South Korea factory output misses forecasts

South Korea's factories were less busy in March than had been expected.

The latest government data showed industrial output expanding by 1.4% in March from February.

Analysts had forecast growth of 1.9%.

China's yuan rises past 6.50 against the US dollar

China's currency, the yuan, strengthened past a key level against the US dollar on Friday, as part of wider efforts to contain inflation on the mainland.

The yuan broke past 6.50 against the dollar, a level not seen since 1993.

Traders and currency strategists believe the move is a sign that China's central bank is prepared to allow the currency to appreciate further.

India chooses European fighters over US rivals

India has shortlisted two European fighter jets, ruling out two US rivals for a key $11bn (£6.6bn) military contract.

The Indian defence ministry picked the pan-European Eurofighter and France-based Dessault's Rafale ahead of jets made by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

The US ambassador in India said the US was "deeply disappointed" by the news.

China and US plan talks to solve currency issues

China and the US will hold economic talks next month as the two countries work towards reaching a common ground on currency policy.

The US has accused of China on keeping the value of its currency, the yuan, artificially low in order to help its exporters.

China has said that a sudden rise in its currency will be detrimental not only to its export sector but also to its overall economy.

China strikers win concessions, as ugly protests underline inflation fears

Striking Chinese truck drivers have won concessions in their battle against rising costs that threatened to disrupt Shanghai, the world's biggest port.

The regional Government has intervened to reduce some of the increase in fees that triggered strike action in an attempt to take the heat out of an issue that has demonstrated China may be encountering growing social unrest as it wrestles with an inflationary surge.

Chinese truckers' protest increases inflation fears

Chinese authorities have moved to halt a strike by Chinese truck drivers over soaring fuel costs, amid government concern that civil unrest about runaway inflation could spread throughout the country.

The Chinese government has raised fuel prices three times since December and China's consumer price index rose 5.4pc year-on-year in March, the fastest rate of increase since July 2008. It is running much higher than the government's 2011 target of 4pc.

Chinese protectionism harming British companies, says European Chamber of Commerce report

British and European firms are losing out on billions of pounds-worth of government projects in China thanks to a tangled web of legal barriers, back-door protectionism and widespread corruption, a report by the European Chamber of Commerce in China has claimed.

China’s local and national government holds the keys to more than £700bn-worth of spending a year as the world’s second-largest economy continues a massive programme of infrastructure spending on everything from smart electricity grids to modernising hospitals.

Toyota's low-emission cars to be manufactured in China

Toyota is planning to start production of low-emission cars in China as it looks to tap into growing demand for in the country.

Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota Motors said the company was keen on introducing its latest technologies to the Chinese market.

China looks to expand currency’s global reach

The shop assistant thumbs the red, 100-yuan bills that bear Mao Zedong's distinctive face, checks the amount is correct and places it in the till next to Hong Kong dollar notes and coins, without a sideways glance.

It's a typical day in Bonjour, a cosmetics store popular with the vast numbers of shoppers from mainland China who are spending their newfound wealth in the former British colony.

Asia markets decline on China economic data

Most equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were lower Friday after China said that its economy grew by 9.7 percent in the first quarter and that consumer prices were up 5.4 percent in March from last year at the same time, news which renewed concerns that China will raise interest rates again or make others moves to cool inflation there.

The Nikkei 225 was down 0.65 percent to 9,591.52 in Tokyo, while the Topix index added 0.64 percent to 841.29 but the Mothers market managed to add 0.62 percent to 436.38.

Asian economic power to rival US in global markets soon, says RBA governor Glenn Stevens

ASIA'S economic power is increasing at a rapid rate, and the region will take on heightened prominence such that it will soon rival the US as the main source of direction for global markets, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens said today.

"It is not just the center of gravity of economic activity that is shifting to Asia, the weight of financial assets is also shifting too," Mr Stevens said in a speech in New York to the American Australian Association.

Asia's economic forum addresses income inequality

The view along the road to Boao, a sleepy fishing village in the South China Sea, is a visual reminder of how unequal China has become.

Instead of palm trees and rice paddies, visitors are now greeted by mile after mile of luxury condominiums.

India proposes telecom policy changes as scandals hit

India's telecom minister, Kapil Sibal, has proposed a slew of changes to the country's telecom policy in an attempt to streamline the industry.

He said that merger and acquisition rules will be relaxed to allow consolidation in the sector.

Mr Sibal also indicated that as part of the new policy, the government will separate mobile licences from spectrum fees.

China sees first quarterly trade deficit in seven years

China has posted its first quarterly trade deficit in seven years, as it continues efforts to rebalance its economy.

The deficit for the first three months of the year stood at $1.02bn (£622m), according to the latest data by the General Administration of Customs.

For the month of March, the country reported a tiny trade surplus of $140m.

Japan sets power-saving targets to avoid blackouts

Japan has set power-saving targets during the peak summer season to avoid a wider collapse of power grids.

Major power users have been asked to cut consumption by 25%, said the trade minister according to the Reuters news agency.

Two challenges for Asia’s economy in 2011

Asia’s recovery is firm and the region is expected to continue to grow by 7.8 percent in 2011 and 7.7 percent in 2012, despite the modest and still uncertain recovery in the major industrial economies and the recent hardship in Japan.

However, maintaining high growth could be more difficult than Asia seems prepared to admit. In order to sustain its growth, the region needs to address two important challenges.

Growing economic links with Asia to benefit growth prospects in Gulf

Dubai: The growing econ-omic ties with emerging economies of Asia will benefit economic stability and growth prospects of Gulf economies, said financial experts speaking at the annual Standard Chartered Forum in Dubai yesterday.

"Emerging economies of the world are going through a super cycle of sustained growth over the next two decades. The Gulf region's proximity to some of these markets like India will certainly benefit the region. With India gradually opening up its economy, the Gulf countries stand to benefit the way East Asia benefited from China's growth," said Dr Gerard Lyons, Chief Economist, Standard Chartered Group.

China raises interest rates again to tackle inflation

China's central bank has raised key interest rates by a quarter-point in a further effort to curb bank lending and rein in inflation.

The latest move takes the one-year deposit and lending rates to 3.25% and 6.31% respectively.

China's Minmetals in bid for copper rival Equinox

China's Minmetals Resources has made a $6.5bn (£4bn) bid for Equinox Minerals, an Australian-Canadian copper miner.

It is thought to be the largest unsolicited bid by a Chinese mining company, and reflects the sector's acquisition spree.

Christchurch job market lightens with new flights

As Christchurch moves on with the rebuilding of the city, concern is growing about the state of the region's economy.

Low fare airline Air Asia X's first flight has landed in the city, just in time to help boost the weakening economy.

Every day more jobs are being lost and when the rescue package runs out in seven weeks many are expected to go on the benefit.

India charges ex-minister, firms in telecom scandal

A former government minister in India is among a dozen defendants charged in a multi-billion-dollar corruption scandal that has rocked the country's coalition government and investor confidence in Asia's third-largest economy, federal police said Saturday.

Andimuthu Raja, a former telecommunication minister, is accused of being involved in a scheme involving the underselling of cell phone licenses at the height of India's lucrative telecom boom.