PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - Aug 25

BANGKOK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- State enterprise union members decided to join a People's Alliance for Democracy rally on Tuesday whose aim is to oust the government, and threatened to cut off electricity and water to state agencies if their demands are not met. (THE NATION)

- Recent visitors to Bangkok's Chinatown district of Yaowarat, the centre of the gold trading business, have witnessed the unusual sight of queues of people extending to the pavement from gold shops as bullion speculation mounts. (BANGKOK POST)

- Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said he will clear himself of allegations of involvement in a fire-equipment purchasing scandal, as he prepares to run for a second term. (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Siam Commercial Bank SCB.BK has asked the Administrative Court how it should deal with a demand by the Revenue Department to hand over 12 billion baht it holds in the frozen accounts of Thaksin Shinawatra's children. (BANGKOK POST)

- Thailand has the potential to become the world's centre of agricultural commodities trading if the government provides enough support, according to one of the world's best-known investors, Jim Rogers. (THE NATION)

- Gold prices are likely to stabilise over the next couple of months after a sharp drop in the past two weeks, according to Boonlert Siripatvanich, president of Ausiris Gold Investment, a gold trading service provider. (BANGKOK POST)

- The Stock Exchange of Thailand will establish an 8.25 billion baht matching fund to invest in blue chips and small cap stocks starting in October. (BANGKOK POST)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and the Nation. (Reporting by Bangkok Newsroom)