India halts RI gypsum probe

India halts RI gypsum probe

JAKARTA: India has terminated its anti-dumping investigation
into Indonesian gypsum plasterboard.

Following the move, Indonesian gypsum plasterboard may now
enter the Indian market without any anti-dumping duty or any
other barrier, Director General of International Trade and
Industrial Cooperation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Pos
M. Hutabarat said in a statement on Thursday.

On Aug. 1, India's directorate general of anti-dumping (DGAD)
told the ministry they had been investigating the boards based on
a petition from M/s. India Gypsum Ltd.

The firm particularly complained about the importation of
boards 6 millimeters (mm) to 16 mm thick, 600 mm to 1,250 mm wide
and 1,800 mm to 3,200 mm long.

This kind of board is used mostly for partitioning purposes
and interiors, as well as fireproofing and environmentally
friendly decoration.

During the investigation, Pos said, the DGAD discovered that
the petitioner had imported similar products from an overseas
affiliate. As such, the petitioner could not be categorized as a
"local firm that has suffered losses caused by gypsum
plasterboard imports from Indonesia." -- JP

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Money-RP-economy
RP leave key rates unchanged
JP/14/MONEY

RP leave key rates unchanged

MANILA: Philippine monetary authorities on Thursday said they
were keeping key interest rates unchanged amid signs that
inflation will remain under control and with economic growth
hitting target levels.

The central bank's overnight borrowing rates will remain at
6.75 percent while overnight lending rates will stay at 9.0
percent, it said in a statement.

The decision to leave rates untouched was based on
"expectations of benign inflation," which is likely to stay
within the government forecast of 4.0-5.0 percent this year, it
said.

"The (central bank's) monetary policy stance should continue
to ensure the presence of adequate liquidity to support the
growth in domestic demand," it added. -- AFP

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ANPAf..r..
Money-Thailand-ratings
Moody's puts Thai rating on review
JP/14/Thai

Moody's puts Thai rating on review

BANGKOK: Moody's Investors Service put Thailand's foreign
currency ratings on review for a possible upgrade on Thursday,
citing strong exports and economic growth prospects, and an
improving external payments position.

"Thailand's external debt profile has steadily improved in the
years following the 1997 financial crisis ... and with that its
vulnerability to external shocks significantly reduced," Moody's
said in a statement.

The review was ordered "in light of the strengthening of the
country's external payments position, its resilient export
performance, and its good prospects for continued economic growth
and stability," it said.

However, the international ratings agency said concerns remain
over the fiscal position of the government of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra which came into power in 2001.

While the budgetary performance and transparency have
improved, more time will be needed to reduce government debt
ratios to healthier levels, it said. -- AFP