North Korea Short-Range Missile Launches Disrupt Easing Tensions

North Korea fired four short-range missiles, the first confirmed launch in more than nine months, disrupting a period of easing tensions with the South.

BOJ's Ishida: recovery on track even if GDP falls after tax hike

(Reuters) - Japan's recovery will remain on track even if the economy contracts in the second quarter after sales tax is raised on April 1, a Bank of Japan board member said on Wednesday.

India to block U.S. trade probes, ready for fight at WTO

New Delhi is furious about a threat of trade sanctions made by the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office over its protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), preference for domestic producers and non-trade barriers.

Thai Farmers Lose Pickup Trucks as Protests Raise Debt Risk

Koon Thaveepat is in danger of losing his pickup truck and his livelihood. He’s behind on loan payments as Thailand’s anti-government protests delay state rice-purchase payments, threatening to plunge thousands of farmers deeper into debt.

China must drop 'mindset of expansionism' over Arunachal Pradesh: India's Modi

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Narendra Modi, the leading candidate to be India's next prime minister after a forthcoming election, declared the disputed territory of Arunachal Pradesh an integral part of India on Saturday and urged China to abandon its "mindset of expansion".

US-led Pacific trade pact under discussion in Singapore

Singapore (AFP) - Asia Pacific trade ministers began a fresh round of talks in Singapore on Saturday for a huge US-led Pacific free trade area, hoping to conclude a deal this year after missing a deadline in 2013.

Japan factory output seen up, core inflation near five-year highs

(Reuters) - Growth in Japan's factory output likely accelerated in January and core inflation hovered near five-year highs, a Reuters poll showed, underscoring the ongoing economic recovery despite fears that momentum may soon start to fade.

Asia stocks fall on weak China data, Fed minutes

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A contraction in Chinese manufacturing and the possibility of higher U.S. interest rates dragged most Asian stock markets lower Thursday.

Singapore Riot Damages More Than S$650,000 of Government Assets

A Dec. 8 riot in Singapore’s Little India district, the city’s worst violence in more than four decades, damaged at least S$650,000 ($515,000) of government property, a public inquiry was told.

China January foreign direct investment rises in sign of confidence

(Reuters) - China drew $10.76 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in January, up 16.1 percent from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday, a sign that confidence in the world's second-largest economy remains firm even as growth cools.

Japan's economy grows at slower pace, raises stakes for Abenomics

(Reuters) - Japan's economy grew at a much slower pace than expected at the end of last year, posing a challenge to policymakers as massive government stimulus efforts showed few signs of sparking momentum in consumption and exports.

Asia's Week: Modi, The Hindus And An Indian Sunrise

India is now occupying even American minds. The U.S. State Department is warming to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as he looms the favorite in the spring national elections.

Japan May Cancel Solar Projects on Concern Delays Are Deliberate

Japan is considering canceling approvals for delayed solar-power projects following reports that some developers are putting off construction while they wait for equipment costs to come down.

China's consumer inflation holds steady at 2.5%

China's inflation rate remained subdued in January, despite rising food prices during the New Year celebrations.

India Consumer Inflation, Factory Output Fall After Rate Rises

India’s consumer-price growth eased more than analysts estimated in January and factory output fell in December following an increase in interest rates as central bank Governor Raghuram Rajan fights Asia’s fastest inflation.

Malaysia's economy grew 5.1 percent in 4Q

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's central bank said Wednesday the country's economy grew a faster-than-expected 5.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

5 ways China's slowdown will ripple across globe

BEIJING (AP) — The reaction was slow in coming, but financial markets and corporate bosses have been jolted awake to China's relentless growth decline and are scrambling to cope with wrenching changes in global business.

Kerry to visit China, South Korea, Indonesia and Abu Dhabi

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will begin a trip this week to China, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, the State Department said on Sunday, at a time of high tensions in Asia over China's increasingly assertive territorial claims.

India Predicts Climb From Decade-Low GDP Growth Amid Risks

Gross domestic product will rise 4.9 percent in the 12 months through March 31, compared with the decade-low 4.5 percent in the previous fiscal year, the Statistics Ministry said in New Delhi yesterday.

China Must Tolerate Some Volatility in Market Rates, PBOC Says

China’s central bank said reasonable volatility in money-market interest rates must be tolerated as it manages liquidity in the country’s financial system to rein in credit growth.

Japan January trade deficit on track to reach record: MOF

(Reuters) - Japan is on track to post a record trade deficit in January, preliminary data showed on Friday, in a warning sign that consistently weak export demand could weigh on economic growth.

As Prices Rise, Philippine Banker Fires Warning Shot on Rates

Just days ago, Philippine central bank governor Amando Tetangco waded into the debate over how policy makers should react to the turmoil in emerging markets, warning that tinkering with policy interest rates is “not necessarily the most appropriate response at this time.”

Indonesia’s Growth Beats Estimates as Rebound Seen Faltering

Indonesia’s economic growth unexpectedly quickened last quarter after an export rebound, an acceleration that may be short-lived as higher interest rates weigh on domestic consumption and investment.

Australia central bank shuts door on rate cuts, A$ surges

(Reuters) - Australia's central bank kept its main cash rate at a record low of 2.5 percent on Tuesday as widely expected but surprised some by saying further cuts were not in the cards - dropping its bias towards easing policy.

Asia stocks slip, euro stuck near ten-week lows

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares were slowly giving ground on Monday as strains in emerging markets show little sign of abating, while growing pressure for another policy easing in Europe shoved the euro to 10-week lows.

China Faces Obstacles on Road to Consumer Society

Business should be picking up for Zhao Guoping, a Beijing shopkeeper, as Chinese leaders try to build a consumer society to replace a worn-out economic model based on trade and investment.

Japan inflation quickens to over 5-year high, output rebounds

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's core consumer inflation rose at the fastest pace in more than five years in December and the job market improved, encouraging signs for the Bank of Japan as it seeks to vanquish deflation with aggressive money printing.

Hague says Britain eyeing increased role in Asia

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Britain is looking at increasing its involvement in Asia's economy and security but will not take sides in territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving China and its smaller neighbors, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday.