Business
Finance: Growth stocks to beat market

PHUKET: Growth stocks are always popular with Wall Street and retail investors alike because they are companies with sustainable positive cash flows along with revenues and earnings that are expected to grow at an above-average rate relative to the stock market.
Here are a couple of individual growth stocks that could be a good fit for your portfolio:
Gilead Sciences, Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) is a large cap biopharmaceutical stock with a nearly US$150 billion market cap. Gilead Sciences’ portfolio of products and pipeline of investigational drugs includes treatments for HIV/AIDS, liver diseases, cancer, inflammatory and respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions. In other words, a fairly well diversified portfolio covering some of the most common ailments faced globally, plus shares had an attractive 1.68 per cent dividend yield as of late September.
However, there could be an additional risk for investors in biotech/pharmaceuticals to consider as, although the next US Presidential election is still one year away, the political silly season has already begun with a Hillary Clinton tweet railing against drug prices.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ENTA) is a small cap biotechnology stock with a market cap nearing US$700 million. It is focused on developing drugs for viral infections and liver diseases, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). An estimated 130–150 million people globally have chronic hepatitis C infections, while NASH is becoming more common in developed countries affecting two to five per cent of Americans, possibly due to rising rates of obesity.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals is also positioned for growth as it developed one of the two direct-acting antivirals used in AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) FDA approved Technivie treatment for hepatitis C (as well as another AbbVie hepatitis C combo therapy) and it’s therefore entitled to milestone and royalty payments on net sales of the drugs.
Synaptics, Incorporated (NASDAQ: SYNA) is a small cap tech stock with a market cap around US$2.4 million. It is a worldwide developer of custom-designed user interface solutions such as touch, display and biometrics products that are designed for mobile computing, communications and entertainment devices in the mobile, PC and automotive industries. Synaptics itself would also be an important supplier to both Apple and Samsung or any other device or technology makers in Asia.
Growth stocks also tend to come with a catch for income-seeking investors, as they usually don’t pay dividends because management is focused on reinvesting any retained earnings into capital projects to keep up the growth momentum.
Finally, individual growth stocks may also be held by the ETFs and other funds that you own – meaning you could have exposure to them without realizing it. That’s why you should always consult with an investment advisor who will make an appropriate asset allocation based upon your entire portfolio.
Don Freeman,BSME is president of Freeman Capital Management, a Registered Investment Advisor with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Based in Phuket, he has over 15 years’ experience working with expatriates, specializing in portfolio management, US tax preparation, financial planning and UK pension transfers. Don can be reached at: 089-970-5795 or email: freemancapital@gmail.com.
— Don Freeman
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Business
The social media giants in battle with ‘old’ media and world governments | VIDEO

“The rules signal greater willingness by countries around the world to rein in big tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter that the governments fear have become too powerful with little accountability.”
India has issued strict new rules for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just weeks after the Indian government attempted to pressure Twitter to take down social media accounts it deemed, well, anti social.
The rules require any social media company to create three roles within India… a “compliance officer” who ensures they follow local laws; a “grievance officer” who addresses complaints from Indian social media users; and a “contact person” who can actually be contacted by lawyers and other aggrieved Indian parties… 24/7.
The companies are also being made to publish a compliance report each month with details about how many complaints they’ve received and the action they took.
They’ll also be required to remove ‘some’ types of content including “full or partial nudity,” any “sexual act” or “impersonations including morphed images”
The democratisation of the news model, with social media as its catalyst, will continue to baffle traditional media and governments who used to enjoy a level of control over what stories get told.
The battles of Google and Facebook, with the governments of India and Australia will be followed in plenty of other countries as well.
At the root of all discussions will be the difference between what governments THINK social media is all about and the reality about how quickly the media landscape has changed. You’ll get to read about it first, on a social media platform… probably on the screen you’re watching this news story right now.
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Business
Domestic air passenger numbers double those of January

Passenger numbers on domestic flights within Thailand have doubled within a month, rising from 4,000 in January to over 10,000 this month. Having nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, domestic travel plummeted once more when Covid-19 resurfaced late last year.
Apirat Chaiwongnoi from the Department of Airports says 15 of Thailand’s 29 airports are now operating domestic flights, with more expected to follow. He believes the aviation sector will continue to recover further in the coming 6 months, bolstered by the national vaccine rollout.
Around 120 domestic flights a day are now operating, which is twice the number that were operating at the lowest point in the crisis. Prior to the resurgence of the virus in December, domestic passenger numbers had recovered to 30,000 – 40,000 a day, around 80% of pre-pandemic numbers.
The DoA says airports must continue to adhere to the Covid-19 hygiene measures put in place by the Health Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
- Thailand4 days ago
Polygamy is not under Thai law, but the lifestyle is still practiced
- Thailand3 days ago
Tourism officials aim for vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand by the third quarter of 2021
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)2 days ago
PM says Thailand will consider lifting quarantine for vaccinated tourists
- Crime3 days ago
Drunk police officer shoots and beats vendor on Bangla Road in Phuket
- Chiang Mai2 days ago
4 top tourist destinations to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine distribution
- Bangkok2 days ago
Bangkok bars are back open, restaurants serving booze again
- Bangkok4 days ago
Bangkok restaurants to be allowed to serve alcohol until 11pm
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)24 hours ago
Foreign tourists must use Covid-19 tracking app when travelling to Thailand