Briefs

Jasmine International yesterday informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that its subsidiary Jas Mobile Broadband will pay the Bt199.42-million fine for failing to pay the first instalment of its upfront 900-megahertz licence fee on March 21.
On Wednesday, the Telecom Committee ordered Jas Mobile to pay the full amount within 15 days.
The amount comprises the cost incurred by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission in holding the initial 900MHz licence auction last December, a fine for failing to pay the first instalment of Bt8.04 billion and the cost of holding the second auction for the licence on May 27.
It has already confiscated the Bt644-million surety that the company placed with the committee before the December auction of two 900MHz licences.
The NBTC also pointed out that all the telecommunications and Internet licences that it granted to the subsidiaries of Jasmine International are still valid.

LPG GLOBAL MARKET PRICE DOWN
The global market price for liquid petroleum gas this month stands at US$344 per tonne, down $3 from last month.
However, the average exchange rate for last month depreciated by 0.3569 per US dollar compared to May to Bt35.6151.
The average cost of LPG for the entire system, which is the initial LPG purchase price of the LPG Pool, increased by Bt0.0061 per kilogram to Bt13.9150.
To prevent adverse impact on the domestic retail LPG price amid the Oil Fund’s stable LPG portion, the Energy Policy and Planning Office decided to maintain the retail LPG price for this month at Bt20.29 per kg.
The Oil Fund will bear the additional compensation of Bt0.0061 per kg for a new compensation of Bt0.5960 per kg, to be effective today.
This latest increase in the compensation to the Oil Fund will result in the Oil Fund’s LPG portion incurring expenses of about Bt198 million a month.

AIR TRANSPORT PROFITS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) yesterday revised its outlook for global air transport industry profits upward to US$39.4 billion this year from $36.3 forecast in December.
Based on revenues of $709 billion, the net profit margin will be 5.6 per cent. This is expected to be the fifth straight year of improving industry profits. Last year, airlines earned $35.3 billion, compared to $33.0 billion estimated in December.
All regions are making a contribution to the $4.1-billion boost over 2015 profits with improved results, but there are stark regional differences in performance.
Over half of industry profits or $22.9 billion will be generated in North America, while African carriers are forecast to continue losing $0.5 billion.
“Lower oil prices are certainly helping, though tempered by hedging and exchange rates. In fact, we are probably nearing the peak of the positive stimulus from lower prices,” said Tony Tyler, director-general and chief executive officer of IATA.