Tokyo  Nikkei  9864.26  +0.46%
Seoul   KOSPI  2166.63  +1.28%
Shanghai SSEC  2883.42  -0.25%
Hong Kong HSI 23291.80  -0.19%
Singapore STI  3177.18  +0.66%
Mumbai    BSE 18617.80  +0.57%
Sydney   AORD  4858.20  +1.14% 
   
1. China Apr Inflation Eases to 5.3%
The annual increase was down from Mar's 32-month high of 5.4%. The figure was boosted by a 11.5% gain in food costs and still above the government's 4% target for the year. 
 
2. Toyota Profit Tumbles 77% on Year
The top Japanese automaker posted a profit of US$314.3 million in Jan-Mar period. Its quarterly operating profit fell 52% to US$570 million. It expects that global production will be fully resumed later this year, 1 month sooner than planned.
 
3. S Korea Jobless Rate Drops to 3.6%
The Apr gauge was down from 4% in Mar, marking the lowest level in 3 months. The number of employed people was increased by 379,000 to 24.3 million last month from a year earlier.
 
4. HK Exchange Q1 Profit Jumps 10%
Net income of the world's biggest bourse by market value climbed to US$160 million as trading fees increased 17% to US$98 million. Sales gained 11% to US$245 million.
 
5. Malaysia Mar Industrial Production Gains 2.4%
The year-on-year gain at factories, utilities and mines fell from a revised 5.2% increase in Feb. Manufacturing sales climbed 14.1% in Mar from a year earlier, quickening from a revised 10% advance in Feb.
 
6. Mitsubishi Chemical Forecasts Operating Profit to Fall by US371M
The Japanese ethylene maker would booked a one-time charge of US$278 million in the year ended Mar due to the earthquake, while expecting to take an additional US$123.58 million charge this fiscal year.
 
7. S Korea Producer Prices Climb 6.8%
The Apr year-on-year increase held near a 28-month high, compared with the 7.3% gain in Mar. It jumped 0.3% from a month earlier. Consumer prices rose 4.2% in April from a year earlier.
 
8. Hon Hai Said to Issue US$174M Bonds
The world's largest contract manufacturer of electronics planned to issue its 3rd Taiwan dollar note this year. Hon Hai Precision Industry sold US$247.3 million of bonds in 3 tranches last month. 
 
9. Pro-Thaksin Thai Lawmaker Shot
It was the first election-related violence as the country gears up for tense national polls. The opposition lawmaker, being treated for the bullet wounds, was shot in the back and shoulders by at least one gunman on the back of a motorbike.
 
10. Taiwan Postpones Purchases of US Weapons
The island's government delayed the plan to buy U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters and Patriot air defense systems due to budget shortfall. The purchase was part of a US$6.4 billion U.S. weapons package that has been strongly opposed by mainland China.