerngthening position)and bank loans for business development,the economic recovery will not happen!The QE's by the FED and money printing will ,in the long run,be the ruination of the entire system!

What needs to happen in America is austerity,allowing whoever and whatever to fail until until a balance is acheived,but that would guarantee a quick removal of the present gov't because ,we Americans are used to our ''living luxuries'' and selfishly will not give them up easily!

Hopefully,after the Nov. elections,their will be some policy changes,but I doubt it!

The baht sits ,at the moment,at its lowest mark since 1997 and I fear that in the immediate future,American expats are going to take bigger hits,while others are stagnant at the present levels temporarily,then they will follow!

[bumper]

In watching CNBC last night Sqauk on the street, in America. The only possible reason for Q/E2 is to debase the dollar.
So there it is folks, currency war in high gear,

[bumper]

Some of you may remember I said Thailand was between a rock and a hard place, the trigger of the 97 crash here was Thailand chasing the dollar. They can only do so much no matter what we or exporters want. In the scheme of things Thailand is a very small blip on the radar. China and the states don't need them.

Unlike Koon Dahm I won't chase gold, if I were going to do that I would go for copper not gold. But what I will do is make sure I'm in the Mai and not the SET. I made money in the Mai while they were still cleaning the blood of the streets in Bangkok. Sad isn't it but it is the truth, When Thailand losses China support, then you got something to worry about.

I know I'm talking a lot about the market on the baht thread. But these days as the market is a direct representation of what the dollar and baht are doing. Baht weakens market goes up. The case is not that there is not money in America, they are setting mountains of it. They movers shakers are not spending it. They lack direction so they are afraid to increase the work force.

There are so many unknowns out there it is unbelievable. Where I do agree with Koon Dahm is we should have worked our way through this with a minimum of government involvement. Ok saved a few finance operations, so they didn't loose their multi million dollar bonus's. Ok I'm really getting fired up now, so time to stop.

PM against baht intervention
By The Nation, Agencies

Currency, SET continue to soar; 'bleak prospects' for economy in 2011

As the baht rose for a fourth straight day yesterday and bonds gained on speculation of further capital inflows, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said intervention in foreign-exchange markets could be costly and governments could not overpower market forces to keep their currencies weak.

Abhisit said it was not worth aggressively intervening to control the value of the baht because it might create losses or strongly affect the country's foreign reserves. The central bank will take the baht's strength into account when it meets to discuss interest rates next week, he said.

Singapore is also facing mounting pressure from capital inflows, which are driving up the Singapore dollar. It unexpectedly signalled that it would allow faster currency gains to curb inflation even as the economy shrank. The local dollar rose to a record high.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore said yesterday that it would "steepen and widen" the currency's trading band while continuing to seek a modest and gradual appreciation.

The baht appreciated 0.4 per cent to 29.82 per dollar as of 3.34pm in Bangkok, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The currency, which yesterday touched 29.76, the highest level since July 1997, may strengthen toward 29 by the year-end, predicted Tohru Nishihama, an economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo.

The SET Index rose 1.12, or 0.1 per cent, to 993.72 at the 4.30pm close, the highest since November 1996. Over-seas investors bought Bt4.03 billion more of Thai stocks than they sold

yesterday, according to data on the Stock Exchange of Thailand's website.

Thailand's vehicle sales increased 40 per cent in September from a year earlier to 68,261 units, Toyota Motor (Thailand) announced yesterday.

However, 15 industries and cross-border trading have been seriously affected by the baht's appreciation, while some enterprises in those industries could go bankrupt in the next few months, according to Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai.

The hardest-hit industries are sugar, ceramics, rubber, frozen chicken, wood furniture, farm goods and commodities, herbs, jewellery and ornaments, garments, processed food, electric appliances, electronics, and car parts.

The Bank of Thailand said the monetary policy to control inflation was still appropriate in the current situation, according to a study, and it expected to continue the strategy after a discussion with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

The central bank hired independent foreign experts to conduct the study to evaluate Thailand's monetary policy since 2000. It will refer to the evaluation when it holds discussions with the MPC to continue the monetary policy, said BOT Assistant Governor Paiboon Kittisrikangwan.

Meanwhile, gold climbed to a record high in London and New York for a second day as a weaker US dollar spurred demand for an alternative investment. Silver extended its rally to a 30-year high and palladium surged to a nine-year high.

The dollar slid to the lowest level since January against the euro and fell to a 15-year low versus the yen before reports likely to fuel speculation that the Federal Reserve will ease its policy further. Gold, which usually moves inversely to the greenback, traded within 1 per cent of US$1,400 (Bt41,748) an ounce in London.

The Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Chamber of Commerce see bleak prospects for the country's economic growth next year amid rising concern over the strengthening baht and the government's mild measures.

Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit conceded yesterday that the baht's appreciation might cost the state revenue as firms would earn less profit, resulting in a reduced amount of tax. The Revenue Department will review its revenue target of Bt1.3 trillion for the current fiscal year, he said.

[semperfiguy]

Dollar shock cometh...gold still looking good. If you're in Thailand long-term and you haven't put the bulk or all of your assets in THB or hard assets by now, don't whine later...

So KNONDAHM...what would you propose that one do with his US assets? I have dollars, stock, IRA, 401K, and equity in a home that is on the market for sale. I have been here now for 5 months, married to a Thai and planning to spend the rest of my life in Thailand. I think most of us in this predicament just don't know where to begin to invest locally and certainly wouldn't trust any Thai with his/her advice. How did you first start to shift assets, what level of success are you experiencing, and what qualifies you to offer advice...if you are willing that is? I'm not trying to be a smarty pants...I'm very serious and would appreciate some trusted professional guidance.

[bumper]

Professional advice you need to go to a professional, I don't count myself in that group. I invest is stocks here but I joined a club with an adviser before I did that. I paid for that, you usually get what you pay for as you know. Getting that kind of information from a forum is dangerous.

Things are bad now, we all know that. The US is on the hot seat, a few weeks ago it was Greece and Ireland, the UK has had it's turn and the entire E.U.

This a bad recession, that doesn't mean it will be this way forever. This is not the first time we have been through something like this, we eventually recover, this will be no different. My advice to you even though not asked be very careful about what you do now.

I don't get my financial advice here. I would not recommend that to anyone. The two sharpest guys I know on this forum in things like this are ARJAY and JIMBO. Never listen to me, anyone else is your choice.

The longer you stay here the more you will find that we farrangs sometimes just gripe to be gripping.

The truth is I have made money through this. But I have professional advice.

Sorry wasn't my turn was it.

[semperfiguy]

Professional advice you need to go to a professional, I don't count myself in that group. I invest is stocks here but I joined a club with an adviser before I did that. I paid for that, you usually get what you pay for as you know. Getting that kind of information from a forum is dangerous.

Things are bad now, we all know that. The US is on the hot seat, a few weeks ago it was Greece and Ireland, the UK has had it's turn and the entire E.U.

This a bad recession, that doesn't mean it will be this way forever. This is not the first time we have been through something like this, we eventually recover, this will be no different. My advice to you even though not asked be very careful about what you do now.

I don't get my financial advice here. I would not recommend that to anyone. The two sharpest guys I know on this forum in things like this are ARJAY and JIMBO. Never listen to me, anyone else is your choice.

The longer you stay here the more you will find that we farrangs sometimes just gripe to be gripping.

The truth is I have made money through this. But I have professional advice.

Sorry wasn't my turn was it.

Bumper, I appreciate your advice and your comments. I guess I'm just a little bit frustrated at this point. I lived in Manila for 11 years, 3 years in Taipei and traveled in 22 countries before I retired. I've never seen an expat community which is so fragmented and divided like the one here in Udon. Seems like we're so leary of the Thais that we have become very distrustful and suspicious of each other. I've never seen a place where an American can walk down the street or through a shopping mall, see another foreign man and the guy just turn his head, walk past you and totally ignore you. What's up with that? Well, that's another matter for another thread. Maybe I should start another post and ask for some replies on that one. It's certainly a phenomenon that I don't understand at all.

But, in all seriousness, I would like to know of a good place to go for professional advice on investing that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg. Looks like one of our own would be willing to pass on a little wisdom and knowledge for a newcomer without charging for it. What do you think guys...do we have any takers out there? Please excuse the pun! I know there are plenty of takers out there, but do we have any givers out there?

[bumper]

Things have changed a lot in eight years, you can pretty much get anything you want here now instead of the trip to Bangkok. But when I first came here you never failed to stop and talk to a farrang even Robinsons it might be three days before you see another.

The reason you see what you see is Thai's might cost yo a little money, farrangs it's big money. Yes lots of distrust here.There is a VFW here go to a meeting and met a few of the guys. Whatever it is you enjoy doing try to find others to who enjoy it. Me It's bike riding.

You can try Thaistocks.com and make up your own mind.

[JimboPSM]

...... Never listen to me, anyone else is your choice.

I have to disagree with you here, I listen to you.

I have been in finance all my life and am still learning - one thing I have learnt is that the professionals are good at getting it wrong

I have had a few "Emperors new clothes” moments from comments from yourself, Ron (and a few others) where you have made observations which made me realise that sometimes I can’t see the wood for the trees

Remember that it is largely the finance professionals with their Harvard MBA's etc at the finance institutions, banks, rating agencies, hedge funds, along with all their lawyers, ably assisted by self-serving politicians, spin doctors, lobbyists etc, who produced the financial meltdown and the mess we are in

The importance of plain old common sense learnt in the University of Life should never be underestimated

[bumper]

That why i listen to you, you see the trees.

This thing we spoke of with so much authority at times ha a lot of moving parts.

When came to stocks I sit my own limits. what risks am I willing to take. One thing about stocks everyone losses. The winners are the guys who get more right them wrong.

For our potential investor want to know what it's like look the thread up Learning to invest in Thai Stocks. For many months I made daily posts of what was happening to me. I've slowed down to once a week, simply because there w plenty for a guy to look at decide if it was worth the risk.

These day this is as good of a thread as any since they closely related now.

I always look for your and Arjays comments

[KHONDAHM]

So KNONDAHM...what would you propose that one do with his US assets? I have dollars, stock, IRA, 401K, and equity in a home that is on the market for sale. I have been here now for 5 months, married to a Thai and planning to spend the rest of my life in Thailand. I think most of us in this predicament just don't know where to begin to invest locally and certainly wouldn't trust any Thai with his/her advice. How did you first start to shift assets, what level of success are you experiencing, and what qualifies you to offer advice...if you are willing that is? I'm not trying to be a smarty pants...I'm very serious and would appreciate some trusted professional guidance.

Well, I have degrees in Accounting and Business and "CPA"is just one set of the initials after my (real) name and it's been that way for a couple of decades or so; so actually, I am VERY qualified (and certified) to provide advice. That said, I've lost money and I've made money following my own advice. Ironically, I've been most successful following the advice of my wife who never finished school and grew up foraging for food and raising buffalo! I am over-simplifying, but that is the core truth of the matter.

So, the advice I give is this: Read my past posts on this thread and other finance related threads - my "advice" is well stated and hasn't changed, read Peter Schiff (I don't agree with all his politics, but the guy is a market guru and has a long track record of getting the market RIGHT), Jim Rogers, and others. Then decide what you want to do with your finances. If analysts and talking heads were correct even half the time, they would not be working for some company as an analyst or talking head - they would be Warren Buffet.

[bumper]

This is what I meant by a lot of moving parts. Nothing is etched in stone yet. Will the dollar fall again I'm betting on it.

Asia Stocks, Currencies Fall on Growth Concern; Dollar Rebounds
By Rocky Swift and Anna Kitanaka - Oct 15, 2010 2:02 PM GMT+0700

Asia Stocks, Currencies Fall on Growth Concern

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped from a two-year high, losing 0.5 percent to 131.33 at 12:50 p.m. in Tokyo. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Asian stocks and currencies fell, while the dollar strengthened and bond risk increased amid concern slowing U.S. demand will drag on the regional economy.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped from a two-year high, losing 0.5 percent to 131.39 at 4 p.m. in Tokyo. The Europe Stoxx 600 increased 0.2 percent to 266.21. Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index futures grew 0.2 percent. Chinese shares rose for a seventh day, led by banks. The dollar and yen led gains against major counterparts, while copper dropped from a 27-month high and gold fell for the first time in three days.

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said economic risks are emerging from the U.S., where a 50-state probe of foreclosure practices and an unexpected rise in jobless claims dragged down bank shares. The Bank of Korea yesterday cited currency appreciation and slowdowns in the U.S. and Europe as reasons it held off on raising interest rates.

“Investor sentiment is a bit twitchy,” said Shane Oliver, Sydney-based head of investment strategy at AMP Capital Investors Ltd., which manages $85 billion. “The U.S. data was a bit poor. This week we’ve had a couple of good days and investors may be looking to take profits.”

More than two shares fell for each that advanced on MSCI’s Asian gauge, which yesterday reached the highest since July 2008. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0.9 percent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.2 percent.

Canon Inc., the world’s No. 1 camera maker, slid 1.3 percent after the yen’s climb to a 15-year high against the dollar yesterday hurt the outlook for export earnings. Panasonic Corp., the biggest maker of plasma TVs, dropped 1.4 percent.

China Advances

China’s Shanghai Composite Index rallied 2.9 percent, extending earlier gains. The measure is poised to jump 8.3 percent this week, its best weekly advance since February 2009.

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. and China Construction Bank Corp. led gains for lenders after Citigroup Inc. said Chinese banks will report “solid” earnings growth in the third quarter. Foreign direct investment in China increased in September, the Ministry of Commerce said today, underscoring confidence in the outlook for the fastest-growing major economy.

ICBC, the nation’s biggest listed lender, added 5.7 percent and China Construction Bank, the second biggest, rose 5.5 percent. Property prices in 70 cities climbed 9.1 percent from a year earlier, the statistics bureau’s newspaper, China Information News, reported today.

A report from the U.S. Labor Department yesterday showed the number of Americans filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly increased last week. U.S. shares declined yesterday after top legal officers of all 50 U.S. states opened this week a joint investigation into home foreclosures.

‘Downside Risks’

The dollar has dropped 5.6 percent against the euro since Sept. 21, when the Federal Reserve said in a statement following its policy meeting that it’s prepared “to provide additional accommodation if needed” to support the recovery.

“As the uncertainty for the economic outlook, particularly that of the U.S., is strong, we still need to pay attention to the economy’s downside risks,” the BOJ’s Shirakawa said at a quarterly meeting of the bank’s branch managers in Tokyo.

The greenback rebounded today after Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Narayana Kocherlakota said additional quantitative easing by the central bank may have a “more muted effect” than anticipated. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will speak on monetary policy objectives and tools in Boston today.

“Further QE in early November is looking increasingly inevitable although doubts remain on the size of the package and its effectiveness,” Khoon Goh, head of market economics at ANZ National Bank Ltd. in Wellington, wrote in a research note.

Stronger Dollar

The dollar rose to $1.4071 per euro in Tokyo from $1.4084 in New York yesterday, when it reached $1.4122, the lowest level since Jan. 26. The dollar was at 81.21 yen from 81.48 yesterday, when it touched 80.89, the lowest since April 1995. The euro slid to 114.26 yen from 114.76.

Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda called on Group of 20 nations to strengthen cooperation on financial markets, and again pledged he’s ready to take “bold actions” on currencies.

“There are ongoing intervention concerns on the yen, but the market is testing the will and levels in which the government would act,” said Wee-Khoon Chong, a Hong Kong-based rates strategist at Societe Generale.

Australia’s currency was at 99.27 U.S. cents from 99.42 cents in New York yesterday, when it touched 99.94 cents, the most since currency controls ended in 1983.

The Markit iTraxx Asia index of 50 investment-grade borrowers outside Japan rose 3 1/2 basis points to 103 basis points in Singapore, according to Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc prices. The Markit iTraxx Australia index climbed 2 1/2 basis points to 105 basis points in Sydney, according to Credit Agricole. The Markit iTraxx Japan index was little changed at 103 1/2 basis points in Tokyo, Morgan Stanley price show.

To contact the reporters for this story: Rocky Swift in Tokyo at [email protected]; Anna Kitanaka in Tokyo at [email protected].

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Patrick Chu in Tokyo at [email protected].

[Zama]

After roaming for months looking for a Thailand Expat site that would help me in my planning of my retirement in the next few months, I selected a “Great” one, this site, due to all the “Wealth of Information” and most importantly the "Disclaimers." =D> Thanks.
Respectfully to all.