Tokyo  Nikkei  8721.24  -1.61%
Seoul   KOSPI  1837.97  +0.94%
Shanghai SSEC  2447.75  +0.41%
Hong Kong HSI 19014.80  +0.51%
Singapore STI  2780.84  +0.86%
Mumbai    BSE 17099.28  +2.11%
Sydney   AORD  4124.80  -0.94% 
   
1. Nissan to Buy 90% Parts from Asian Countries
The Japanese automaker plans to buy more parts from China and S Korea to cut costs due to the strength of the yen. Currently 70% of parts for use in production is sourced from nearby Asian countries. 
 
2. DBS to Invest US$197M in Private Banking
Singapore's largest bank will spend the money in the next 5 years. The lender started a service today targeting individuals with more than US$1.18M of investible assets. 
 
3. China to Keep Buying US Treasuries
Local media quoted a researcher saying that the US dollar-nominated assets are still attractive. China holds US$3.2 trillion foreign exchange reserves and is under pressure to diversify the assets. 
 
4. Hong Kong Jobless Rate Falls to 3.2%
The jobless rate for the 3 months through the end of Aug was down from 3.4% in the previous period. The gauge was at the lowest level since 1998 and below expectations.
 
5. Asia Stocks Slip on Italy Downgrade
Japan's Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.6% as investors digested a credit downgrade slapped on Italy. But Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.5%. China's Shanghai Composite also rose 0.4%.
 
6. ConocoPhillips Sets up 2nd China Oil Spill Fund
The fund is to address environmental problems in Bohai Bay, but the US firm didn't mention the size and specific uses. It set up a separate fund to pay compensation for damage from the spills earlier.  
 
7. Samsung Considers Legal Action against iPhone
The S Korean giant may seek injunction on Apple's new iPhone, defending against claims by the US firm that Samsung had copied its product designs. Apple sold 20.3 million iPhones in Q2 and Samsung shipped just 1 million smartphones less than that.
 
8. Thailand Seeks US$14B of Utility Debt
The country wants to repay the debt at state-owned utilities, which includes State Railways of Thailand, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
 
9. Flooding Kills 14 in China
Heavy rains have unleashed flooding across the southwest region. It left at least 14 people dead and another 11 injured. It is expected the rain will continue to pound the region in the coming days. 
 
10. 400,000 Evacuated as Typhoon Heads to Japan
Authorities in the central city of Nagoya advised its residents to evacuate because of worries that rivers might burst their banks. Typhoon Roke was churning towards Japan's southwestern region.