It touched a two-decade low of 663 in December after sinking 94% from its all-time peak of 11793 on May 20 of last year. One factor: a 15% to 20% drop in China's demand for iron ore in the last few months of last year, probably because it was allowing inventories to run down.
* 48 Heroes of Philanthropy
The global financial crisis is hammering fortunes all over Asia, but the past year was still a good one for philanthropy as tycoons and more modest donors tried to maintain their charity commitments ... I was a contributor to this annual list of philanthropists in Asia in the March 12 issue of Forbes Asia magazine.... Continue Reading →
* Biking the wilds of Bangkok—Reader’s Digest Asia
Until two decades ago, most inhabitants of Bang Kra Jao were farmers. Around that time, some of the narrow canals were covered with elevated concrete pathways. Now the pathways total more than 20 kilometres, enabling people to commute to the urban jungle
* The Crowning Fortune—Forbes Asia
The bureau's other assets are easier to value. Its 30% share in the Siam Cement Group, the country's second-largest company, is worth $1.9 billion and its 25% share in Siam Commercial Bank is worth $1.1 billion. As of July it also owns virtually all of Deves Insurance, worth $65 million, and stakes in various other public and private companies that Aviruth says are worth $600 million.
* Saving and selling water—The Nation
Water markets perhaps will seem less a California fad and more a
commonsense solution as more developing countries adopt them. A World
Bank study issued last year, Markets in Tradeable Water Rights, described
systems in Chile, India, Jordan and Mexico. Peru is in the process of
reforming water laws to permit tradeability and Pakistan has markets despite
the lack of law. Chilean farmers' associations have been contracting to sell
water to urban users since 1976.
Susan J Cunningham 