THAI NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - MAY 3, 2004.

BANGKOK, May 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers:

THE BANGKOK POST:

- Lying to get a job is more common than most people think. A recent survey by Reader's Digest of Asians' honesty showed that more than 40 per cent of Thais in the sample admitted they would resort to resume fraud if necessary, says a local HR expert.

- China's plan to cool down its overheating economy, which has rocked global commodity markets, is not likely to have a severe impact on Thailand's industrial sector, according to executives from some major industrial companies.

- Signs that China wants to rein in its economy have sent some steel prices plunging, with many purchasers halting buy orders on the odds that prices may fall even further in the near term, according to Wikrom Vajragupta, director of the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand.

- Current market uncertainties notwithstanding, up to 140 companies are estimated to have retained financial advisers in preparation for future listings on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

- This morning, when David arrived at his office, he found a white envelope addressed to him and marked "Confidential". It was a resignation letter from one of his star performers, Somsak, the sales director. In the letter, Somsak said that he had to help a relative run a family business and that although the effective date of his resignation would be 30 days, he planned to take the two-week vacation he was entitled to. This meant he would be leaving the firm in just two weeks. David was quite surprised.