Briefs

Wednesday marked the seventh time this year that there was a peak recording of electricity usage during the off-peak period, according to Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The peak took place at 10.28pm with 29,618.8 megawatts when the temperature was 33 degree Celsius, said Egat governor Soonchai Kumnoonsate. The off-peak period is 9am to 10pm.
To help reduce electricity usage, Egat asked people to turn off unused electrical appliances, don’t turn air-conditioners below 26 degree Celsius and use power-saving equipment from 2pm to 3pm for two months starting from March 20.

AD SPENDING FALL IN April

Advertising spending last month dropped 8 per cent to Bt9.7 compared to the same month last year as advertisers cut their budgets for mainstream media channels, according to Nielsen Thailand.
Television and radio stations as well as newspapers and magazines all witnessed an ad-spending drop after Bt10.55 billion was recorded in April last year.
Advertising spending via analogue TV fell 9.37 per cent to Bt4.5 billion while digital TV ads decreased 8.48 per cent to Bt1.64 billion. Cable/satellite operators suffered the biggest hit with a 31.12-per-cent drop to Bt394 million.
Radio spending slid slightly to Bt447 million but newspapers and magazines were hit hard by drops of 22.42 per cent to Bt775 million and 32.1 per cent to Bt256 million respectively.

MINOR POSTS BIG GAIN

Minor International announced a net profit of Bt3.57 billion in the first quarter – up 66 per cent on the same period last year.
It attributed the rise to the strong performance of its hospitality and restaurant businesses, together with revaluation contributions from its hospitality business’ merger and acquisition activities as required under the Thai Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
 In a statement yesterday, the company said it continued to benefit from the solid growth in Thai tourism – including Bangkok and other major tourist destinations such as Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai.

THAI OPTICAL THRIVES

Thai Optical Group Plc’s first-quarter revenue leaped 73 per cent on year to Bt523.33 million due to higher sales volume in the premium lens market, especially in the United States.
Managing director Torn Pracharktam said yesterday that a new factory will be ready to run in the fourth quarter of this year to invade the AEC market after successfully penetrating Europe, the US, Australia and Asia-Pacific.
TOG has 95 per cent of the international market and 5 per cent of the country. Most of the market are in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Asia-Pacific.