Tokyo  Nikkei  8518.57  -1.14%
Seoul   KOSPI  1749.16  -3.52%
Shanghai SSEC  2894.54  -3.98%
Hong Kong HSI 19045.44  +0.08%
Singapore STI  2739.35  +0.37%
Mumbai    BSE 16709.60  +1.47%
Sydney   AORD  4090.40  -1.64% 
 
1. Asian Development Bank Cuts Asia Growth Forecast
The 2011 growth rate was revised to 7.5% from 7.8% for 45 developing countries in the region, excluding Japan. The bank is also trimming the 2012 forecast to 7.5% from 7.7%.
 
2. Samsung Group Sells 20.64% Stake in Everland
The S Korean financial group was obligated to lower its stake to below 5% by April next year. It currently owns 25.6% in the amusement park operator. The deal could be worth more than US$928 million.
 
3. Sony PlayStation Vita Japan Sale Set for Dec 17
The upgraded portable video game machine is going on sale on Dec. 17 with 26-game software going on sale on the same date, but it won't be available overseas until next year.
 
4. Indonesia Prepares to Cut Rate
Government officials said the central bank may lower the interest rates to spur the economy. Its GDP growth rate was slowed to 6.5% in the first half of this year due to rate hikes.
 
5. Asia Q3 Corporate Sentiment Drops to 7-quarter Low
The index fell to 63 from 71 in Q2, the lowest since Q4 in 2009. 40% of companies were positive or very positive about the outlook.
 
6. India Inflation Climbs to 9.78% on Year
The Aug wholesale prices increase was up from a 9.22% gain in July. The provisional figure of June was revised upward to 9.51% from 9.44%. The rise of inflation put pressure on the central bank to raise interest rate.
 
7. Korea Finance Said to Issue US$390M Bonds
The lender will price US$201 million of 2-year bonds to yield 60 basis points more than the yen swap rate, US$97.5 million of 3-year bonds at a spread of 70 basis points and US$91.5 million of 5-year bonds.
 
8. CIC Considers US$300M Philippine Investment
China's sovereign fund is interested in the southeast Asian country's fixed-income assets and other investments, as ING invited the firm to invest in the Philippines.
 
9. US Envoy Says Myanmar Sanctions Will Remain
But Derek Mitchell also concluded his first visit by saying Washington will respond positively if the new, nominally civilian government makes genuine reforms. 
 
10. India Train Crash Kills 9
Railway officials blamed driver error for a late-night collision between 2 passenger trains that killed 9 people and injured more than 80. It happened near Arakkonam, 90 kms from Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu.