Briefs

Dongfeng Motors (Thailand), the local distributor for Chinese auto-maker Dongfeng Motor, is negotiating with its parent company for strategic preparations to cash in on the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
This would include additional investment of more than Bt2.5 billion at its assembly plant in Gateway Industrial Estate between now and 2015 to serve greater demand of Dongfeng vehicles in Asean, which is expected to reach about 30,000 units per annum.
The plant will start its second-phase expansion next year and will double its assembly capacity to 10,000 cars per year.

Protests to hit growth: UTCC
The latest round of political protest will affect growth of Thailand’s gross domestic product, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre.
In the worst-case scenario, growth will drop from earlier projections by 0.5-0.7 percentage point to only 5 per cent, and cause the loss of up to Bt100 trillion.
However, a more0 optimistic forecast, if the rallies can get through a month without any violence, GDP growth will slow by just 0.1-0.3 percentage point, translating to a loss of between Bt10 billion and Bt30 billion. In that case, GDP would increase by 5.5-5.9 per cent this year.

AAV shares stand pat
Shares in Asia Aviation (AAV) in the firm’s trading debut yesterday closed at Bt3.70, the same as the initial offer price.
The shares opened Bt4 higher than the offer price, but gradually fell to Bt3.70 because of the negative sentiment on Asian stock markets.
AAV is a holding company that owns 55 per cent of low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia, an affiliate of Malaysia-based budget carrier Air Asia Berhad. – The Nation