Tokyo  Nikkei  8763.41  +2.01%
Seoul   KOSPI  1833.46  +3.78%
Shanghai SSEC  2516.09  +1.84%
Hong Kong HSI 20048.00  +1.71%
Singapore STI  2832.13  +2.08%
Mumbai    BSE 17065.00  +1.20%
Sydney   AORD  4262.90  +2.46% 
   
 
1. Asia Stocks Jump Most in 6 Months
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 2.2% at Tokyo closing, while Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbed 2% and South Korea's Kospi Index rose 3.8%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 1.7%.  
 
2. BoJ Keeps Monetary Policy Unchanged
The central bank of Japan kept its policy rate at a range of zero to 0.1%. It also maintained its view that the economy will steadily pick up later this year.
 
3. China Aug Passenger Car Sales Jump 3.3% on Year
The country sold 1.04 million units last month. Separately, the Ministry of Commerce forecast the total automobile exports may reach US$350 billion by 2015.
 
4. Singapore GDP Expected to Expand 5.3%
The central bank announced the latest survey finding from the analysts. The estimated growth rate is down from 6.2% forecast in June and 5.7% forecast in March.
 
5. Daewoo Shipbuilding Wins US$1.1B Order
The S Korea giant will build 2 semi-submersible rigs for Songa Offshore of Norway. The rigs will be delivered by the second half of 2014. The contract has an option of 2 more units.
 
6. Thai Cabinet Approves US$378B Spending Plan
The money will be invested in the next 4 years to boost the economy. State agencies will complete details for the plan within 60 days of its publication in the Royal Gazette. 
 
7. ConocoPhilips Sets Fund for China Oil Spill Costs
The Texus-based company didn't mention the fund size. It operated an oil field in Bohai Bay off China's east coast that had been leaking oil since June. The Chinese government ordered to halt all production in the field earlier this week. 
 
8. Eramet Plans US$6B Indonesia Investment
The money would be spent in 2 stages each costing US$3 billion. The nickel output was expected at about 35,000 tons a year in the 1st stage and a further 30,000 tons in the 2nd stage.
 
9. Bomb Attacks Kills 9 in India
The blast happened outside a High Court in New Delhi, killing 9 people and wounding 45 others. It was the first major terrorist attack since bombs exploded in 3 busy Mumbai neighborhoods on July 13, killing 20 people.
 
10. S Korea Ruling Camp Abandons Tax Cut for Rich
The move is to cut company tax by 2 percentage points to 20% applied only to firms earning less than US$46 million. The conservative party wanted to dispel its image for the rich and conglomerates before a general election in next April.