India central bank hikes rate to fight inflation

MUMBAI, India (AP) — India's central bank raised its key interest rate for the second time in two months Tuesday, underlining the determination of its new chief to control inflation despite concerns economic growth could slow further.

Japan factory output rises on stronger demand at home

Tokyo (AFP) - Japan's factories boosted output in September, data showed Wednesday, reversing a slide in the previous month owing to stronger domestic demand and highlighting that the world's third-largest economy is gathering steam.

Asia's export engine stuck in neutral despite U.S. uptick

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asia's once-reliable export engine remains stalled two years into a global economic recovery, raising concerns about the region's competitiveness and its ability to motor through the next tough time for emerging markets.

China Construction Bank profit growth slows

BEIJING (AP) -- China Construction Bank Ltd., one of China's "big four" state-owned commercial lenders, said Monday profit growth slowed in the latest quarter as the economy cooled.

Market Awaits 'Unprecedented' Reforms In China

Next month, China’s leaders will outline at the Communist Party’s Third Plenum precisely how they plan on slowly cracking the door open on the economy.

Japan Price Gauge Stops Slide as Abe Drives Pickup

A gauge of Japan’s prices (JCPNEFEY) ended four years of declines, signaling progress in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign to stamp out deflation and drive a sustained economic revival.

China 2013 growth seen at 7.6 percent, topping target, slowdown likely next year: Poll

(Reuters) - China's economy is set to grow 7.6 percent in 2013, beating the government's 7.5 percent target, before losing some steam next year as the government forges ahead with structural reforms, a Reuters poll showed.

Australia to raise debt limit by two-thirds to A$500bn

The Australian government has said it plans to raise the country's debt limit by two-thirds to allay concerns it could face a future fiscal crisis.

Singapore, China strengthen cooperation in financial sector

SINGAPORE: Singapore and China today agreed on new initiatives to strengthen cooperation in financial sector development and regulation.

Japan posts record string of trade deficits

TOKYO: Japan logged a record run of monthly trade deficits data showed Monday after the country's energy bill soared in September, but exports to China were buoyant after a territorial dispute a year earlier hammered demand for Japanese goods.

Asian Currencies Advance for Third Week on Fed Stimulus Optimism

Asian currencies had a third weekly gain, led by South Korea’s won, on optimism the Federal Reserve will delay any reduction in stimulus after a budget impasse threatened the world’s largest economy.

China's economic growth picks up speed in third quarter

China's economic growth picked up pace in the July-to-September period, the first rise in three quarters.

Boost for London as China agrees to loosen yuan investment rules

Beijing will give London-based institutions the right to invest directly into China using the yuan, George Osborne has announced, giving the City an edge over other financial centres fighting for business.

China’s Biggest Reserves Jump Since 2011 Shows Inflow

China’s foreign-exchange reserves rose last quarter by the most in more than two years, a sign the government’s efforts to protect growth attracted money even as developing nations from India to Indonesia saw capital exit.

India's inflation rate hits seven-month high

India's inflation rate rose to a seven-month high in September, limiting the room for authorities to ease monetary policy as they look to spur growth.

Japan eyes private sector to manage part of its $1.27 trillion forex reserves

(Reuters) - Japan is looking to allow private sector funds and trust banks to manage a part of its $1.27-trillion pool of foreign exchange reserves in a drive to manage them better, a government source told Reuters on Sunday.

China's September trade surplus down 44.7%

China's trade surplus narrowed to a disappointing $15.2 billion in September from $28.6 billion in August, customs figures showed Saturday.

Asia markets rise on US debt deal hopes

Asian stock markets have risen on hopes the US will reach a deal on raising its debt ceiling, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.

India Trade Deficit Narrowed in September

HONG KONG — India’s trade deficit dropped to its lowest level since early 2011, data released Wednesday showed, providing a rare piece of good news from an economy that has been weighed down by inadequate infrastructure, a gaping current account deficit and a currency that has plummeted in recent months.

Disputes cloud Asia-Pacific summit focus on trade

BALI, Indonesia (AP) -- Asia-Pacific leaders vowed Tuesday to cooperate on stabilizing a global economic recovery threatened by resource scarcity and bottlenecks to growth.

Japan structural reforms critical to meeting inflation goal - IMF

TOKYO, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Japan's government needs to implement structural reforms to boost the potential growth rate or it may be forced to launch more fiscal stimulus to meet the Bank of Japan's 2 percent inflation goal, the International Monetary Fund said.

China tells US to avoid debt crisis for sake of global economy

A senior Chinese official has warned that the "clock is ticking" to avoid a US default that could hurt China's interests and the global economy.

Asia-Pacific Leaders Seeks Ways to Foster Growth

Fighting protectionism and pushing through difficult reforms are critical to the global recovery as the world's biggest economies struggle with their own internal obstacles to growth, Asia-Pacific leaders gathered for an annual summit said Sunday.

Asia to invest over $150 billion in real estate globally

DUBAI: Asian institutional investors are looking to invest over USD 150 billion in global real estate in the next five years, with a focus on cities like Dubai, London, New York and Sydney, according to a new research.

Japan sales tax hike 'welcome first step': Christine Lagarde

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday praised Japan's planned sales tax hike as an initial step toward reducing the country's crushing debt burden and called for further efforts.

China says U.S. shutdown exposes 'ugly side of partisan politics'

(Reuters) - China on Wednesday said the U.S. government shutdown had exposed "the ugly side of partisan politics" in Washington and expressed concern about its effect on the world economy.

Japanese government to go ahead with sales tax rise

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government will raise the rate of sales tax to 8% from 1 April next year, from the current 5%.

Australia central bank holds rates, opaque on policy outlook

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's central bank kept its cash rate at a record low of 2.5 percent on Tuesday saying the full impact of past easing was still percolating through the economy, though it offered little guidance on the chance of further cuts.

India April-June Current-Account Gap Widens

MUMBAI--India's current-account deficit widened in the April-June period from a year earlier, as gold imports surged and merchandise exports fell in Asia's third-largest economy.