Japanese auto parts firms to pay US anti-trust fine

Japan's Yazaki Corporation and Denso Corporation have agreed to plead guilty and pay fines for fixing prices of parts supplied to US manufacturers.

Japan's retail sales in fastest rise since August 2010

Retail sales in Japan rose in December at their fastest pace in more than a year, official figures show, as consumer spending recovers after the earthquake and tsunami in March.

SKorea's economy slows amid waning overseas demand

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's economy grew at its slowest pace in two years in the fourth quarter last year as manufacturing waned amid weak overseas demand, the country's central bank said Thursday.

New US unit to probe 'unfair trade practices' in China

US President Barack Obama has announced a new body to investigate unfair trade practices in countries such as China.

Japan posts first annual trade deficit in 30 years

Japan has announced its first annual trade deficit in more than 30 years, a setback for a country known for its exports including cars and electronics.

Japan ETFs Start Year with Rally

Japanese stocks and exchange traded funds are off to a strong start in 2012 due to improved risk sentiment and hopes the economy is in recovery mode following last year’s devastating quake and tsunami.

Viewpoint: China’s Iran dilemma

As the West increases its pressure on Iran, the latest effort being a concerted campaign to impose an oil embargo on Tehran, China finds itself in a tough dilemma.

Indonesia regains investment grade from second agency

Indonesia has won a second credit rating upgrade in as many months, as Moody's ratings agency restored its debt to investment grade.

Asian economies to slow in 2012 but avoid slump

SINGAPORE: Asia's economic growth will get worse before it gets better, with China and India seen expanding this year at their slowest pace since the tail-end of the global financial crisis in 2009, prompting central banks to remain accommodative, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.

Newsmaker: Long trek from clerk to chairman of China's AgBank

(Reuters) - The new chief of Agricultural Bank of China (601288.SS) (1288.HK) brings no-nonsense flair and a strong track record in bank overhauls to the helm of the lumbering Chinese lender where he started out years ago as a filing clerk.

Japan steps up efforts to crack untapped Myanmar economic market

NAYPYIDAW, Japan _ Myanmar has been billed as "Asia's final frontier," and its rich resources and cheap wage levels are increasingly catching the eye of Japanese companies and the government.

China knocks US sanctions on state-run firm over Iran

SHANGHAI: China has criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on a state-run oil firm for exporting petroleum products to Iran, saying the move was "without reason".

Apple ends China iPhone store sales after scuffles

Apple has halted the sale of all iPhone models from its stores in China, after large crowds disrupted the launch of the iPhone 4S.

China's foreign currency reserves decline

China's official foreign currency reserves fell in the last three months of 2011, marking their first quarterly decline since 1998.

Japan 'very concerned' over Iran tension

Japan's foreign minister, on a Gulf tour to seek assurances over oil supplies, said Tuesday that Tokyo was "very concerned" by escalating tensions with Iran and called for a diplomatic solution.

S Korean fund gets go-ahead to trade Chinese securities

South Korea's largest pension fund, the National Pension Service (NPS), has received approval from authorities to invest in Chinese securities.

Exclusive: Olympus sues current president, ex-directors

(Reuters) - Japan's Olympus Corp has sued its current president and three ex-directors for several million dollars in compensation, sources told Reuters on Monday, as the company seeks to draw a line under one of the nation's worst accounting scandals.

China loan growth quickens

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's banks ratcheted up lending in the last month of 2011 on the back of stronger money supply, reinforcing perceptions that the central bank is gently easing policy to cushion the impact of the global economic slowdown.

Bank of China, Mizuho eye RBS bank assets: sources

(Reuters) - Bank of China (601988.SS) and Japan's Mizuho Financial 8411.T. are among the banks eyeing parts of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), sources told Reuters on Friday, as the process begins to trim the investment banking arm of the government owned UK bank.

Samsung gets government approval for China chip factory

Samsung Electronics has won government approval for its plans to set up a memory-chip factory in China.

IMF to release Japan bank stress tests in summer: report

(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund will release as early as this summer the results of health checks on Japanese banks, including their ability to withstand the European debt crisis and weak economic growth, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday.

Singapore's economic growth slows as manufacturing dips

Singapore's economic growth slowed in the last quarter of 2011 as reduced demand and supply chain disruptions hurt manufacturing.

Two Koreas 'at a turning point' says South president

The Korean peninsula is at a "turning point" and there are opportunities for change, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in a new year speech.

China’s Export Orders Show Threat to Growth From Europe: Economy

Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- A Chinese manufacturing gauge rose in December, suggesting that a slowdown in the world’s second- biggest economy may be stabilizing even as Europe’s debt crisis dims the outlook for exports.