News from Thailand.....

Troops deploy in Bangkok bank zone...
The Thai army sent troops to a Bangkok business district on Monday, a day after vowing to punish protesters if they marched there, raising fears of more violence after 24 people died in bloody clashes a week ago.

Army commanders had been due to meet later in the day for what was billed as a regular meeting, but officials said it had been postponed. No explanation was given.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made army chief General Anupong Paochinda head of national security on Friday, replacing a deputy prime minister, after admitting efforts to control a five-week protest movement aimed at forcing an early election had failed.

The stock market fell 2.8 percent in early trade in continued reaction to the unrest, although other regional markets were also lower. Bangkok shares fell 6.8 percent last week, when trading was restricted to Monday and Friday because of holidays.

"Overall sentiment remains weak, especially with increasing political risk, which will add to the pressure on the market," said Globlex Securities analyst Chakkrit Charoenmetachai.

Bond yields fell as investors switched to the relative safety of government debt and bet the Bank of Thailand would not raise interest rates on Wednesday because political unrest could set back the economic recovery.

Red-shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have said they would take their protest to the business district this week, two blocks away from their main base in an upmarket shopping area, in defiance of an emergency decree.
                                    ------Reuters©
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