51.   The group also won an award in the category on industry excellence for main board companies in the finance sector.

52.   The IMF has required austerity and accountability measures from Thai government officials, including cleaning up the finance sector.

53.   The instability of the baht had also caused stock investors to sell off their shares in the banking and finance sectors.

54.   The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition agreed regulation of the finance sector would be shared by the ministry and the independent panel.

55.   The two sides agreed regulation of the finance sector would be shared by the ministry and the independent panel.

56.   This included the announcement in mid-October of a major restructuring of the ailing finance sector and tough guidelines to improve regulatory and supervisory standards.

57.   Unable to sell their property, many developers defaulted on loans, eroding the foundations of the finance sector.

58.   Financial authorities announced new regulations and incentives to promote mergers in the ailing finance sector Wednesday.

59.   Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said the new government agency to investigate and supervise the finance sector would be the forerunner for further restructuring of the sector.

60.   He added the current problems faced by the finance sector were largely due to a protracted slump in the property sector and appealed for investors not to panic.