THAI, CHINESE BANKING AUTHORITIES SIGN PACT

The MOU serves as a foundation for effective supervision of banking institutions operating in both countries, in accordance with the Basel Core Principles.
The MOU sets out in greater detail the two authorities’ commitment to fostering additional information exchange and cooperation in the areas of licensing, on-site examinations, supervisory colleges and crisis management.

STRONG HALF
Ford Ranger stays on top in pickup market 

The Ford Ranger pick-up truck has underscored its popularity in the highly competitive mid-size pickup truck segment across Asia Pacific, achieving record sales for the first half of 2017. Retail sales of the Ranger during the first six months rose more than 21 per cent from the previous year to a record 63,525 vehicles, according to a press release from Ford Motor Company yesterday. 
Australia leads Ranger sales volume in Asia Pacific, rising almost 19 per cent to a record 21,638 vehicles for the first half of the year, maintaining Ford’s leadership position in the 4x4 truck segment. 
In New Zealand, Ranger continues to be the number one best-selling vehicle overall, pulling further away from the pack with sales in the first half of 2017 growing 24 per cent to the highest retail sales volume of 4,980 vehicles. 
Thailand saw the fastest sales growth for the Ranger with a 51 per cent jump over the previous year with 20,230 vehicles sold in the first half of 2017, giving it a market share of 11.7 per cent. Growth has been driven in large part by demand across all Ranger variants.

LAB PARTNERS
AIT, Bangchak plan tech business incubator

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) this week signed a memorandum of agreement with Bangchak Corp (BCP) to establish the BCP Initiative and Innovation Centre at AIT.
The centre will be a “living laboratory and technology business incubator”, AIT said.
 Total budgetary support from BCP will be Bt50 million, while AIT will contribute Bt18.35 million.

ON THE MOVE
Huawei breaks into Fortune 500 top tier

China’s Huawei has climbed up the Fortune 500 list of top companies, to 83 from 129 last year, with revenue of US$78.51 billion. In the magazine’s July edition it made the global top 100 for the first time.
The Fortune 500 list ranks companies by their revenue and profit, focusing more on the size of the companies compared with other lists.
The rankings have become an important indicator that renowned companies use to measure their own strengths, size and international competitiveness, a parameter of global economy that transcends beyond borders, nationality and cultural differences, Fortune 500 says.

POWER PLAY
Nam Ngum 2 Power given “A” rating

TRIS Rating has assigned to Nam Ngum 2 Power Co Ltd the company rating of “A”. 
The rating reflects the stable cash flows the company receives from long-term power purchase agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, rated "AAA" by TRIS Rating, and the experience of its shareholders and management team in operating hydroelectric power plants. 
As an affiliate of the CH. Karnchang Group, Nam Ngum 2 is one of the main companies in the power business of the CK Group.