ACCESS TO NEWS REPORTS FROM OTHER SOURCES

Friday/Thursday

Sinoma Surges in Hong Kong Debut as Investors Bet on China Building Boom  - - China National Materials Co., the world's largest supplier of cement-making equipment, rose 39 percent on its trading debut in Hong Kong, as investors sought to benefit from a building boom ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

SCMP Shares Rise Most in Four Years After Buyout Offer From Parent Kerry  - - SCMP Group Ltd., publisher of the South China Morning Post newspaper, rose the most in more than four years in Hong Kong after the company received a HK$2.37 billion ($304 million) buyout offer from parent Kerry Group.

China Cosco Surges Most in Three Weeks in Hong Kong on Profit Forecast  - - China Cosco Holdings Ltd., Asia's largest container-shipping line, rose by the most in three weeks in Hong Kong trading after the company boosted its profit forecast for this year.

China May Cut Net Steel Exports by Raising Tariffs on Semi-Finished Goods  - - China, which produces one third of the world's steel, may reduce net exports of the alloy by 20 million metric tons next year by further raising tariffs on so- called semi-finished products, an industry official said.

Wall Street Gets $25 Billion in Asian, Mideast Cash After Subprime Losses  - - Wall Street is turning to Asian and Middle Eastern governments for $25 billion to prop up balance sheets battered by writedowns from the collapse of the U.S. subprime market.

Nine Dragons May Invest $1 Billion to Increase Containerboard Production  - - Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Ltd., China's biggest maker of containerboard, plans to invest as much as $1 billion over the next two years to expand capacity as demand grows, the company's chief executive officer said.

China Mobile Adds 6.5 Million Wireless Users in November on Reduced Rates  - - China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest wireless-phone carrier by users, added 6.5 million subscribers in November after cutting prices, as fixed-line operator China Telecom Corp. lost customers for the fourth straight month.

Sinotruk Parent China National Heavy Truck Sees $4.75 Billion of Revenue  - - China National Heavy Truck Group Co., China's largest maker of heavy trucks, forecast more than 35 billion yuan ($4.75 billion) of sales this year.

DLF, Hines to Compete to Develop New Delhi Railway Site as Prices Surge  - - DLF Ltd., India's biggest real estate company, and Hines are among developers that may bid to build hotels, offices and shops around New Delhi's railway station, as the city prepares to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Asian Stocks Rise for First Time in Seven Days, Led by Mizuho Financial  - - Asian stocks rose. Bank of China Ltd. and Kookmin Bank paced the gains after China agreed to buy a stake in Morgan Stanley, easing concern that the fallout from writedowns by U.S. financial firms would spread.

IFCI Shares Plunge After Scrapping Stake Sale to Sterlite, Morgan Stanley  - - IFCI Ltd., the Indian project financing company that scrapped a plan to sell a 26 percent stake to a strategic investor, plunged as much as 27 percent, wiping out 14 billion rupees ($354 million) from its market value.

Crude Oil Trades Little Changed After Rising on Drop in U.S. Inventories  - - Crude oil traded little changed above $91 a barrel in New York after rising yesterday on a government report that showed U.S. inventories declined more than expected as fog delayed the arrival of imports.

Gold Little Changed Above $800 in Asia as Inflationary Concerns Presist  - - Gold was little changed above $800 an ounce in Asia on speculation rising food and energy prices will prompt increased buying of precious metals as a hedge against inflation.

Ten-Year Government Bond Yield Holds Near One-Week Low as Funds May Rise  - - India's 10-year bond yields held near the lowest in a week on speculation increased spending by the government will add cash to the banking system.

Indian Rupee Poised for Weekly Decline as Global Funds Sell Local Stocks  - - India's rupee headed for a weekly loss on concern global funds are dumping local equities following a decline in the benchmark stock index.

Kingfisher Airlines to Absorb Deccan, Start Overseas Flights Next Year  - - Billionaire Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines Ltd., the only Indian customer for the Airbus SAS A380, will absorb Deccan Aviation Ltd. to increase its fleet, cut costs and fly overseas as early as next year.

Indian Energy Company Raises $552 Million - - The share price for Suzlon Energy's qualified institutional placement was reduced after the new U.S. energy bill failed to extend tax credits for wind farm developers beyond 2008

Bank of Japan Keeps Rate at 0.5% in First Unanimous Decision Since June  - - The Bank of Japan refrained from raising interest rates in the first unanimous decision since June, after a drop in business confidence signaled companies are bracing for slower economic growth.

Fukuda to Increase Spending in 2008, Japan's Budget Deficit Set to Widen  - - Japan's budget deficit will widen for the first time in five years as the government spends more on rural areas, calling into question Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's resolve to cut the world's largest public debt.

Japan's Export Growth Cools as Shipments to U.S. Tumble for a Third Month  - - Japan's export growth cooled in November as the U.S. housing recession cut demand for automobiles and construction equipment.

Yen Trades Near Six-Week Low Against Dollar Before BOJ's Rate Decision  - - The yen traded near a six-week low against the dollar on speculation Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui will say there is no set time for raising interest rates today.

Shares in Tokyo Rise on Report Banks to Reject Fund Contribution Request  - - Japanese shares rose for the first time in seven days after the Nikkei newspaper said the country's three biggest banks will refuse a request to contribute as much as $15 billion to a subprime-asset bailout fund.

Mitsubishi UFJ Says It Is Still Considering Subprime Fund Contribution  - - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan's largest bank by market value, is still considering a request to contribute to a U.S. fund to bail out investments threatened by subprime loan defaults.

REITs Face Consolidation, Privatization as Falling Share Prices Curb Gains  - - Japan's real estate investment trusts face acquisitions or being taken back into private ownership with about 75 percent of those that are listed trading below net asset value, industry participants say.

Hino Motors Aims to Boost Truck Sales on Rising Demand in Emerging Markets  - - Hino Motors Ltd., Japan's largest maker of heavy trucks, aims to boost sales 11 percent in 2008 on rising demand in emerging markets.

Unusual message from Keidanren: It's time to raise wages - - The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) took the unusual step Wednesday of encouraging member firms to raise wages, emphasizing that both earnings and employee income must rise to maintain the economy's growth potential.

Honda sees record year on 6% rise in global sales - - Honda expects its global sales to rise 6 percent this year to a record 3.76 million vehicles, thanks to booming demand in the United States, Europe and Asia, President Takeo Fukui said Wednesday.

Honda Targets Toyota's Hybrid Dominance - - The carmaker's CEO wants to boost profits with a new, economical, 2009 hybrid—and with emerging market sales to offset weakness in Japan

Wednesday

Huaneng Power Buys 9% Stake in Shenzhen Energy Investment for $206 Million  - - Huaneng Power International Inc., China's second-largest power producer by market value, paid 1.52 billion yuan ($206 million) for a 9.08 percent stake in Shenzhen Energy Investment Co.

China's Stocks Gain as Concern About Government Sell-off Eases on Report  - - China's stocks rose for the first time in three days after the Shanghai Securities News reported the government ``won't massively sell shares'' to cool equity markets. China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. led gains.

China May Impose 10% Resources Tax on Oil, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Says  - - China may impose a ``resources'' tax of as much as 10 percent on crude oil, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Zhigang said.

Midwest, Target of Competing Takeovers, Allows Sinosteel to Study Finances ,  - - Midwest Corp., the target of two takeover offers, will allow China's Sinosteel Corp. to study the Australian iron ore producer's finances.

Minsheng Bank to Reorganize Business to Boost Efficiency, Meet Competition  - - China Minsheng Banking Corp., the nation's first privately owned bank, said it's reorganizing its operations to become more customer-oriented and efficient as competition in the industry intensifies.

China to Cut West African Crude Oil Imports by 13% on High Shipping Costs  - - China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. and PetroChina Co., the nation's two biggest oil companies, will cut crude oil imports from West Africa in January by about 13 percent after shipping costs rose to a three-year high.

Copper Rises in Asia on Signs of Persistent Demand in Biggest Buyer China  - - Copper rose in Shanghai as investors deemed a decline yesterday excessive amid signs of steady demand in China, the world's largest consumer of the metal.

Chalco Gets Regulator's Approval for Acquisition of Rival Baotou Aluminum  - - Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., the nation's largest producer of the metal, won regulatory approval to buy rival Baotou Aluminum Co.

Red Hat Launches Asia-Pac Campaign - - The open-source software company hopes to bring easier management of a network's virtual machines to the table

New Report Cuts China Economy Down a Size - - A new Asian Development Bank study suggests that China's gross domestic product on a purchasing power parity basis is 40% smaller than previously thought

Official: Overseas banks expand steadily in China - - Overseas banks saw their business steadily expanding in China since last December when the country fully opened its banking sector to foreign competitors, a senior official with the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said Tuesday.

China sets up oil reserve center - - China announced Tuesday the setting up of a national oil reserve center, the top economic planning agency confirmed.

Jasdaq in Talks With India's Bombay Stock Exchange on Forming an Alliance  - - Jasdaq Securities Exchange Inc., Japan's biggest market for startups, is in talks with the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. to lure Indian companies to list on its board, a move that may help arrest a slide in trading volumes.

Aurobindo Pharma Gets Regulatory Approval to Sell Generic Omnicef in U.S.  - - Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., an Indian drugmaker, won regulatory approval to sell its copy of Abbott Laboratories's antibiotic Omnicef in the U.S.

Deccan Aviation's Board to Meet on Expanding Kingfisher Airlines Alliance  - - Deccan Aviation Ltd., India's largest discount airline, said its directors will meet to consider a report on expanding an alliance with Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.

IFCI to Sell Stake to Group Led by Morgan Stanley, Sterlite Today, ET Says  - - India's IFCI Ltd. will today announce the sale of a 26 percent stake to a group of investors led by Morgan Stanley and Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd., the Economic Times reported, citing banking secretary Vinod Rai.

Oil Is Little Changed Near $90 a Barrel After Falling on Demand Outlook  - - Crude oil traded near $90 a barrel in New York after falling the past four days on speculation slowing global economic growth and forecast mild weather in the U.S. may curb demand.

Honda Will Boost U.S. Sales in 2008 With Fuel-Efficient Models, Fukui Says  - - Honda Motor Co., Japan's second- largest automaker, expects fuel-efficient models to help it withstand a decline in the U.S. market next year and boost sales in China and Europe.

Tiger Air Orders 20 Airbus Planes to Add Budget Flights to Korea, India  - - Tiger Airways Pte, the budget carrier partly owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd., ordered 20 planes valued at $1.3 billion from Airbus SAS as it sets up a base in South Korea and expands in Australia, Malaysia and India.

Gold Rise on Speculation U.S. to Reduce Borrowing Costs, Weaken Dollar  - - Gold rose on speculation that turmoil in credit markets will force the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, boosting the appeal of the precious metal as an alternative to the dollar. Silver also gained.

Government Slashes Growth Forecast as Law Change Triggers Housing Slump  - - Japan's government slashed its economic growth forecast after stricter rules for obtaining building permits caused housing starts to plummet to a four- decade low.

Topix Gains on Report Banks May Reject Bailout Fund Contribution Request  - - Japan's Topix index advanced for the first time in six days, led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., on speculation the country's top three banks will refuse a request by U.S. counterparts for a credit-line contribution to a subprime-asset bailout fund.

Yen Trades Near Five-Week Low Versus Dollar on Stocks Gain, ECB Funds  - - The yen traded near a five-week low against the dollar after global stocks gained, leading investors to borrow in Japan and buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere.

Jasdaq Is in Alliance Talks With Bombay Exchange as Trading Volume Slumps  - - Jasdaq Securities Exchange Inc., Japan's biggest market for startups, is in talks with the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. to lure Indian companies to list on its board, a move that may help arrest a slide in trading volumes.

Nippon Kayaku Shares Fall Most Since 1987 as Chemical Maker Cuts Forecast  - - Nippon Kayaku Co., a Japanese chemical and fertilizer maker, dropped the most in 20 years after lowering its full-year profit forecast, citing a missed forecast at a liquid-crystal display polarizing film subsidiary.

Japan May Raise Domestic Wheat Price as Much as 30% on Soaring Import Cost  - - Japan may increase prices of imported wheat sold to domestic flour millers by 20 to 30 percent on average from next April after buying costs surged.

Five-Year Notes Advance for Third Day on Decline in U.S. Housing Starts  - - Japanese five-year government bonds rose for a third day on speculation a U.S. housing recession will slow growth in the world's biggest economy.

Nippon Steel Weighs Closer Ties With Sumitomo Metal Industries, Kobe Steel  - - Nippon Steel Corp., the world's second-biggest steelmaker, is considering closer ties with rivals Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. and Kobe Steel Ltd., amid a spate of takeovers in the industry.

Food, cosmetics sales lift big stores - - Sales at department stores across Japan rose 0.9 percent year on year in November to ¥692.45 billion, the first increase in three months, due to brisk sales of food on yearend gift demand and strong sales of cosmetic products, an industry group said Tuesday.

Economy continues rise; outlook still uncertain - - The uptrend in the economy continues on the back of solid external demand, but the outlook remains uncertain as the corporate sector appears to have begun to lose steam, the government said in a monthly report released Tuesday.

Sharp Bets Big on Ultra-thin, LCD TVs - - The Japanese company's ability to sell ever-thinner liquid-crystal display sets will determine whether it can retain brand cachet and keep profits up

The Return of Korea's Old Guard - - As reform sputters, conservative icon Lee Myung Bak is ready to make a comeback in South Korea's Dec. 19 presidential election

Tuesday/Monday

Hutchison, T-Mobile to Share British 3G Networks to Save Costs, People Say  - - Deutsche Telekom AG and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. agreed to share their high-speed wireless networks in the U.K., extending their reach and reducing investment costs, according to three people with knowledge of the accord.

Chinalco Wins Support From Government to Expand Into Copper, Rare Earths  - - Aluminum Corp. of China, the state- owned parent of the nation's biggest producer of the lightweight metal, won more central government backing to diversify into copper and rare earths.

Sinopec Starts Building $2 Billion Ethylene Plant in Wuhan to Meet Demand  - - China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the nation's largest oil refiner, started constructing an ethylene plant costing 14.7 billion yuan ($2 billion) to tap rising demand for the chemical.

Hong Kong Disneyland Visitors Fell About 25% in Second Year of Operations  - - Hong Kong Disneyland attendance figures slumped in its second year, prompting its owners, the city's government and Walt Disney Co., to seek financial relief for the struggling theme park.

Medtronic to Buy 15% of Weigao for $221 Million, Form Orthopedics Venture  - - Medtronic Inc., the largest maker of medical products for the spine, agreed to buy 15 percent of Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co. for $221 million to expand in China.

Yuan Rises After China Reduces Holdings of U.S. Treasuries for Third Month  - - The yuan rose after a U.S. government report showed China cut its holdings of Treasuries for a third month in October, a sign the nation may be diversifying its foreign reserves.

China's Stocks Advance From Two-Week Low; Coal Producers Climb With Prices  - - China's stocks rose, rebounding from a two-week low, as coal producers such as Shanxi Xishan Coal and Electricity Power Co. advanced on expectation profits will climb on higher prices of the fuel.

China Studies Extra Loan Curbs to Cool Growth, Central Bank Official Says  - - China is studying extra lending curbs to prevent overheating in the world's fastest-growing major economy, according to a central bank official.

Legislator: Macao should diversify gaming-led economy - - Macao saw its economy unleashed by the booming gaming industry in the past eight years, but further development requires a more diversified economic pattern, said a Macao legislator in an interview with Xinhua on Monday.

Microsoft sued for copyright violation in Philippines - - A Philippine college on Monday accused global software giant Microsoft Corp. of allegedly reproducing the school's copyrighted materials without consent.

Singapore's non-oil export drops 3.4% in November - - Singapore's mainstay export, the non-oil domestic export (NODX), declined by 3.4 percent year-on-year in November, reversing six months of increases, largely due to a drop in electronic NODX, the government said on Monday.

Great potential for Chinese cars in Egypt, North Africa - - Nowadays it's not strange if a Chinese car passes by in the streets of the Egyptian capital Cairo, where the automobile market has traditionally been dominated by European countries and Asia's Japan and South Korea.   

Asian Design Comes of Age - - From architecture to lingerie to digital cameras, the products created by this year's Design for Asia award-winners represent the region's growing focus on style

Outsourcing Rivalry Doesn't Faze Malaysia - - To combat competition from the Philippines, the country is positioning itself as a high-value rather than low-cost destination for voice services

On the Ground in Guangzhou - - Wander through this city and you'll be overwhelmed by the scope and scale of its gritty capitalism. No niche, no matter how tiny, has been overlooked

Hackers Likely to Target Chinese Users in 2008 - - Security company Arbor Networks declared the iPhone to be a big target of mainland cybercriminals next year

Commercial Paper Shakes up Chinese Debt Market - - There are concerns that too much high-yield paper has been issued and that if several issuers don't pay their debts, the market could go into a freefall

Asia-Pacific to Spend $154 Billion on IT - - China and India will lead the charge, says research firm IDC, with government spending and green IT initiatives fueling some of the momentum

Next-Gen Yellow Pages in Taiwan - - Thanks to Chunghwa Telecom, if you're looking for a nearby restaurant that is open at midnight, the operator can find one. You don't even have to know where you are

Essar Oil to Raise $4 Billion to More Than Triple Output at India Refinery  - - Essar Oil Ltd., operator of India's newest refinery, plans to raise $4 billion, half of it overseas, to more than triple capacity at the facility.

Indian Oil May Spend $3 Billion on Acquisitions to Meet Rising Fuel Demand  - - Indian Oil Corp., the nation's biggest refiner, may spend as much as $3 billion to buy an overseas oil producer to meet rising demand in the world's second-fastest-growing major economy.

IFCI Falls as Discussions on 26 Percent Stake Sale Continue for Second Day  - - IFCI Ltd. posted its biggest drop in a month as the board continued discussions for a second day on the winning bid for a 26 percent stake it's selling, delaying a decision that was expected yesterday.

Benchmark Sensitive Index Declines; Reliance Industries, Metal Stocks Drop  - - India's Sensitive Index fell for a fourth day on concern tight credit markets and the U.S. housing slump will derail economic growth. Reliance Industries Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro Ltd. led declines.

Tiger Air Orders 20 Airbus Planes to Add Budget Flights to Korea, India  - - Tiger Airways Pte, the budget carrier partly owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd., ordered 20 single-aisle planes from Airbus SAS as it sets up a base in South Korea, and expands in Australia, Malaysia and India.

India's Rupee Falls on Concern Overseas Funds Will Reduce Stock Purchases  - - India's rupee fell for a second day on concern that declining local stocks will prompt global funds to slow investment in the country.

Bonds May Gain on Speculation Yields at 2-Week High Will Attract Investors  - - India's government bonds may rise on speculation yields near the highest in two weeks will attract investors.

Ford May Pick Tata as Preferred Bidder for Jaguar, Land Rover, Person Says  - - Ford Motor Co. may choose India's Tata Motors Ltd. as the preferred bidder for its U.K.-based Jaguar and Land Rover brands, a person familiar with the deliberations said.

A Rising Rupee Hammers Indian Textiles - - The rupee's 11% gain against the dollar has driven U.S. and European retailers to switch their orders to countries with weaker currencies

Household financial assets see ¥20 trillion plunge - - The outstanding balance of financial assets held by households reached ¥1.536 quadrillion as of Sept. 30, falling by some ¥20 trillion from three months ago due to valuation losses on stocks amid the global market turmoil linked to the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, the Bank of Japan said Monday.

Takefuji set to bring its interest rate down to 18% - - Consumer lender Takefuji Corp. said Monday it will lower its maximum interest rate on Jan. 25 to 18.0 percent from the current 27.375 percent.

Shares Fall in Tokyo, Led by Nintendo, Exporters, on U.S. Growth Concern  - - Japanese stocks fell, led by exporters, after U.S. reports added to evidence the world's largest economy is cooling. Nintendo Co. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. paced the declines.

Bank of Japan Likely to Keep Key Rate at 0.5% as Business Confidence Wanes  - - The Bank of Japan will probably refrain from raising interest rates this week after a drop in business confidence signaled companies are bracing for slower economic growth.

Narita Golf Club Members Plan to Take on Goldman in Legal Fight Over Fees  - - Narita Golf Club members are threatening Goldman Sachs Group Inc. with a legal fight after the investment bank took the club into bankruptcy protection that voids 34 billion yen ($303 million) of membership deposits.

Yen Weakens as Japanese Funds Purchase Higher-Yielding Assets Overseas  - - The yen fell against 14 of the 16 most-active currencies as speculation the Bank of Japan will refrain from raising interest rates spurred fund managers to send money abroad in search of higher returns.

Five-Year Government Notes Rise as Losses in Global Stocks Increase Demand  - - Japanese five-year notes rose for a second day as global stocks extended losses, boosting demand for the relative safety of government debt.

ANA, Nippon Express, Kintetsu Express to Announce Plans for Joint Venture  - - All Nippon Airways Co., Nippon Express Co. and Kintetsu World Express Inc. will form a joint venture.

Tokyo Stock Exchange President Saito Says Bourse Won't Merge With Jasdaq  - - The Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc., the world's second largest equities market, isn't interested in merging with Jasdaq Securities Exchange Inc., said Atsushi Saito, president of the Tokyo bourse.

Japan Regulator Discloses Plans to Merge Trading of Equities, Commodities Japan's financial regulator disclosed plans to lower barriers between equity and commodity trading in an effort to win a larger share of global investments for Tokyo.