8.01Asian Markets
- Asian consumer growth index bullish for Thailand, China and India
Asia Market Research dot com's August update to the Asian Consumer Growth Prospects Index is marked by the first tentative upturn for the long suffering Japanese consumer market, more confidence in the Chinese consumer market with the containment of SARS, and a quite substantive uptick for India (and to a lesser extent Pakistan), where decreased tensions with each other has reduced country risk significantly. - RFP trends from market research company show softening of China upward trend for Q1-2 2003
According to one Asian based consumer market and brand research company, the proportion of Requests for Proposals for market research so far this year reduced for China and East Asia, and increased for Thailand. - The Asian Women's Shopping Experience: New research from Thailand
Similar to the yuppies of the 80's, Asian women are earning and spending, but this newly found wealth is part of a newly found freedom as well as an economic evolution. According to a recent study in Thailand a key female demographic go on brand shopping sprees four times a month. - SARS, Thailand, tourism and business travel: How fast for recovery?
Latest data on recent tourist arrivals to Thailand reveals major plunges in the usually leading incoming tourist countries of Japan and China but less or nil affect on travel from Europe and Australia. Nobody really knows when the travel and tourism industry and business travel in Thailand and South East Asia will rebound now that all ASEAN countries apart from Singapore are seen as 'SARS free'. Best guesses are that it will be a gradual and steady recovery. Managing perceptions is key. - Chinese market research agency SARS procedures
Market research is an essentially social activity when it requires primary data collection among consumers. While much publicity on the effects of SARS in China has been focused on the airline, health-care, tourism, and restaurant industries, secondary effects are wide ranging. - Consumer growth prospects fall in the wake of SARS
April's Asian Consumer Growth Index, AMR's index of consumer growth prospects for the next 12 months, shows almost all of the 12 economies surveyed on the decline, in particular Hong Kong, Singapore and China. - SARS strikes market research in Asia
SARS is already perceived as a greater threat to the sustainability of the market research and advertising business in Asia than the war on Iraq according to a quick survey of major market research and advertising agency executives based in Asia yesterday. Postponements and cancellations of projects due to inability to attend briefings and observe focus groups by clients are the major cause - Thailand TV Ratings Technology battle shapes up
There's a bull-fight shaping up in Thailand for the TV ratings measurement market with Video Research Japan announcing this week that they have developed Thailand's 'most accurate audience measurement technology' following two years of research and development by their local unit Video Research International (Thailand). - Prospects of War affect Asian consumer demand growth for the next 12 months
War is on the minds of many consumers in Asia, possibly causing many to delay purchases due to increased unknowns from an anticipated war in Iraq. Both foreign and domestic investment has also slowed in most Asian equity markets this month. - Asia Pacific IT professionals to outnumber other regions by 2006
It was only a matter of time before the center of the IT and computer programming world moved towards Asia. A new IDC report estimates that the Asia Pacific will house more computer programmers than any other region including North America and Europe by 2006.
- Fears of China property bubble grow
Chinese real estate prices accelerated last month, rising by their fastest pace in two years despite government efforts to cool the market amid fears of a looming property bubble - Stocks edge higher on hopes for global economy
Global Markets Overview: FTSE All-World index remains becalmed near six-week highs, with stock investors reluctant to push riskier assets higher without a fresh catalyst - Goldman China chairman quits
One of Goldman Sach’s top China bankers has followed several other former colleagues and quit to set up a mainland private equity fund - Allen takes over helm at EMI Music
The former chief executive of ITV is to take over as executive chairman as the music group, owned by private equity house Terra Firma, seeks to raise £120m in new funds - New law bars Suu Kyi from election
Burma has published new election laws that in effect deny Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisoned opposition leader and Nobel laureate, any future formal political role in the country - National US grocery brands regain ground
US shoppers are regaining their taste for the national brand groceries that some steered away from during the recession, providing evidence of an improvement in consumer confidence - Commodity price slump hits Glencore
World’s largest commodities trader unveils a 42% per cent fall in its profits last year due to lower raw materials prices - Tullett Prebon shares soar on bid approach
The group, headed by Terry Smith, is the largest government bond broker in Europe and has said it is likely to benefit further from any crisis in European sovereign debt - Dubai World debt talks ‘making progress’
British minister optimistic about restructuring conglomerate’s $26bn debts despite specific terms yet to be tabled, as creditors upbeat about avoiding a ‘haircut’ on principal - China Mobile seals stake in Pudong
China Mobilehas agreed to pay Rmb39.8bn for a 20 per cent stake in Pudong Development Bank, closing a deal that unsettled investors when news of it started leaking two weeks ago