PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers Feb 27

BANGKOK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat edged closer to a five-year political ban when the Election Commission red-carded him for poll fraud in the Dec. 23 general election (BANGKOK POST)

- Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's plan to announce his imminent return to Thailand did not take place yesterday, raising doubts on whether he will definitely fly back home this week (THE NATION)

- Business executives say political risk is again an issue following the Election Commission's decision to red-card House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat for campaign offences during the run-up to the Dec. 23 general election (BANGKOK POST)

- Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will arrive in his private jet at Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday morning, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama confirmed (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- The Transport Ministry's top officials will convene today to discuss the expanded menu of mega-infrastructure projects, which will force the ministry to spend heavily for years to come (THE NATION)

- Japan-based companies are likely to continue delaying investment decisions as the strong baht has hurt their profits, the Japan Bank for International Co-operation said (BANGKOK POST)

- Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee tried to dispel fears the government may return to fixing the baht against major currencies artificially following Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's call on officials to study foreign exchange systems in China and Malaysia (THE NATION)

- Political and economic uncertainties continue to affect the local automotive market, possibly harming consumer confidence and delaying people's decisions to buy cars, Toyota Motor Thailand said (BANGKOK POST)

- The Japan Bank for International Co-operation and the Finance Ministry have finalised terms of a loan to finance construction of the new Purple mass-transit line (BANGKOK POST)

- SCG Logistics Management plans to spend more than 200 million baht on solution systems this year to integrate its transport network and increase its presence in Asean (THE NATION)

- Land and Houses LH.BK sees tough competition continuing this year, which may delay the leading residential developer's plan to lift prices 2-3 percent in the second half to protect its profitability (THE NATION)

- Only 11 percent of Thai companies donate to charities, well under the global average of 65 percent, according to a new survey on corporate social responsibility by the Grant Thornton consultancy (BANGKOK POST)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.