Archive for the 'Property & Investment' Category
Marc Faber On Thaksin’s “Getting Hold Of The Money Pot”
Investment guru Marc Faber needs no introduction. He predicted the Japan bust and saw the gold boom arrive in time. Marc’s a regular on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and the likes. Faber has a reputation for being a contrarian investor and has been called “Doctor Doom” for a number of years. His Gloom Boom & Doom Report
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The Vongthip Letter May ’10
Long live HM the King: On 5/5/2010, all warring factions in Thailand called for a truce to take time out to celebrate (in their own way) the 60th anniversary of HM the king’s coronation. Once again HM’s loyal subjects were seen shedding tears of joy as they sat watching their beloved king on TV. Their
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The Vongthip Letter Apr ’10
Abhisit’s red hot summer: March 2010 was indeed a month for a crash course on Thai democracy, not only for the Thai society but also for the international community. Political pundits have been holding their breath for weeks while the Abhisit government tried everything possible to steer the country away from another political breakdown. When
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The Vongthip Letter Mar ’10
Beyond reasonable doubts: Thaksin’s “Judgment Day” has become another unforgettable event in the Thai political history. After weeks of being second guessed by academics and political pundits, nine judges of the Supreme Court spent almost eight hours reading their historical verdict which was broadcasted nationwide. Thaksin was found guilty on all five cases for hiding
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The Vongthip Letter Feb ’10
Holding on: Following the burst of corruption scandals and in anticipation of the impending no-confidence debate, PM Abhisit had to replace/reshuffle five cabinet members in 1/10. Since the new year, PM Abhisit seemed to have become remarkably bolder in his move against corruption and arm-twisting demands from his coalition partners. He has also become more
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To Invest Or Not
Ever lost or gamed away money in Thailand? There’s a new bible for investors: Your Investment Guide to Thailand. I had a word with the author Bruce Bickerstaff who has more than twenty years experience in professional and management roles in both the Australian government and private sectors. Over the past decade Bruce has been
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Elite Goes Anti-Democrat
Here’s an interesting open letter to the governor of Bangkok, “Building Nightmare on Sukhumvit,” written by our regular contributor Vongthip Chumpani, an ardent supporter of the new order. The letter was recently published in The Nation’s Letter to the Editors section, raising the issue of the Sukhumvit area’s over-building and over-crowding. Khun Vongthip sure has
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The Vongthip Letter Dec 09
A Royal Happy Birthday: HM the King’s 82nd birthday on 5/12/09 would be the best ever celebration organized by the Thai government for the country’s most beloved king. The nine days “birthday party” would be indeed a warmly welcomed respite from the “political madness” that the people of Thailand have been subjected to in the
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The Vongthip Letter Nov 09
Long live our king! Since HM the king has checked into the hospital some six weeks ago, his loyal have been worried sick about the state of his health until they saw him healthy and smiling again as he made two impromptu tours of the hospital on his wheelchair on 23/10/09 and again on 2/11/09.
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Trust & Integrity: How Thai Politics Punish A Nation
Rumors, denials, accusations, shadow plays, a third hand in action and the blaming of others … there’s never a dull moment in Thai politics. The consequence being that investors have long lost confidence. Thailand’s financial markets are by no means attractive these days. Here’s why, from a financier’s perspective: In economic transactions and stock markets,
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