Jia Qinglin (2nd L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong (2nd R) attend the reception to mark the 58th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sept. 28, 2007. China's National Day falls on Oct. 1st. China's State news agency Xinhua reporte that China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin has reiterated the mainland's stance of zero tolerance to any form of "Taiwan Independence" and called for the endeavour of all Chinese to realize the country's reunification. Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday evening to celebrate China's 58th National Day.  "The 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities are still rampant," said Jia, noting that the cross-Strait situation was in a "highly dangerous period." The mainland will continuously push forward the cross-Strait relationship in a peaceful direction, however, China has "zero tolerance" to "Taiwan Independence," Jia said. "We will not allow anybody to secede Taiwan from the People's Republic of China by any means," Jia added. Photo: Xinhua Photo

China's State news agency Xinhua reports that China Investment Corporate Ltd. (CIC), the country's long-awaited state foreign exchange investment company, planned to make better use of its huge foreign exchange reserve, was inaugurated on Saturday.

The CIC, with a registered capital of US$200 billion (€140.5bn, £98bn), is a solely State-owned company, according to the company sources.

The company will be operated on a commercial basis and will mainly pursue investment in overseas financial markets.

"It will deal with its forex investment business independently by persisting in the principle of separating government functions from company management," Xinhua quoted an unidentified official.

The company will try to maximize the proceeds via long-term investments within a range of acceptable risks, said the source.

At the end of August, China's Ministry of Finance announced it would use forex purchased with returns from a 600 billion-yuan (US$67.79 billion) special treasury bond sale to finance the CIC.

The launch coincides with concern in the US and Europe about the role of sovereign funds in investing in significant companies.

China's forex reserved reached US$1.33 trillion by the end of June

The Wall Street Journal Asia reports that Japan is preparing to launch the biggest change in the country's financial regulations in 20 years, a move designed to encourage the nation's thrifty savers into putting more of their $13 trillion in personal assets in stocks and bonds.

The Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, which goes into effect on Sunday, governs everything from corporate reporting procedures to acceptable securities trading practices. Commonly known as FIEL, the law also lays out new registration requirements for hedge and private-equity funds.

FIEL also raises the maximum penalty for illegal securities transactions to 10 years. In two recent high-profile insider-trading cases, the maximum prison sentence that could be imposed was three years.

The exchange is too polite to mention that it's also a ruse to avoid dissident shareholders getting publicity - - the media can only cover a small number of meetings - - and Yazuza gangsters getting payoff by threatening to launder dirty linen in public.

Japan’s share of the global foreign exchange market has slumped to its lowest level in at least 12 years, according to a new report.

Currency trading volumes in Japan fell from 8.3 per cent of the global total in April 2003 to 6 per cent in April 2007, the Bank for International Settlements’ latest triennial survey of the foreign exchange market found. The April level was the lowest since the survey began in 1995.

The survey showed global average daily volumes on the foreign exchange markets exploded by 71 per cent from $1,880bn in April 2004 to $3,210bn in April 2007.

The Financial Times reported that China’s Three Gorges dam threatens to become an environmental catastrophe if the government does not act quickly, senior Chinese officials have warned in an unusual public nod to the massive project’s ecological impact.

The comments, carried in state media on Wednesday, mark a rare Chinese admission that dire predictions of ecological destruction from international experts and domestic opponents of the world’s largest dam are coming true.

Landslides, silting, and erosion above the dam are creating environmental and safety hazards that cannot be ignored, Wang Xiaofeng, director of the State Council Three Gorges Construction Committee, was quoted as saying. “We cannot exchange environmental destruction for short-term economic gain,” he said.

The FT says that after 15 years of construction the controversial project has affected a 600km stretch of the country’s largest river, with local officials complaining of increased landslides and a profusion of algal blooms along the length of the reservoir.

The flow of the Yangtze above the dam has been reduced from 2 metres per second to 0.2 m/s, causing the sediment in the river’s famously muddy water to settle on the riverbed.

Local governments are faced with huge and growing problems just to keep the dam operational and warn that increased silting could make parts of the river impassable for shipping transport, negating one of the main rationales for the dam in the first place, according to Jean-Louis Chaussade, chief executive of Suez Environment, who met with local officials in recent months.

The Brisbane Times reports that Asia X, Malaysia's first long-haul budget carrier, will launch operations by flying to Queensland's Gold Coast in November.

The airline will start its four direct return flights per week between Kuala Lumpur and Gold Coast Airport on November 2.

Fares will start from $A99 for one-way travel departing from the Gold Coast, AirAsia X said in a statement.

The first flight is expected to carry 315 passengers aboard an Airbus A330, comprising 279 economy seats and 36 premium seats.

"We are keen to position Gold Coast as the gateway to Australia as the airport also offers strong domestic connections for low cost travel to Sydney and Melbourne," Azran Osman-Rani, chief executive officer of AirAsia X, said in the statement.

AirAsia X is operated by Fly Asian Xpress, or FAX, which is owned by Tony Fernandes and his co-founders of the region's largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia.

Last month, billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group purchased a 20 per cent stake in AirAsia X for an estimated $US7.2 million ($A8.2 million).

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the leafy districts of Hunters Hill and Woollahra house some of Sydney's wealthiest.

But the denizens of these prime postcodes - managers, bankers and lawyers - are also the city's hardest working, as measured by hours clocked worked up at the workplace.

Previously unpublished figures from the 2006 census show the average Sydney full-time worker is turning in a 45-hour week, or a nine-hour day. But for full-time male workers from Hunters Hill, this rises to 49 hours a week - almost a 10-hour day.

For the overall pool of Sydney workers, the figures show the once-sacred nine-to-five working week is a thing of the past.

FINFACTS REPORTS THIS WEEK RELATED TO ASIA-PACIFIC

Goldman Sachs warns of risk of recession in Japan and slowing of European growth
US investment bank Goldman Sachs warns of a likely recession in Japan and mounting risks that US property slump could spread to parts of Europe.

Car exports boost Japan's trade surplus in August - a month when domestic car sales fell for the 26th straight month
Japan today reported that its trade surplus nearly quadrupled in August, marking the biggest rise in  24 years, resulting from big rises in exports to the rest of Asia and Europe.

Global daily turnover in currency markets rises to $3.2 trillion; US dollar involved in more than two-fifths of all currency transactions
A report published Tuesday by the bank of central banks, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland, shows how globalisation is surging in the foreign-exchange markets.

World Bank - Doing Business 2008: Large Emerging Markets reforming fast; Egypt the Top Reformer, Eastern Europe overtakes East Asia on ease of doing business
Thanks to reforms of business regulation, more businesses are starting up, finds Doing Business 2008—the fifth in an annual report series issued by the World Bank and IFC. Countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union reformed the most in 2006/07—along with a large group of emerging markets, including China and India. Ireland is in fifth place.

IMF says markets are likely to go through a protracted adjustment period following subprime credit crunch
Markets are likely to go through a protracted adjustment period following recent financial turbulence triggered by the collapse of the US subprime mortgage market, according to the IMF's latest Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR).

ACCESS TO NEW REPORTS FROM OTHER SOURCES

Friday

What's Propelling Korea's Growth - - Forget electronics. Heavy industry exports to China are doing the job.

Korea: How Good Is Our Broadband? - - The government plans to evaluate broadband service based on two categories—technology and user satisfaction

Singapore's Transport Authority to Go Greener - - IBM will implement energy-efficient processes across the authority's IT environment over the next three years

China's Monetary Policy to Be `Moderately Tight' to Cap Growth, PBOC Says  - - China's central bank said it will maintain a ``moderately tight'' monetary policy in the last quarter of 2007 to curb inflation, limit asset prices and prevent the economy from overheating.

Soho, Owners Set to Raise $1.66 Billion in Hong Kong Listing, People Say  - - Soho China Ltd., the largest developer in Beijing's central business district, and the company's owners are set to raise HK$12.9 billion ($1.66 billion) in an initial share sale, people with knowledge of the deal said.

China's Stock Index Climbs to Record, Capping the Biggest Quarterly Gain  - - China's CSI 300 Index rose to a record, rounding out its best quarterly performance to date, after a newspaper report showed the central bank has raised its economic growth forecast for this year. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. and China Vanke Co. led the advance.

Aoyuan May Raise $469 Million, Pricing Initial Offering at Top, People Say  - - China Aoyuan Property Group, a developer in southern China, may raise HK$3.64 billion ($469 million) after pricing a Hong Kong initial public share sale at the top end, according to two people with direct information.

China Raises Mortgage Rates, Down Payments to Cool Its Real Estate Market  - - China raised interest rates on some mortgages and increased minimum down payments to curb property speculation after real-estate prices rose last month at their fastest pace in more than two years.

Wal-mart, Carrefour and Metro find 99% of Chinese products qualified - - International retail giants Wal-mart, Carrefour and Metro have told China's Ministry of Commerce that they are satisfied with the quality of Chinese products, more than 99 percent of which meet standards, ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei said on Thursday.

Nasdaq approved to open representative office in Beijing - - Following the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, the other major U.S. stock exchange, was approved by China Securities Regulatory Commission to open a representative office in Beijing, the company announced on Thursday.

DoCoMo and KDDI to delink fees, handsets - - Top cell phone carriers NTT DoCoMo Inc. and KDDI Corp. will likely review their sales incentives and let customers choose between two options: conventional pricing plans linked to inexpensive handsets or lower monthly service fees for higher-priced handsets, industry officials said Thursday.

Toyota, Nissan issue safety recalls in U.S. - - Toyota Motor Corp. says it will recall optional "all-weather" floor mats in 55,000 Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry passenger cars in North America because they could interfere with the accelerator and cause an accident.

Nikkei 225 Falls on Signs of Weaker Economy; Circle K and Millea Decline  - - Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell, led by domestic demand-oriented shares, on signs the world's second-largest economy is faltering after unemployment unexpectedly rose and consumer prices dropped for a seventh month.

Factory Production Jumps to Record in August; Household Spending Rebounds  - - Japan's industrial output surged at the fastest pace in almost four years and household spending rebounded, signaling the economy may weather a U.S. slowdown.

Dollar Falls to Record Low Against Euro Before U.S. Economic Reports  - - The dollar fell to a record low against the euro before a report that will probably show personal incomes grew at a slower pace in August.

Mitsubishi UFJ Cuts Profit Forecast by 44 Percent, Citing Investment Loss  - - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.'s main banking unit cut its half-year profit forecast 44 percent, citing a decline in the value of investments at subsidiaries. Group earnings won't be affected, it said.

IHI Widens Half-Year Net Loss Estimate to $434 Million, Chairman to Resign  - - IHI Corp., Japan's third-biggest maker of heavy machinery, forecast a first-half loss that may be as much as eight times wider than the company had expected and said it may restate earnings for past years.

India's Market Regulator Pursuing 20 Companies on Corporate Governance  - - The Indian stock market regulator has in the past two weeks issued notices to 20 large companies that have not complied with corporate governance regulations.

Rupee Heads for Biggest Monthly Advance Since April, Rises a Fifth Quarter  - - India's rupee is heading for the biggest monthly advance since April on speculation the nation's economic growth and rallying stock market will attract increased investment from abroad.

Citigroup, Merrill Each Buy 5 Percent Stakes in Multi Commodity Exchange  - - Citigroup Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. bought 5 percent stakes in the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. to tap the threefold growth in trade last year on the world's third-largest gold bourse.

Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex Advances; State Bank, Infosys Lead Gains  - - India's Sensitive Index climbed, extending its record high for the eighth straight day, as overseas investors continue to buy the nation's shares. State Bank of India and Infosys Technologies Ltd. led gains.

Inflation Rate in India Unexpectedly Slows in Second Week of September  - - India's inflation unexpectedly eased in the second week of September as monsoon rains boosted farm supplies and drove down prices of fruits and vegetables.

Thursday

Toyota revs sales with van release - - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it expects to sell 4,000 Mark X ZiO minivans a month in the domestic market as the automaker speeds up model releases to meet a goal of raising domestic sales 2 percent this year.

Honda shows off new jet's interior - - Honda Motor Co. showed off the interior of its new HondaJet, a seven-seat plane the automaker plans to start producing in 2010, at a business aircraft show Tuesday.

China ends fixed aviation accident insurance premium - - China's unified premium price of 20 yuan for aviation accident insurance will end from Dec. 1, China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) announced Wednesday.

Five U.S. airlines win flight routes to China - - Several United States carriers have won permission by the U.S. Department of Transportation to start new flights to China after the two countries signed an agreement to open up the skies, the companies said yesterday.

Edible oil auction to help ease holiday price hikes - - A total of 200,000 tons of edible oil reserves will be auctioned to curb price hikes during the week-long National Day holidays, officials have announced.

China likely to raise mortgage deposits to curb house price hiking - - The central bank is likely to order commercial banks to raise mortgage deposits to at least 40 percent for homebuyers who intend to buy a second apartment.

China's Fourth-Quarter Economic Growth May Slow, Government Economists Say  - - China's economic growth may slow in the fourth quarter, economists from the State Information Center said, citing a moderation in power generation, steel output and government revenue.

Profits Among China's Industrial Companies Rose 37 Percent Through August  - - Profits at Chinese industrial companies surged 37 percent in the first eight months from a year earlier, adding to funds that fuel investment in the world's fastest-growing major economy.

Hong Kong Exchanges Rises on Newspaper Report of China Government Purchase  - - Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd., the best-performing stock on the local index, rose after the London-based Times reported China's government may have bought a stake.

China's Stocks Rise; Datong Coal Gains on Fuel Price Hopes, Vanke Advances  - - China's stocks rose for the first day in three. Datong Coal Industry Co. paced gains among coal producers after KGI Securities Co. said prices of the fuel will hit a record this year on rising Chinese demand.

Equipment Makers Target China's New 3G Standard - - China Netcom and China Mobile are stepping up construction of their respective TD-SCDMA networks in major cities around the country

China Resources Power Shares Rise After Goldman Sachs Raises Target Price  - - China Resources Power Holdings gained the most in almost three months in Hong Kong trading after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its target price for the stock.

ICICI'S Bonds Rise as Fed Interest Rate Cut Boosts Investor Risk Appetite  - - ICICI Bank Ltd. bonds rose after a $2 billion debt sale by India's biggest lender to consumers underscored a revival in Asian credit markets.

Asian Stocks Climb to a Two-Month High; Macquarie, Mizuho Financial Gain  - - Asian stocks rose to a two-month high as speculation heightened that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates and a report showed South Korean consumers are the most upbeat in five years.

Sri Lanka May Keep Key Interest Rate Unchanged at Highest Level in Asia  - - Sri Lanka's central bank will probably keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the highest level in Asia to help cool inflation.

Benchmark Indian Sensitive Index Rises, Led By Reliance, ICICI, Infosys  - - India's benchmark stock index, the Mumbai Stock Exchange Sensitive Index, rose 0.97 percent at 10:00 a.m.

Rupee Advances for a Fourth Day as Asian Equities Rally Spurs Investment  - - India's rupee, which reached its strongest since April 1998 yesterday, climbed for a fourth day on optimism a rally in local stocks will prompt investors to increase investment in the country.

Unilever Looks to Recover Lost Indian Glory - - As competition heats up, India's top consumer-products company woos affluent shoppers with global brands like Dove, while cooking up its foods biz

Equipment Makers Target China's New 3G Standard - - China Netcom and China Mobile are stepping up construction of their respective TD-SCDMA networks in major cities around the country

Japanese Stocks Advance After Buffett Report; Mizuho Leads Banks Higher  - - Japanese stocks advanced, sending the Nikkei 225 Stock Average to the highest in seven weeks. Financial companies such as Mizuho Financial Group Inc. led gains after a report that Warren Buffett will buy a stake in Bear Stearns Cos. boosted confidence lenders will recover from the subprime crisis.

Dollar Trades Near Record Low Against Euro Before U.S. New-Homes Data  - - The dollar traded near an all-time low against the euro on speculation a government report will show a drop in U.S. home sales, bolstering the Federal Reserve's case for cutting interest rates.

Economy May Overheat If Interest Rates Rise Too Slowly, BOJ's Suda Says  - - The Bank of Japan should keep raising interest rates gradually to keep the economy from overheating, central bank board member Miyako Suda said.

Nippon Electric Glass Surges on Higher Forecast, Brokerage 'Buy' Ratings  - - Nippon Electric Glass Co., the world's third-biggest supplier of glass for liquid-crystal displays, rose by the most in four years after the company increased its earnings forecast and analysts lifted their ratings.

JPMorgan Plans to Double Retail Wealth Assets, Open Branches in Japan  - - JPMorgan & Chase Co., the third- largest U.S. bank, plans to double assets it manages for Japanese individuals and open branches in the nation to grab a greater share of household wealth.

Wednesday

U.S. prods Tokyo to lift beef age limit - - Citing international standards, acting U.S. Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner asked Japan on Monday to raise the age limit on American beef imports.

Sony PSP Says Change Your Shirt - - Games for nongamers are in style, and on its redesigned handheld, Sony is meeting demand with—among other offerings—My Stylist, a wardrobe organizer

Philippine President Scraps Controversial ZTE Deal - - The decision comes amid allegations that high-ranking Philippine officials benefited from illegal kickbacks and commissions

Shenhua Draws Record $350 Billion of Demand for Shanghai Sale, People Say  - - China Shenhua Energy Co., the nation's largest coal producer, attracted a record of more than 2.6 trillion yuan ($350 billion) in orders for its Shanghai share sale, said two people with direct knowledge of the transaction.

Tainted Exports Damage China Plan to Build Reputation of Brands, Factories  - - The biggest cost to China from the wave of product recalls isn't shuttered toy factories or wasted toothpaste: It's the damage to its aspirations to become a center of high-quality production.

Air China, China Eastern Decline After Cathay Pacific Withdrew Investment  - - Air China Ltd., the world's largest carrier by market value, fell for a second day in Shanghai trading after its parent scrapped a bid to buy a major stake in China Eastern Airlines Corp.

China Among Best Reformers in Boosting Business Climate, IFC Report Says  - - China's government was among the best this year and in 2006 at improving its business environment and protecting private property and creditor rights, the World Bank and International Finance Corp said.

Target Sued Over Recalled Chinese-Made Cribs in Proposed Class Action Case  - - Target Corp. and two other companies were sued by a mother who owns a Chinese-made crib that was among 1 million recalled following the deaths of three children.

Chidambaram Rues Policy Options as Rupee Rises `Way Above Comfort Level'  - - Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said policy makers have few options to deal with a rupee exchange rate that is ``way above the comfort level'' because the currency is set by open markets.

India's Central Bank Eases Overseas Investment Rules to Stem Rupee Rise  - - India's central bank eased overseas investment and loan repayment rules for local companies, betting capital outflows will help the appreciating rupee retreat from a nine-year high.

Ten-Year Bonds Decline as Government and Central Bank Increase Debt Supply  - - India's 10-year bonds declined for the third day, pushing yields to the highest in almost a month, on speculation investors will demand higher yields as the supply of debt increases.

Rupee Gains After Finance Minister Chidambaram Says India Can't Curb Rise  - - India's rupee rose to the highest since April 1998 after Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said the government can do ``nothing directly'' to curb gains.

Trade Surplus Surges Three Times More Than Expected on Car, Steel Exports  - - Japan's August trade surplus widened to 743.2 billion yen ($6.5 billion), three times higher than economists predicted, as car and steel shipments jumped and import growth slowed.

Dollar Declines to Record Low Against Euro Before Report on Durable Goods  - - The dollar fell to a record low against the euro on speculation a government report would show a drop in U.S. durable goods orders, adding to evidence the economy is slowing.

Japan's Topix Climbs on Expectations U.S. Fed Will Lower Rates; Banks Gain  - - Japan's Topix index climbed after data suggesting weakening housing and retail markets in the U.S. boosted speculation the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates.

Japan's Consumer Prices Probably Fell For Seventh Month; Output to Rebound  - - Japan's consumer prices probably fell for a seventh month in August, a sign that the world's second-largest economy has yet to stamp out deflation.

Platinum Futures Reach Highest in Eight Weeks in Tokyo as Dollar Declines  - - Platinum futures in Tokyo advanced to the highest in eight weeks after the dollar fell to a record low against the euro, boosting the appeal of the precious metal as an alternative investment.

Indian PC market grows by 22% in Q2 - - The overall client PC market in India grew 22.1 per cent, recording 1.53 million shipments in the second quarter of 2007 calendar year as against 1.25 million in the corresponding period last calendar year, market research firm IDC said.

Mittal to invest $20 bn in Indian plants - - Steel tycoon Lakshmi Niwas Mittal has pledged an investment of about 20 billion dollars for building two 12-million-tonne steel plants in India, where the demand for the commodity is growing rapidly.

Tuesday/Monday

Construction Bank Surges on Shanghai Debut After $7.7 Billion Share Sale  - - China Construction Bank Corp., the nation's third-largest bank, rose on its first day of trading in Shanghai after investors ordered 39 times the stock on offer in the world's second-largest share sale this year.

Cathay Pacific, Air China Plunge After Scrapping China Eastern Bid Plan  - - Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Hong Kong's largest carrier, fell the most in almost six years on the city's stock exchange after axing plans to challenge Singapore Airlines Ltd. for a stake in China Eastern Airlines Corp.

Sino Land Slides Most in 3 Years After Announcing $553 Million Share Sale  - - Sino Land Co., Hong Kong's fifth biggest property developer by market value, had its biggest fall in almost three years after announcing the sale of HK$4.3 billion ($553 million) of new shares.

Ford May Produce Verve-Based Compact Cars in Nanjing to Spur China's Sales  - - Ford Motor Co. said the first Ford- brand vehicle at its new factory in eastern China's Nanjing city may be based on the Verve prototype, as the second-largest U.S. carmaker adds lower-priced models to attract first-time buyers.

China Mobile Shares Climb After Lehman, CLSA Increase Their Price Targets  - - China Mobile Ltd., the world's largest wireless-phone carrier by users, had the biggest two-day gain in a month on the Hong Kong exchange after Lehman Brothers and CLSA Ltd. raised their stock price estimates.

China Life teams up with General Electric - - China Life Insurance (Group) Co has forged a strategic partnership with America's General Electric Co to explore finance and other industries together.

Ford opens Nanjing plant - - Ford Motor Co, a relative latecomer in China, yesterday opened a 160,000-unit car plant in this eastern city as part of its catch-up plan in the world's second-biggest and fast-growing vehicle market.

Struggling Dell enters partnership - - Dell Inc said yesterday it will begin selling personal computer products through Gome Group, China's largest electronic retailer, in a move to win back consumers by going beyond its direct-sales model.

Hong Kong shares see new high - - Hong Kong shares on Monday surged to a new high at the opening and end up above 26,000, setting another record for the fourth successive day.

PetroChina to double proven reserves - - The biggest oil discovery in the country for a decade will contribute more proven reserves in five to six years, PetroChina's chief geologist has said.

Dell Goes Retail in China with Gome - - The PC maker is teaming up with the mainland's biggest electronics retailer after its direct-sales model gets off to a slow start in China

No Honeymoon for Japan's New Leader - - Yasuo Fukuda is a shoo-in for prime minister, but his Liberal Democratic Party is unpopular after predecessor Shinzo Abe's disastrous year

China Issues Strict Rules to Regulate TV Shows - - Mass audience voting for American Idol-style talent shows has been banned, and the shows have been pushed out of prime time

China's Generic Drugmakers Challenge India - - China is coming from behind and challenging India in an industry it has traditionally dominated

PetroChina Investors Shrug Off Buffett Sale - - The investing wizard sells 28 million shares of the Chinese oil company criticized for links to Sudan, but his remaining 9% stake rakes it in

China Tops Asia's Malicious Activity - - A Symantec survey shows the mainland accounted for 42% of the region's spam zombies, bots, and attacks -- it may be due to the high piracy rate

Selling Computers to India - - With growth slowing in China, computer makers hope Asia's other big market will pick up the slack

India May Give Bonds to State-Run Refiners to Compensate For Retail Loss  - - India may issue 120 billion rupees ($3 billion) of bonds to state-run refiners such as Indian Oil Corp., the nation's biggest, by Oct. 15, M.S. Srinivasan, secretary at the oil ministry, told reporters in New Delhi.

Benchmark Indian Sensex Advances, Led By Oil Refiners; State Bank Declines  - - India's stocks rose, with the Sensitive Index poised for its fifth straight record. Indian Oil Corp. led refiners higher after the government issued oil bonds to help reduce losses at refiners, whose selling prices are restricted by the government.

Ten-Year Bonds Decline as Government and Central Bank Increase Debt Supply  - - India's 10-year bonds declined for a third day on speculation investors will demand higher yields as the supply of debt increases.

Rupee Halts Gain on Speculation Central Bank Will Sell to Protect Exports  - - India's rupee, which reached a nine-year high yesterday, halted its advance on speculation the central bank will sell the currency to curb a rally that is eroding export earnings.

India, Sri Lanka Aim to Broaden Free-Trade Agreement by April After Delay  - - India and Sri Lanka plan to sign an agreement to advance a 2000 free-trade accord by April, after disagreements over access to agriculture products and service industries held up negotiations.

Commodity, Shipowner Stocks Climb, Led by Mitsui O.S.K.; Toyota Advances  - - Japanese stocks advanced, paced by commodity-related stocks, after prices for metals including copper and zinc rose and a shipping rate index surged to a record.

Yen Gains Against Pound, Euro as Credit Market Losses Damp Confidence  - - The yen gained versus the pound and the euro on speculation credit market losses will damp business and consumer confidence across Europe.

Bank of Japan Held Rates Steady in August on Market Turmoil, Minutes Show  - - The Bank of Japan refrained from raising interest rates in August after losses in global financial markets clouded the outlook for economic growth, minutes show.

Five-Year Government Notes Decline After Gain in Stocks Cuts Risk Aversion  - - Japan's five-year notes fell for a fourth day as gains in stocks limited demand for the relative safety of government securities.

Hino Raises First-Half Profit Forecast 16 Percent on Higher Overseas Sales  - - Hino Motors Ltd., Japan's biggest maker of heavy-duty trucks, raised its forecast for net income for the six months through September by 16 percent on higher overseas sales.

Super gains as resource shares soar - - AUSTRALIAN shares have returned to record highs after last month's bronco ride, and superannuation funds are back to counting gains.