Asia shares lurch lower, China data darkens mood

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Thursday after strains in emerging markets returned with a vengeance and the Federal Reserve stepped back on its stimulus, sending investors scurrying to the safety of bonds and yen.

India's central bank hikes key interest rate

NEW DELHI (AP) -- India's central bank raised its key interest rate for the third time in four months Tuesday and its governor said combating stubbornly high inflation is the top priority despite an "increasingly worrisome" slowdown in economic growth.

China’s Foreign-Reserves Investment Chief Said to Depart

China’s official in charge of investing the world’s largest foreign-exchange reserves left the government agency that oversees the holdings, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.

Japan reports record annual trade deficit

Japan has reported a record annual trade deficit after the weak yen pushed up the cost of energy imports. Its deficit rose to 11.5 trillion yen ($112bn; £68bn) in 2013 - a 65% jump from a year ago.

Time Is Running Out for Thailand's Embattled Government

Will they or won’t they? Thais are waiting to hear whether elections scheduled for Feb. 2 will take place as planned.

Japan's Abe: I am beating deflation

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country is winning the battle against deflation, the persistent low prices that have plagued Japan's economy for years.

Weakness in Asian economies seen persisting in 2014, China weighs

(Reuters) - Emerging Asian economies will contribute less to global growth in 2014 than earlier expected even as their major trading partners in the West show signs of recovery, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.

China's solar industry rebounds, but will boom-bust cycle repeat?

(Reuters) - China's solar panel industry is showing signs of booming again after a prolonged downturn - raising fears of another bust when the splurge of public money that is driving a spike in demand dries up.

Japan's scrambles against Chinese planes soar

(Reuters) - Japanese fighter jets scrambled against Chinese planes a record number of times in April-December, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday, as Sino-Japanese ties are strained by an island spat and disputes stemming from Tokyo's wartime past.

Asia Pacific PC Shipments Fell 10% In 2013, IDC Says

PC shipments in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) fell by 10% in 2013 to 108 million units, marking the region’s first ever double digit decline in recent years, according to IDC.

China Migrant Workers Face Hardship of Separation From Children

Yang Wei, 26, and his wife share a small apartment in the manufacturing hub of Dongguan, in the Pearl River Delta. Every morning they bicycle a few kilometers to their jobs at two electronics components plants.

Asian banks top project finance deals in 2013

LONDON: Japanese and other Asian banks cemented their positions as the lead arrangers for project-financing deals last year while several big European banks continued to retreat from the business as they shrink their balance sheets.

China's big polluters exceed emission limits - report

(Reuters) - Online emissons figures reported by most coal-fired power plants and factories in China surpassed government limits, a group of NGOs and research institutes said, warning that the situation is likely to worsen in July, when targets get tougher.

Singapore Home Sales Drop to Lowest Since 2009 on Toughest Curbs

Singapore’s home sales plunged 82 percent in December from a year ago, ending the year at the lowest since 2009, as the government implemented its toughest measures to curb record prices.

US challenges China over hi-tech steel imports

The US has accused China of failing to comply with a World Trade Organization directive requiring it to drop duties on hi-tech US steel imports.

Indonesia's hotly-contested mineral ban takes effect

Indonesia has pushed through a hotly-contested ban on raw minerals exports after making last-minute concessions for the country's two biggest miners.

India inflation probably eased in December, thanks to lower food prices

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's stubbornly high inflation finally appears to be slowing down following a cooling in vegetable prices, bringing some relief to the ruling Congress party which is struggling to win back voters ahead of a national election due by May.

Japan households less upbeat on economy despite 'Abenomics' - BOJ survey

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese households are less optimistic about the economy, a quarterly central bank survey showed, underscoring deep-rooted doubts over whether Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stimulus policies will boost wages enough to make up for the rising cost of living.

India Factory Output Unexpectedly Falls as Recovery Flounders

India’s industrial output (INPIINDY) unexpectedly declined in November, adding pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bolster the economy ahead of elections this year.

Auto sales in China see double-digit growth

BEIJING: After virtual stagnation for the last two years, vehicle sales in China rose 13.87 per cent in 2013 from a year earlier to 21.98 million units bringing cheer to the auto industry.

Japan and India eye closer air force links

NEW DELHI — Japan and India moved to expand air force ties before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits New Delhi in a few weeks, bolstering relations two months after China declared an air-defense identification zone in a disputed area.

Vietnam Raises Foreign Bank Ownership Caps to Aid System

Vietnam will allow foreign investors to take bigger stakes in the nation’s lenders in a bid to bolster the ailing banking system.

Japan automakers accelerate China sales despite tensions

TOKYO: Two of Japan's top automakers today reported record sales in China last year, after an anti-Japanese consumer boycott depressed demand in the world's largest vehicle market in 2012.

China's GDP growth in 2013 set to be weakest since 1999

BEIJING: China's economy, the world's second largest, may have grown around 7.6 per cent in 2013, its weakest growth since 1999, with latest economic figures indicating sluggish economic activities in the last quarter.

India's PM Singh stepping down this summer after 10 years

NEW DELHI -- India's prime minister announced Friday he would step aside after 10 years following this summer's general election, saying Rahul Gandhi should replace him if the ruling Congress Party manages to stay in power.

China factories lose some of their mojo

China's factories lost some momentum in December, adding to worries that growth in the world's second-largest economy may soften in the new year.

Taiwan's Ma says ending China standoff a must for the economy

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Ending Taiwan's political standoff with mainland China is necessary to boost Taiwan's sagging economy and to help it integrate more effectively with the region, the island's president, Ma Ying-jeou, said.

Singapore GDP Contracted Last Quarter as Output Eased: Economy

Singapore’s economy shrank for the first time in five quarters after its manufacturing and services industries weakened, a contraction that may be short-lived as the global recovery strengthens.

China $3 trillion local government debt stirs alarm

BEIJING: Calls for China to accelerate financial reforms grew louder on Monday after figures showed its indebted local governments owe nearly $3 trillion in a debt build-up that some analysts called alarming.