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Asia confidence dented by US jobs data Jul 3

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:20:31 PST

Asia's markets were mixed yesterday as investor confidence took a blow from worse-than-expected jobs figures out of the US that suggest a global recovery may not be as close as hoped.

Asia set for mild economic recovery in 2010: ADB

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:12:00 PST

Asia is set for a mild economic recovery from the global financial crisis in 2010 after bottoming out this year, the Asian Development Bank's chief economist said Thursday.

China wants diversified global monetary system: govt

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:11:00 PST

China said it wanted a broader global monetary system days before President Hu Jintao was set to leave for the G8 summit, during which the issue of a new reserve currency could be raised.

N Korea ups tension with short-range missiles

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:10:00 PST

North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles on Thursday, further stoking already high regional tension due to its nuclear test and threats to boost its nuclear arsenal in response to UN sanctions.

ADB sees poverty on the rise in Asia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:09:00 PST

Poverty is on the rise, and the Asian Development Bank has warned governments throughout the region, including the Philippines, not to go slow on their pump-priming initiatives to counter the ill effects of the global economic turmoil.

N Korea stability rests on abuses and propaganda, say critics

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:08:00 PST

North Korea's leaders have assured stability in the communist country by instilling a sense of paranoid nationalism and carrying out massive human rights abuses, experts say.

Food prices spiral in Cambodia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:07:00 PST

New government figures show quarterly food inflation hit 1.7 percent in the three months to Tuesday compared with the previous quarter, during which Cambodia saw deflation of nearly 5 percent.

China paper says Web filter only a matter of time

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:06:00 PST

It is only a matter of time before a controversial scheme to install Internet filtering software on all computers begins in China, a state newspaper said on Thursday, after the plan was abruptly delayed this week.

Vietnam sees alarming rise in boy births vs girls

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:05:00 PST

For every 100 girls born to Vietnamese families, there are 112 boys born, a disparity in the sex ratio that has been rapidly increasing in recent years, an official said Thursday.

Thailand and Cambodia order troops to be on alert

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:04:00 PST

Both Thailand and Cambodia ordered their soldiers Thursday to be on alert in case fighting erupts at their disputed border, despite conciliatory remarks by the Thai prime minister.

No more treatment for Corazon Aquino: report

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:03:00 PST

Former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, who is battling colon cancer, has decided to forgo further chemotherapy or any other medical treatment, her spokeswoman has been quoted as saying.

ANZ, StanChart set to divvy up RBS Asia assets

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Standard Chartered and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) are set to divide up the Asian assets of embattled Royal Bank of Scotland, a press report said Thursday.

Funding shortage delays HCM City infrastructure work

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Many road and other transport-related public works in HCM City have either been suspended or are progressing at a snail's pace because of a cash crunch.

Cushman & Wakefield: Office rent in city remains high

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The average office rent in HCM City, especially at prime locations, is still higher than the reasonable level even though it has fallen sharply in the year to date, according to the general manager of the real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield (Vietnam) Ltd

Intel joins force with FPT to offer low-cost server leasing

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Intel Semiconductor Ltd Vietnam and two affiliates of FPT Group yesterday announced a cooperation deal to offer a full server hosting service package that can help enterprises cut cost.

FACTBOX-N Korea's suspected human rights abuses

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The following is a list of human rights abuses carried out by North Korea, according to a US State Department report released earlier this year.

China blasts US climate bill

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

China said on Thursday that it was "firmly" opposed to provisions in a new US clean energy bill that will make it easier to impose trade penalties on nations that reject limits to globe-warming pollution.

Restriction of lawyers' freedom in Cambodia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

A United Nations independent human rights expert today voiced concern at attempts to curtail lawyers' freedom to effectively represent their clients in Cambodia, with criminal charges being leveled recently against attorneys in the South-East Asian nation.

HK employer fined for forcing maid to kowtow 100 times

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

A Hong Kong couple assaulted their Filipino maid and forced her to kowtow 100 times after she served an inadequately cooked meal, a court report said Friday.

China babies 'sold for adoption'

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.

Malaysia opposition split in pig abattoir dispute

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Malaysia's opposition alliance struggled to settle an ethnic dispute Thursday after Muslim officials decided to demolish a pig slaughterhouse, angering their ethnic Chinese allies.

Japan students rush for English-language education

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

At 28,000 dollars a year, a popular English language cram school course in Japan doesn't come cheap, but its students hope the rewards will more than make up for the hefty tuition fee.

YouTube opens online 'school' for citizen journalists

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

At the YouTube School of Journalism, classes only last about five minutes, there is no homework and the faculty includes the likes of Bob Woodward, Katie Couric and Arianna Huffington.

'War on terror' used to target minorities: report

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Countries on the front line in the "war on terror" are using the battle against extremists as a smokescreen to crack down on minority groups, an international human rights group said on Thursday.

INTERVIEW-Philippine Muslim rebels urge truce, peace talks

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Muslim rebels want the Philippine government to halt an offensive in the southern Mindanao region and revive peace talks to end a decades-old conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people, a rebel leader said on Wednesday.

Justice sought over Malaysia massacre

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

A delegation of Malaysian lawyers is trying to convince the UK government to re-open an investigation into the 1948 killing of 24 Malaysian men by the British military in the village of Batang Kali.

PetroVietnam delays listing shares overseas

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

PetroVietnam Finance Co, the equitised financial affiliate of the State-owned petroleum giant PetroVietnam, will delay its plan to list shares next year on a foreign stock exchange, the company said.

HCM City mulls ways to better monitor foreign workers

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The HCM City government is seeking drastic measures to cope with a huge flow of unlicensed foreign labourers, said director of Department of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs Le Thanh Tam yesterday.

Plan on ambitious border economic zone gets approval

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a master plan to build the region along the border with Cambodia into a major economic zone.

Millicom says several suitors eyeing Asian business

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Niche telecom operator Millicom said on Thursday the strategic review of its Asian business was going as planned and that several potential investors were eyeing the assets.

Japan may deploy troops near disputed islands

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman.

HK May retail sales fall further

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Thursday, the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department said in a report that the retail sales value decreased 6.2 percent year-over-year in May, after falling 4.3 percent in April, revised from 4.4 percent decline reported initially. Economists were looking for a decline of 8.8 percent.

Philippines looks to banks to arrange $1b bond sale

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The Philippines asked banks to submit offers to help it sell as much as $1 billion of bonds, a government official said.

Korea to back $3.93b investment fund

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

South Korea on Thursday said it would launch a Won5,000bn fund together with state-run banks and pension funds to revive corporate investment.

Thai competitiveness survey finds flaws

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Thailand's competitiveness ranking shows weaknesses in labour productivity and human resource development and also in health and the environment, says the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development (IMD).

China electricity output increases 3.6pct in June, Securities says

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

China's electricity output gained 3.6 percent in June, the first monthly increase since October, the China Securities Journal reported today, citing China State Grid Corp.

New condo supply plunges in Thailand

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

New condominiums launched in the first quarter plummeted by 36 percent year-on-year due to the world financial crisis and domestic political turmoil, said the property brokerage Century 21 Thailand.

Chronology of N Korea's missile programme

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Developments in North Korea's missile programme:August 31, 1998: North Korea fires suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean, calling it a satellite.

Singapore Resorts World cuts 2010 visitor forecast

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Singapore's Resorts World, which plans to open Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park early next year, has slashed its 2010 visitor forecasts in the face of a global economic downturn.

Australia arrests 7 credit card scam spanning EU to Malaysia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Australian authorities have uncovered a 6 million Australian dollar ($4.8 million) international credit card scam that used stolen personal information from people as far away as Britain and Spain, officials said Thursday.

Dorsett plans 10 more hotels in Malaysia

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Hospitality player Dorsett International Sdn Bhd aims to add 10 hotels to its existing chain of five hotels and resorts in Malaysia in five years, says president Eddie Tang.

US dollar to remain dominant, says Malay central bank chief

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The dollar will remain the dominant currency for the foreseeable future but that is not stopping other regions like Asia from developing their financial markets, said Malaysia central bank governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Thai arrest warrant for another red-shirt on lese majeste charge

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Police have an arrest warrant for another red-shirt on lese majeste charges recommended by Chana Songkhram police, Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Nimmano, deputy metropolitan police chief, said on Thursday.

China carmaker drafting late Opel bid: source

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

China's state-run carmaker Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC) is preparing to make an offer for general Motors' Opel unit in the coming days, a source told Reuters, but the Russian partner of bid frontrunner Magna (MGa.TO) said the race was all but over.

Malaysia says Asian nations badly hit by economic crisis

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Contrary to expectations that Asia would be relatively protected from the financial crisis because of its lower exposure to American securitised assets, in reality, Asian economies have been severely impacted.

China lets foreign banks access yuan for HK trade

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Foreign banks will be able to borrow yuan from mainland lenders to settle trade in Hong Kong and Macau under a pilot scheme steered by the central bank.

Singapore says no confirmed land sales in H2

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Singapore's government said on Thursday it will continue to suspend the sale of land on its "confirmed list" in the second half of 2009 due to economic uncertainties.

Philippines eyes P1.195tr in taxes in 2010

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The Philippines expects to collect P1.195 trillion in taxes next year or P113 billion higher than the programmed tax collection of P1.082 trillion this year.

Siam Cement clinches corporate title

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

It's been a tough year for Siam Cement PCL, one of Southeast Asia's oldest and biggest industrial conglomerates. But that hasn't kept it from maintaining its status as one of Thailand's most-respected companies.

Vietnam aims to produce its own measles vaccine

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Vietnam's first made measles vaccine will be used in the National Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI), director of Research and Production of Vaccines and Biology Centre (POLYVAC) Nguyen Dang Hien said.

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu patient found in Japan: govt

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

A genetic mutation of swine flu that is resistant to the anti-viral Tamiflu has been discovered in Japan, the first such case in the country, the health ministry said.

Dirty water, poor hygiene costing Laos

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Laos is losing nearly $200 million a year, or 5.6 percent of its gross domestic product, due to poor sanitation and the resulting disease outbreaks that come from dirty water and a lack of toilets, the World Bank said Thursday.

Thailand to import 600,000 doses of swine flu vaccine

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Thailand, which has recorded five H1N1 deaths, will import 600,000 doses of anti-influenza vaccine in September or October, prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday. Abhisit said the vaccine will be dispensed first to high-risk groups, such as medical personnel, the state-run Thai News Agency reported.

Philippine miner halts nickel project on weak prices

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

The Philippines' Semirara Mining Corp said on Thursday its 50-percent-held unit has suspended operations at a nickel project north of the capital due to low prices of the metal.

MacroAsia seen to complete Palawan mine exploration

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Macroasia Corp. expects to complete exploration activities in its P740 million Infanta and Celestial nickel project in Palawan by early 2010.

Sembcorp Marine unit wins $237m rig order

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Sembcorp Marine Ltd, the world's second-biggest maker of oil rigs, said its unit won a $237.3 million (US$1 = RM3.52) order to build a second floating drilling rig from SeaDragon Offshore Ltd of Norway.

MCI Holdings suspends Philippine nickel mining operations

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Consunji-owned DMCI Holdings Corp. told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday that its nickel mining subsidiary has suspended mining operations in Zambales.

PHI mining group signs agreement to mine manganese in Thailand

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

PHI Mining Group, Inc., www.phimining.com, a company focused on mining opportunities in Southeast Asia, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Indochina Mining Corporation (IMC), has signed an agreement with Enter Blessing Company Limited, a Thai company, to form a joint venture company, IMC Thailand Manganese Co., in order to exploit manganese deposits in Thailand. PHI GROUP INC. (OTCBB: PHIE) (FRANKFURT: PR7), a company engaged in mergers and acquisitions, real estate development, mining, and investing in special situations (www.phiglobal.com), currently owns approximately 83 percent of PHI Mining Group.

Asian Mineral Resources completes private placement

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Asian Mineral Resources Limited (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:ASN) announced today that it has completed the previously announced sale of 11,718,637 shares for gross proceeds of $1,054,677. The shares are subject to a hold period of four months, expiring on October 31, 2009.

Blackrock backed G-Resources hunts Asian gold

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

G-Resources Group, the Hong Kong-listed mining company backed by BlackRock, is seeking to buy gold projects in Asia and Australia to lift annual output to 1 million ounces within five years.

E Timor undecided on Darwin LNG processing plant

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

EAST Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta says it would be more profitable to pipe the gas from the Greater Sunrise gas project to his country, rather than process it on the spot or send it to Darwin.

Thai PTT sets coupons on 30b baht bonds

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PST

Thailand's top energy firm, PTT PCL, has set coupons on bonds worth 30 billion baht to be sold later this month, underwriters said on Thursday.

2009 inflation could range between 6.3-9.3pct, says specialist

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:32:55 PST

Dr Nguyen Duc Thanh, director of Policy and Economic Research Centre of Hanoi National University has released his economic analysis and forecast saying that the 2009 inflation could range between 6.3 and 9.3 percent.

SCIC to reduce state capital in over 200 companies in H2

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:31:43 PST

State Capital Investment Corp (SCIC) has reported gaining total revenue of over 1.039 trillion dong and 868.9 billion dong in pre-tax profit in the first half of 2009.

H1 apparel exports unravel

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:30:32 PST

Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (Vitas) have announced that the country's textile export turnover in the first six months of this year was recorded at approximately $4 billion, down 4.7 percent year-on-year.

Vietcombank H1 pre-tax profit at over 2.450tr dong

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:29:40 PST

General Director of Vietcombank, Nguyen Phuoc Thanh reported that his bank gained over 2.450 trillion dong in H1 pre-tax profit, fulfilling 75 percent of the whole year's target of 3.320 trillion dong.

DI Asia fund debuts

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:28:43 PST

Japan's Dream Incubator Joint Stock Co will make the debut of Asia DI Industrial Fund with total capital size of about six billion yen ($64 million) in Vietnam on July 9 after over one year of preparation.

Business, banking and stock market briefs July 3

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:45:27 PST

* Ba Na Cable Car Service Joint Stock Co. has been approved by Da Nang City to replace Ba Na Golf Course Club Co Ltd as the main investor of the Ba Na Golf Course project that will be merged into its Ba Na-Suoi Mo tourism complex in Hoa Vang District, as the former investor has failed to establish the project.

Northern bourse's index continues declining

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:43:54 PST

The VN Index of Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange today July 3 rose by 1.65 points or 0.38 percent against the previous session to end at 435.44 points with the total matching trade order of 26 million shares worth 928.25 billion dong in value, down 35 percent in volume and 53 percent in value against yesterday.

VIB Bank boosts property lending

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:39:21 PST

Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank or VIB Bank recently introduced its two new products of "accumulative housing loans" and "housing loans for business establishment" with outstanding features.

Standard Chartered Bank launches lending for individuals

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:38:28 PST

Standard Chartered Bank on July 02 celebrated one year establishment anniversary of the bank's retail branch in Hanoi and introduced its new product of "loans for individuals"

BaoVietBank starts card project

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:37:37 PST

Bao Viet Commercial Joint Stock Bank (BaoVietBank) has officially started its card project with OpenWay Asia Private Co Ltd.

Ministry cuts tariff on kerosene

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:36:42 PST

Ministry of Finance issued Circular No 133/2009/TT-BTC has cut down the preferential import tariff on the goods of Category 2710 whereby the import tariff on kerosene will be reduced from the current 35 percent to 30 percent.

Cambodia plans to open a national joint venture airlines with Vietnam

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:35:29 PST

Cambodian Civil Aviation Authority has announced its plan to officially open and put into operation the new national joint venture airlines between Cambodia and Vietnam called "Cambodia Angkor Airline"

Securities brokerage signs cooperation deal with EVN Finance

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:34:22 PST

Ha Thanh Securities Joint Stock Co (HASC) and EVN Finance will cooperate in exchange of information, investment opportunities, securities consultancy, and bond issue underwriting (especially bonds of EVN and its members), according to a cooperation deal signed recently between two parties.

Investors eye third oil refinery

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:30:48 PST

The oil refinery No 3 in Ba Ria Vung Tau province's Long Son is attracting much attention of new investors including Malaysia's Petronas Group, UEA's IPIC complex, Singapore's Trafigura and Korea's GS Group, citing Dau Tu newspaper.

Kinh Bac urban developer licensed to invest in power plant

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:16:46 PST

Kinh Bac Urban Development Joint Stock Co (coded KBC) reported that it has been licensed to build a power plant in Bac Giang province through setting up a power investment joint stock company with Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group (Vinacomin).

Work on Bac Na hydropower plant begins

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:13:56 PST

Work on Bac Na hydropower plant with total designed capacity of 20 MW and an average electricity production of 78.7 million kWh year recently started in Lao Cai province's Bac Ha Dist.

5.547tr dong invested in Ringroad 3-Hanoi project

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:13:03 PST

Thang Long Project Management Board, under Ministry of Transportation plans to officially start the phase 2 of Ring road 3 –Hanoi construction project at the end of this year.

Leather shoe export to France increase by 1.6pct

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:12:12 PST

In Jan-June, Vietnam's leather shoes export turnover dipped 8.8 percent year-on-year, but that to France rose by 1.6 percent to $274 million.

Private firm sells 51pct to ICP

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:10:56 PST

International Consumer Products (ICP) has become the main shareholder by buying 51 percent stake in the capital of Thuan Phat private firm specialising in producing sources and spices, according to the recently signed agreement.

HAS gains more than 5.5b dong of H1 profit

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:10:02 PST

Hanoi Construction Joint Stock Co under the Hanoi Post Office (Hacisco, coded HAS) estimates to reach revenue of 30 billion dong and after tax profit of 5.5 billion dong in Jan-June.

VIPCO earns over 61b dong of profit

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:09:13 PST

Vietnam Petroleum Transport Joint Stock Co – VIPCO (coded VIP) estimated to achieve total revenue of 507.726 billion dong in the first six months of this year and pre-tax profit of 61 billion dong.

PVC Hong Ha to increase chartered capital to 80b dong

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:08:17 PST

PVC Hong Ha Joint Stock Co (PVC Hong Ha) plans to increase the company's chartered capital from 35 billion dong to 80 billion dong in order to maintain sufficient capital for doing business activities and implementing the current projects.

33,435 Vietnamese workers sent abroad in H1

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:35:39 PST

Vietnam during the first half of 2009 had sent 33,435 workers abroad, over 30 percent of the year's target but down 17 percent year-on-year, reported Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs' Overseas Labour Management Department.

Gap between lending and deposit rates narrowed

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:32:06 PST

On June 30, State Bank of Vietnam's governor issued Decision No 1539/QD0NHNN to retain the basic rate of the dong at 7 percent a year and also announce the refinancing rate at 7 percent applied from July 1 rediscount rate at 5.0 percent pa.

Maritime Bank reports 473b dong in H1 pre-tax profit

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:31:18 PST

During the first half of this year, Maritime Bank reported has reported earning 473 billion dong in pre-tax profit (after deducting 112 billion dong for the risk prevention risk, its total assets touched of 46 trillion dong, and total deposits 43 trillion dong.

Not the right time to separate deposit insurance from SBV: lawyer

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:30:07 PST

In many countries regulating the deposit insurance is the function of insurance agencies while in Vietnam, State Bank of Vietnam is responsible for stabilising domestic currency and ensure the security of banking system.

DCS plans to increase chartered capital to 54.4b dong

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:29:13 PST

Dai Chau Joint Stock Co (coded DCS) has set target of reaching revenue of 66 billion dong and pre-tax profit and after tax profit of 8.8 billion dong and 6.6 billion dong respectively in 2009.

Coke coal plant with capacity of 350,000 tonnes planned

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:28:06 PST

PetroVietnam Finance Joint Stock Co officials have met other funding organisations for the construction of a coke coal plant of Hoa Phat Energy Joint Stock Co on July 02 and has signed cooperation contract at Techcombank's head office.

Joint statement on accountability in the run-up to the Indonesian presidential elections

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:22:05 PST

As Indonesia prepares for its second direct presidential election on July 8th, the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) together urge the Indonesian government, its citizens, and the international community to highlight past human rights violations and to push the next Indonesian administration to end impunity for human rights violators.

Raising doubts over HK's feng shui 'masters'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:13:00 PST

A high-profile court battle over the huge estate of late Hong Kong tycoon Nina Wang has lifted the lid on the city's obsession with the ancient Chinese energy system of feng shui.

Indonesian stability not derailed by elections

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:59:46 PST

Harry Su, a leading economic researcher in Indonesia, writing for a major securities house about the upcoming presidential elections on July 8th said, "All three presidential candidates do not have sufficiently different economic policies to seriously derail Indonesia's stability, in our view".

Asian markets were mixed, US sharply lower on bleak jobs data Jul 2

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:42:44 PST

Asian markets were mixed yesterday Thursday JUl 2 as investors sought firm signals ahead of key US jobs data, while another strong performance in Shanghai raised fears its rally will run out of steam. A dour report on American job losses in June sent US and Europe shares sharply lower Thursday.

China buckles on ore price

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:52:55 PST

Australia's iron ore miners have won their long-running price battle with China's government-owned steel producers.

Thailand's press club faces police probe over lese majeste

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:12:00 PST

For the first time in its five-decade history, the whole board of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) has been accused of committing lese majeste, a crime with a maximum jail sentence of 15 years.

Philippines fears revenue loss from Aean-Australia, NZ free trade

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:11:00 PST

The Philippines stands to lose tariff revenues collected on milk and dairy products that would not necessarily result in a decline in prices of these goods," Danilo V. Fausto, chair of the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, said in a position paper.

Vietnam first-half growth at decade-low of 3.9pct

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:10:00 PST

Vietnam's economy grew at 3.9 percent in the first half of the year, the lowest level in a decade, but is on course to meet the government's full-year target, officials said Wednesday.

Singapore firms take lion's share of rights pie in Asia

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:09:00 PST

As rights issues reached a record high in the cash-strapped Asian region during the first half of 2009, Singapore companies took the lion's share of the rights issue pie with 64.8 percent of the $9.8 billion (RM34.3 billion) raised, according to data from Thomson Reuters.

Beijing to encourage foreign firms to list in China

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:08:00 PST

The Ministry of Commerce is working with other ministries to encourage foreign-funded firms to make public share offerings in China, a senior official said on Thursday.