51.   Thai Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda said a stable yen would help steady the Thai baht, whose value has plunged since its devaluation in July.

52.   THAI stocks rose after Japanese Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said Japan will work with the International Monetary Fund to help shore up Asian currencies, including the Thai baht.

53.   That largely reflects declining demand in Southeast Asia, where the devaluation of the Thai baht in July triggered a currency crisis that spread throughout the region.

54.   That triggered declines in the Malaysian ringgit, Singapore dollar and Thai baht.

55.   That, in turn, drives the Thai baht lower and puts pressure on the currencies of Malaysia and other economies in the region.

56.   The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised a key interest rate twice today amid fears a run on the Thai baht would spread to the Philippine peso.

57.   The Asian economic crisis began with the devaluation of the Thai baht and quickly spread to the currencies and stock markets of other nations.

58.   The decision comes as the plunging value of the Thai baht and the Indonesian rupiah make it almost impossible for local companies to repay foreign debt and purchase imports.

59.   The depreciation of the Thai baht and the Philippine peso last month has eroded the export competitiveness of other countries in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia.

60.   The company lost money on its contracts last quarter due to larger-than-expected depreciation of the Thai baht and the Malaysian ringgit.