Bangkok Post, Thailand, Business Briefs Column.

Sep. 6--NPL TOTAL RISES B8.1BN IN JULY: Non-performing loans in the financial sector totalled 615.1 billion baht at the end of July, an increase of 8.1 billion from the month before, according to the Bank of Thailand.

The banking sector reported NPLs of 590.2 billion baht, equal to 12.58 percent of outstanding credit and an increase of 7.4 billion from June. Bad loans at private banks totalled 476.86 billion baht, or 17.95 percent , while state banks reported bad loans of 92.5 billion baht, or 6.39 percent .

New NPLs in July totalled 16 billion baht, while restructured loans turning bad again totalled 23.6 billion. Debt restructuring cleared 21.6 billion baht in loans in July, with another 9.9 billion in bad loans cleared through write-offs and service payments.

SWEDISH MOTORS SEES IMPROVEMENT: Swedish Motors Corp, the local Volvo car dealer, expects improved performance to help push its share price back to its 10-baht par value next year.

Executive chairman Boonyarit Saowapruek said the company targeted new-car sales of 1,400 units this year and used-car sales of 300 units. In the first half it sold 119 used cars.

He said local sales of luxury cars were expected to grow by around 30 percent this year compared with 50 percent growth for the overall auto industry.

"This year we are ready to significantly improve our performance after our debt restructuring is completed." Swedish Motors reported a consolidated net profit of 11.5 million baht for the second quarter compared with a net loss of 15.3 million in the same period last year. Six-month net profit was 19 million baht against a net profit of 26.4 million in the first half last year.