Japan PM Abe vows to keep cautious watch on tax hike's impact

(Reuters) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he will carefully watch the impact of April's sales tax hike and rising fuel prices on the economy, as he must decide by year-end whether Japan can cope with a second tax increase next year.

India’s Modi Tells UN He’s Ready for Direct Talks With Pakistan

India is ready for “serious” dialogue with Pakistan over long-standing political disputes if its neighbor is also willing to make such efforts, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the United Nations General Assembly.

China industrial profits fall in August in latest weak data

(Reuters) - China's industrial profits fell 0.6 percent in August from a year earlier, reversing from July's 13.5 percent annual rise, the government said on Saturday, the latest in a series of weak data from the world's second-largest economy.

Japan inflation slows, threatening economic policy agenda

(Reuters) - Japan's annual core consumer inflation eased in August in another sign that the Bank of Japan could eventually be forced to take additional easing steps to meet its 2 percent price goal sometime next fiscal year.

Taiwan Says Monetary Policy Has Tightened in 2014 as Rates Held

Taiwan’s central bank said today its monetary policy has turned neutral from “adequately loose” after it held the benchmark interest rate, signaling a shift in stance to tackle rising prices.

Asia most attractive market, Gazprom says

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Russia, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Asia is the most attractive market for energy companies, the deputy chairman of Russian energy company Gazprom said at an Eastern investment conference.

China's trade minister concerned about falling Japanese investment: business delegates

(Reuters) - China's trade minister is worried about Japan's falling levels of direct investment in his country, Japanese business officials who met him said on Tuesday, against a backdrop of strained ties between the world's second- and third-biggest economies.

Singapore Exchange Sees End to Hiatus for China IPOs

Singapore Exchange Ltd. (SGX) is forecasting an end to a two-year hiatus for Chinese listings after regulators made it easier for companies from Asia’s biggest economy to sell shares in the city-state.

Growth in China's factory sector seen stalling in Sept

BEIJING (Reuters) - Growth in China's large factory sector probably stalled in September, adding to worries the economy could be at risk of a sharper slowdown unless Beijing rolls out more stimulus measures, a Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Japan tells G20 its economy continues to recover: Aso

CAIRNS Australia (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Saturday he told his Group of 20 counterparts that the world's third-largest economy continues to recover moderately despite the temporary pain from a sales tax hike in April.

US to welcome India's Modi with open arms

The United States and India have turned the page on a bitter row which soured ties earlier this year and Washington is eager to welcome new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a top official said Wednesday.

Japan trade deficit narrows in August

Japan's trade deficit narrowed in August as a fall in imports lowered the country's energy bill for the month.

China to give more financial aid to small firms

(Reuters) - China will boost its support for small firms by cutting their taxes, increasing their subsidies and encouraging banks to step up lending to them, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

South Korea could keep expansionary policy for years

(Reuters) - South Korea will maintain pro-growth policy until a sustained recovery is firmly secured, possibly beyond 2015, as an anticipated pick-up next year might only only be tentative, the finance minister said on Tuesday.

China's fiscal spending growth eases in August

(Reuters) - China's fiscal spending expenditure growth eased to 6.2 percent in August from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Finance showed, reflecting the government's efforts to brake spending after a surge in previous months.

Malaysia Becomes The New Global Center Of Financial Inclusion

Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy, is outperforming its neighbors. Its economy grew 6.4% in the second quarter due in part to another strong showing in exports.

China bank loans bounce back but more support measures may still be needed

(Reuters) - Credit levels in China appeared to improve in August after an alarming drop in July, but remained below average, adding pressure on policymakers to offer more stimulus measures to meet their 7.5 percent economic growth target for the year.

Japan approves nuclear restart amid push to close old reactors

(Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulator on Wednesday approved the restart of a nuclear power station, the first step to reopening an industry that has been idle since the Fukushima disaster, as the government pushes for the permanent closure of older reactors.

Australia jobs rise by most on record, in huge surprise

(Reuters) - Australian employment surged by the most on record in August and far beyond the most optimistic forecast, on the face of it a stunningly strong report that should calm recent concerns about the health of the economy.

Japan Keeps Faith in Weaker Yen as Economy Struggles

Facing the prospect of the first growth-free fiscal year since the 2009 global recession, Japan’s policy makers are keeping faith that a weaker exchange rate will help the world’s third-largest economy.

India to revise GDP measurement next year, economy may be larger

(Reuters) - India will soon revise the way it measures gross domestic product to reflect under-represented and informal economic sectors, two government sources said, in an initiative that is expected to show the economy is larger than previously thought.

Carlyle raises $3.9 billion for fourth Asia investment fund

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Carlyle Group (CG.O), one of the world's largest private equity firms, said on Monday it has closed its fourth Asia fund at $3.9 billion, the second-largest private equity fund ever raised for Asia investments.

Singapore Bears Retreat as ETFs Win Flow: Southeast Asia

Money managers are turning bullish on Singapore after shunning it for more than a year as political stability and cheap equity valuations push the city-state to the top of a Morgan Stanley market ranking.

Japan may push for closure of ageing reactors: Nikkei

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will push nuclear operators to draft plans to deal witholder reactors, including the option of scrapping those that are too old or too costly to refurbish to new standards imposed after the Fukushima disaster, the Nikkei reported on Friday.

BOJ's Kuroda, confident on inflation, urges government to raise tax again

(Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda urged the government to proceed with another sales tax hike to fix its finances and, despite acknowledging some weakness in the economy, remained confident the central bank would hit its inflation target.

China August data to show mild slowdown, impact of property woes

BEIJING (Reuters) - A data deluge over the coming week is likely to show continued weakness in China's economy in August due to a slowdown in the property sector, which would increase pressure on the government to unveil more pro-growth policy steps.

Fukushima workers sue Tepco over unpaid hazard pay

Workers decommissioning Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have sued its operator Tokyo Electric (Tepco) over unpaid hazard pay.

Japan wage growth surges in July

Japanese wages unexpectedly logged their strongest increase since 1997, providing a boost to the government's battle against deflation.

Indian factory activity expands at slower clip in August

(Reuters) - Indian factory growth eased in August from July's 17-month record pace as new orders came in at a slower clip, a business survey showed on Monday.

China parliament votes on allowing local governments to issue bonds

(Reuters) - The National People's Congress approved allowing some local governments to issue bonds directly, a reform that could help stabilize government financing by creating the country's first municipal bond market, parliament announced on Sunday.