Business
Finance: Stocks are hot, bonds are not

PHUKET: The post election weeks have seen many leadership stocks take off, with the overall breadth of the market uptrend being impressive.
The market is being led higher by both small and mid cap stocks, plus sectors like energy, materials, industrial, technology and the economically sensitive Dow Transports – all positive signs for even higher stock prices in the months ahead.
Many of these stocks and their sectors were already looking strong prior to the election, but the largely unexpected Trump win ignited a catalyst to start a strong uptrend.
I don’t pay much attention to politics and also don’t follow economists or political pundits, as their predictions concerning the stock market are useless. What I do follow is the price action of leadership stocks and major US and global indexes.
All four major US indexes made new highs after the election and this confirms the follow through price action after Brexit. The last time this happened was on December 31, 1999.
Unfortunately, that date has a negative connotation as it occurred near the end of an 18-year bull run. What many investors fail to realize is that the exact same index price action actually happened a total of 47 times during the 1990s, with the first instance being December 31, 1991 when the S&P 500 closed at 417.28.
In fact, the S&P eventually gained approximately 252 per cent from the first 1991 signal to that fateful signal in late 1999.
Growth stocks have generally struggled for the entire new millennium. First we had the Dot.com bubble burst around 2000, followed by the global financial crisis in 2008 and then a small cap bear market for two years. These events have led many investors to avoid risk by plowing their money into bonds, that are perceived as being safer than stocks.
My technical charts have kept my clients and myself out of bonds and now it looks like we could have a bond market top after 20+ years.
Today’s bond holders have never experienced a sustained rising-rate environment and are largely unprepared for what happens to long term bonds should interest rates eventually go back up to the 3-5 per cent range.
Moreover, the high yield bonds that many investors have piled into have only been around since the 1980s and have never really experienced a sustained rising rate environment.
And while interest rates have historically risen in a slow but methodical matter, information flows much more quickly these days and there could always be surprises. Nearly every expert’s prediction regarding interest rate movements over the past 5-10 years has been wrong – much like their predictions about the US elections and Brexit.
However, bonds are the wrong investment strategy right now, because growth stocks are just starting another bull market and investors should be focused on investing for growth, not safety.
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: freeman capital@gmail.com.
— Don Freeman
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Business
The Thaiger joins forces with Masii to bring you hassle-free Thailand re-entry packages and much more

PRESS RELEASE
The Thiager and its sister company Tadoo, have announced they will enter a strategic partnership with the Bangkok-based fintech company, Masii.
Having joined forces with Masii, The Thaiger aims to provide its 6 million-plus monthly users with exclusive deals and packages such as the Thailand re-entry package, comprising of the Certificate of Entry (COE), Covid-19 Travel Insurance and a Covid-19 Test.
Sapir Matmon, of Tadoo, says “This tie-up will allow us to provide our readers with all-inclusive packages specifically designed to make the whole process of coming back to Thailand as simple as possible. And by booking through us, all service fees will be waived – a saving of more than 1,000 Baht. We’re confident you won’t find a better price in the market right now.”
“We can provide everything you need to enter Thailand hassle-free and within 12 hours, which is the fastest in the market.” Says Maxwell Meyer, CEO of Masii.
Covid-19 has drastically accelerated the industry’s movement toward shifting products and services online.
Sapir says “We are tremendously pleased to welcome the Masii team and work alongside Maxwell, as one of the stars of the local fintech scene.”
Tadoo, The Thiager’s sister company, has also teamed up with Masii on their Thai price comparison platform, tadoo.co, which offers a similar range of products including, insurance, finance, internet, and mobile.
The goal of Tadoo is to bring clarity to the Thai market and assist consumers in making better-informed choices by offering a quick and convenient solution for getting the products they want without the hassle.
For more information on the Thailand Re-Entry Full Package, click HERE.
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Aviation authority calling for 20,000 vaccine doses for crew, ground staff

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand is calling for vaccine doses to protect around 20,000 airline crew and ground staff before the country re-opens to international tourists. The CAAT says it’s vital that those working in the aviation industry are protected and has submitted its request to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
According to Suthipong Kongpool from the CAAT, there are around 20,000 airline employees, including crew and ground staff, who will need to be vaccinated. As 2 doses are required, a total of 40,000 doses are needed to fully protect staff. The Bangkok Post reports that the CAAT will meet on Thursday to review the aviation sector’s readiness for when the country re-opens without international arrivals having to quarantine.
Suthipong says they are seeking enough vaccine doses to protect employees of Thai-registered carriers.
“It’s a confidence-building measure for tourists and those providing the services to them.”
From July, the southern island of Phuket will be the first part of the country to waive quarantine for vaccinated international arrivals, subject to 70% of local residents being vaccinated. The “sandbox” project is a pilot programme that will be expanded to other areas if it proves successful. Between October and the end of the year, 5 other provinces – Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Krabi, Chon Buri, and Chiang Mai – are expected to adopt the programme. Officials hope to be able to re-open the country fully from January 2022.
According to the CAAT, the first foreign visitors expected to return to Phuket will be Chinese tourists, given that country’s success in managing the pandemic. Meanwhile, the CAAT says Thailand will see a 7% increase in air traffic this month compared to last, with a total of 36,150 domestic and international flights.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Business
Labour union angry over changes to Thai Airways staff contracts under rehab plan

Union representatives are questioning changes made to the employment terms of Thai Airways staff as part of the national carrier’s debt-restructuring plan. The labour union claims the changes have removed or diluted several staff entitlements and welfare benefits, pointing the finger at acting president, Chansin Treenuchagron, who signed the orders.
The union is calling on the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to review the changes to check if they align with a debt-restructuring plan submitted to the Central Bankruptcy Court. According to a Bangkok Post report, the union believes the signed orders may go against the terms of the rehab plan currently being reviewed by creditors. They include an order related to the company’s new organisational structure, as well as the screening of workers who will continue to be employed by the carrier during and after the rehab process.
Union representatives accuse the airline of changing the terms and conditions of employee contracts, meaning weaker welfare benefits. They are asking the DLPW to confirm if the changes comply with the 1940 Bankruptcy Act, the 1975 Labour Relations Act, and the 1998 Labour Protection Act. The union says that if the changes are found to violate the acts, Chansin should be ordered to cancel the orders and draw up new employment terms that comply with the airline’s rehab plan and with employment law.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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