Tokyo  Nikkei  8793.12  +0.34%
Seoul   KOSPI  1846.64  +0.72%
Shanghai SSEC  2498.94  -0.68%
Hong Kong HSI 19912.82  -0.67%
Singapore STI  2856.90  +0.87%
Mumbai    BSE 17165.54  +0.59%
Sydney   AORD  4269.80  +0.16% 
 
1. Japan Current Account Surplus Falls 42.4% on Year
The nation posted a worse-than-expected surplus of US$12.8 billion in July. Separately, core machinery orders dropped 8.2% from the previous month, compared with a 7.7% gain in June. 
 
2. Asia Stocks Muted ahead of Obama Jobs Speech
Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.3% as US President Barack Obama is expected to announce a US$300 billion jobs package on Thursday. S Korea's Kospi Index rose 0.7%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.7%. 
 
3. S Korea Keeps 3.25% Rate Unchanged
The central bank of the nation kept its key borrowing rate unchanged for a 3rd month, after raising it 5 times since July of last year from a record low of 2%.
 
4. GM China Sells 205,885 Units in Aug
Sales at General Motors and its China joint ventures climbed 13.4% from a year earlier. For first 8 months, sales advanced 5.4% to 1.65 million.
 
5. Malaysia Announces US$469M Investment
PM Najib Razak unveiled several investment projects, including plans by Kuala Lumpur Kepong's US$236 million development of downstream palm oil industry.
 
6. Axis Bank Aims to Raise US$500M
The 3rd biggest bank in India plans to issue the bonds to institutional investors by the end of March. The bank may open a branch in Colombo next month.
 
7. San Miguel to Stay as Listed Company
The president of the Philippine company said it will remain a publicly traded company, one day after hinting San Miguel may buy back its US$800 million worth shares and become privately held by next year.
 
8. Thailand Consumer Confidence Drops for 1st Time in 4 Months
The Aug index fell to 73.8 from 74.4 in July, as flooding destroyed crops, pushing up food prices while the nation's economy was growing slower than expected.
 
9. Three Suspects Arrested after Delhi Bombing
Police in Indian Kashmir detained 3 men in connection with a bomb attack outside New Delhi's High Court. 12 people were killed and nearly 80 were injured in the incident.
 
10. Muslim Militant Group Claims Western China Attacks
The Turkistan Islamic Party claimed responsibility for recent attacks in western Xinjiang province that killed at least 3 dozen people. Chinese Foreign Ministry said he had no information on the claims.