One to Watch

ABERDEEN New Thai Investment Trust aims to provide shareholders with a high level of long-term, above-average capital growth via investments in Thailand.

The country's economy is impressive. Although GDP contracted during 2009, reflecting the international economic environment, it is forecast to grow by more than 5 per cent in the current year, with a strong recovery in the second half of 2009. Thailand is reducing its dependence on the US, developing closer ties with Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, in particular.

The economic arguments for Thailand are persuasive but, of course, the political dimension cannot be ignored.

However, unless things escalate into a full-blown civil war, the political upheavals should die down and, as stability returns, so the prospects for the investment market will improve.

Aberdeen's fund is but one of many investing across the Pacific Basin and interested parties may be advised to look at a more generalist regional fund but, for more risk-orientated portfolios, New Thai might appeal.

The value of your investment could fall and you may get back less than you invested. You should take professional advice if you have any doubt about the suitability of this company for your portfolio.

Carluccio's

92.5p -0.25p

Broker says SELL

FOLLOWING yesterday's interim results, Seymour Pierce has retained its "sell" rating on restaurant chain Carluccio's. The broker said: "Our cautious stance reflects the greater value in the 'unloved' conventional casual dining trading models of Prezzo and the Restaurant Group."

IMG

256p -7.8p

Broker says BUY

KBC Peel Hunt has initiated coverage of microchip maker Imagination Technologies (IMG) with a "buy" recommendation. The broker said: "With a dominant position as a graphics intellectual property provider, IMG is a strong play on the smartphone and other mobile multimedia markets, set to grow to some 1.5 billion units in 2012."