bjohn34

Thanks for all the replies. Still considering the whole matter, but now have planty of information.

I am thinking of adopting a stray female dog, but I don't need any puppies.

Anyone know the cost of having a female dog neutered in Chiang Mai??

thanks

Gecko Garden has BeerLao Dark I know. Not sure about BeerLao

I have had multi currency account at HSBC Hong Kong for several years. One of the many available currencies is THB.

Actually there is a separate sub account for each currency you hold but when you look at your main account summary on line you will see all of them.

There is no Capital Gains Tax for shares traded on the SET and profits from SET trades are exempt from Thai personal income tax.

Right. No capital gains tax!! And low transaction fees!! It's great.

But for ETFs, KIMENG cannot act as my broker for some odd reason. They told me that banks can do it, one of them being Siam Commercial at which I already have an account (savings, but I'll have to open a separate brokerage account for this). They must not have too many people who do it because 2 branches didn't have the slightest idea what I was talking about.

I did put the same posting in the finance section of TV looking for a broader idea of how to trade these ETF's, but then I also put the same post here in CM because maybe there is someone who has already gone through all this and can tell me a bank that knows its stuff. I haven't found an internet broker (etrade, etc.) that trades in the SET, even if they did, they might not trade these 3 ETFs that I want.

For those who want to know what an ETF is, look here: www.set.or.th/en/products/etf/etf_p1.html

It's like a mutual fund that trades like a stock, therefore diversifying your risk.

I think there was must have been some confusion or misunderstanding when you went to Kimeng. I do everything onlie so don't go into theoffice very often but their English skiills are limited.

I just checked on their trading platform and all three of the ETF funds you mentioned were shown. Further I just bought two of them within the last ten minutes and they are in my portfolio.

Typical. Now I'm really confused as the Thai man at KIMENG seemed to completely understand what I was saying, but if you bought them using them as your broker then that completely contradicts his statement.

Is there any costs to open an account at KIMENG so that I can open one and then try to buy the funs like you did? What paperwork do they need from a foreigner to open the passport and how do I transfer money into the KIMENG account?

If there is any cost to open account it is minimal. I think all I had was passport but I really am not sure.. Maybe on their website, www.kimeng.co.th it gives more info on what is needed for account opening. I have a Kasikorn bank baht account and transfer money to KiMeng from that. Is handy because when I receive dividend payments, Kimeng automatically transfers to my bank in most cases. A few companies issue dividend checks directly to me which I then deposit at the bank

Overall I have been pleased with my Kimeng account. The online platform is reasonably easy to understand and use with a little study. If you request it they will send you information and company/market reports by email daily.

Right. No capital gains tax!! And low transaction fees!! It's great.

But for ETFs, KIMENG cannot act as my broker for some odd reason. They told me that banks can do it, one of them being Siam Commercial at which I already have an account (savings, but I'll have to open a separate brokerage account for this). They must not have too many people who do it because 2 branches didn't have the slightest idea what I was talking about.

I did put the same posting in the finance section of TV looking for a broader idea of how to trade these ETF's, but then I also put the same post here in CM because maybe there is someone who has already gone through all this and can tell me a bank that knows its stuff. I haven't found an internet broker (etrade, etc.) that trades in the SET, even if they did, they might not trade these 3 ETFs that I want.

For those who want to know what an ETF is, look here: www.set.or.th/en/products/etf/etf_p1.html

It's like a mutual fund that trades like a stock, therefore diversifying your risk.

I think there was must have been some confusion or misunderstanding when you went to Kimeng. I do everything onlie so don't go into theoffice very often but their English skiills are limited.

I just checked on their trading platform and all three of the ETF funds you mentioned were shown. Further I just bought two of them within the last ten minutes and they are in my portfolio.

I would just buy/sell ttf, thd within my us brokerage account, and the thai government will not be concerned with your transactions whatsoever.

Try buying Esso Thailand as a foreigner--not that easy.

I have a stock trading account at KimEng in CM. No problem buy and sell Esso Thailand any time I want to. Current price is 6.55

How do the tax witholdings work? Do you have a taxpayer ID? What type of Visa do you have?

1. No tax withholding. there is a 7%VAT only on the commission. No transaction tax. Total of commission +VAT amounts to 0.16% of transaction amount. There is no capital gains tax and SET gains are exempt from personal income tax

2. no

3. Non Imm O , but I believe anyone can open account

I would just buy/sell ttf, thd within my us brokerage account, and the thai government will not be concerned with your transactions whatsoever.

Try buying Esso Thailand as a foreigner--not that easy.

I have a stock trading account at KimEng in CM. No problem buy and sell Esso Thailand any time I want to. Current price is 6.55

I may have qualified for the Dividends I don't know today was the book closing date. Maybe yes maybe no wouldn't be bad .40

Actually you raise an interesting question slightly inadvertently. Namely if you are dealing for yourself through the internet and you are buying local stock, you are "in theory" not entitled to entitlements such as dividends, warrant issues, voting rights etc.. simply on the basis of the fact you are a foreigner. I say "in theory" because I have no idea whether people actually receive them in practice.

"In theory" foreigners should only hold local shares in the form of NVDRs, which gives you all the entitlements of a share except voting rights. So, for instance if I wanted to buy SAT, I would actually put in the order on the local board as SAT-R. There is absolutely no difference in what I am actually buying or in the price I am buying it. It does however give me the secure knowledge that I have all rights apart from being NV 'non-voting.'

If you are buying through a broker, I would guess they -R automatically. The reason I bring this up is that it can certainly be a problem 'in practice.' I used to run a Thai listed entity (rather small and illiquid I might add) and when we issued a free warrant, some foreign shareholders did not receive their entitlement because they owned locally registered stock rather than -F or -R. And to the extent that entitlements are not paid out a Board of a company which has the flexibility to allocate non-entitled entitlements is not in a position to reimpose entitlement.

All this means in practice is that you buy and sell -R. Some people may do this automatically without actually knowing the reason why. Some foreigners might simply buy local and still receive all entitlements. But even if you do, you are not entitled to them under the Law, and it is up to the registrar whether they are allocated. My point is that to the extent you buy local as a foreigner you should be aware that you are not in fact entitled to your entitlements.

Coming back to SAT then, it is obvious that Ray should be entitled to the dividend (unless he sells before Ex-D). If he does not receive it though it will be because he owns local stock while being a foreigner.

I trade through my online brokerage account with Kimeng. As a foreigner, it will only allow me to buy NVDR. If I accidentally try to do otherwise, it will reject the order. I don't have to specify the -R on the code, but must check a box for NVDR order.

I have had no problem getting dividends, usually deposited directly to my bank account. Occasionally I get a check, which I then deposit.

Any thoughts about SAT at 22.30

I think I may have missed this one or is there room to grow. I know it supplies Toyota

If you decided to buy SAT, hope you got it before the runup today. Personally, if i wanted to have it for the longer term, I would wait for a little pullback to buy, but that is just me.

On a more general note, the most important lesson I have learned in many years of trading is to have a plan(price ) to sell a stock before you buy it, and if it gets there, sell it, or use a trailing stop loss to protect your gains. If you are using fixed stop losses, put it in place on the day you buy, and don't move it farther away if the trade starts to go against you. "Plan the trade, and trade the plan"..The one thing I do not like about my trading account in Thailand is that I cannot set automatic Take Profit and Stop Loss so I have to follow manually.

You can also pay online with Kasikorn, you can either do the transaction yourself monthly or can set up regular payments, it's very easy.

Correct. That's how I pay my rent every month.

I have done business several times at the Diamond Gallery on Chiang Klan Rd across from the Shang ri La hotel.

Got very good service from the manager there and competitive prices. Worth a look.

As others have said on the subject of stock investing there is no substitute for doing your own research before investing. There are quite a few Thai stocks that have offered a good historic dividend return, however the past is not always a good guide and the level of dividend payouts can be highly variable year on year for many stocks. It is very important therefore to do some careful research focusing on the fundamentals of the business ie its sustainability, the strength of its balance sheet , its long-term earnings potential and very importantly everywhere in asia the quality of corporate governance and attitude to (non inside ) shareholders. One stock that has been mentioned on here before and may be worth a look at is EGCO , an electricity generating company. This company offers a (pretty) certain dividend yield of 6.6% for 2010 and the management have a pledge to grow dividends at at least 5% per year, it also unusualy for this type of business, has no net debt. There are issues with the stock, particularly regarding its mid-term earnings outlook, but in my opinion,for what that is worth , those concerns are well in the price. There are plenty of other stocks to consider but that might not be a bad place to start and i am sure others will add a few suggestions (or comment on my one) of there own. good luck.

A followup comment n your very insightful post.. I agree that doing one's own DD is a necessity as each person has his own tolerance for risk, etc.

I just looked at your EGCO recommendation and it sure fits my criteria for dividend stocks. Their product is a necessity, dividend history consistent and balance sheet strong with plenty of cash and high current ratio and quick ratio.

I have had a Interactive Brokers account for many years and use to to trade, US, London, Hong Kong and ASX.

However Thailand is NOT available through Interactive Brokers. I just checked again to be sure.. I opened a Thai trading account with Kimeng last year and have been very satisfied.

For dividends I just bought KYE which will pay a dividend of 21.25bht/share for stockeholders of record aug 5. That is 8.2% based on current share price of 259 bht

Does anyone here have experience or knowledge about importing unfinished goods into Thailand, performing the finishing operations here and then re exporting?

Specifically, this would be goods imported from China, additional manufacturing done in Thailand and then exported to Europe and North America.

1. Can this be done outside one of the specific export processing zones?

2. How difficult are the customs, tax and book keeping requirements?

Any other information greatly appreciated.

thanks

I have a box a Kasikorn Bank branch on ChanghKlan Rd near ShangriLa hotel. Not sure if still available or of account is required as I have several accounts there. I got it last year with no wait.

Until the end of July Gassan Lake City is 200 THB on Mon. and Thur. That's right, just pay the caddy fee and golf is gratis. Due to no one patronizing the facility, the caddies were not earning anything and walked out in protest. So to enable them to earn a living and to keep some of their staff the management is offering this special to attract golfers.

Just show up at Gassan Lake City on Monday and Thursday to get this deal??

You now (rather than entering the contract?????) find out the Thai version has precedenece and says something different than the English version.

On the basis of what you've said I'm afraid its entirely your own fault and I don't see where at all a 'scam' comes into it?

What he said!!! If you sign a foreign language legal contract without having it translated, you deserve what you get.

Find someone with a thai MC license, bung them 500baht and get them to say they were driving, to avoid a walkaway from the insurance company....

Good idea. Commit a crime to defraud the insurance company.

OP-

you obviously have never been to Nan. VERY quiet but stil a great place in my humble opinion.

I understand there is a top up available for 12Call mobile service that is valid for 12 months.

Can anyone confirm this and tell me where to buy in Chiang Mai? I have asked several places and get the "deer in the headlights" look in reply.

Thanks

I had eye infection last year and went to Sripat Medical Center at Maharaj hospital. Saw opthamologist within 30 min. Problem solved.

I have been using Kimeng for about a year. They have large office in strip mall across from airport Plaza. I am a fairly active trader,and do everything online and have been very pleased.

Website - www.kimeng.co.th

Any idea what time it will start?