Tokyo  Nikkei  8615.65  +0.07%
Seoul   KOSPI  1723.09  -0.73%
Shanghai SSEC  2392.06  -0.95%
Hong Kong HSI 18011.06  -0.66%
Singapore STI  2701.17  -0.91%
Mumbai    BSE 16446.02  -0.47%
Sydney   AORD  4097.70  +0.84% 
 
1. Toyota Global Output Gains for 1st Time in a Year
The Japanese automaker produced 626,817 vehicles in Aug, up 10.6% from a year earlier. Domestic production jumped 12% to 252,374 units as overseas output climbed 9.8%.
 
2. HK Stocks Head for Biggest Monthly Drop in 3 Years
The Hang Seng Index lost 0.7% to 18,011.06, dragging the measure toward a 12% decline this month, its biggest monthly drop since Oct. 2008. The gauge is on course for a 20% loss this quarter.
 
3. S Korea Manufacturers Confidence Stands at 21-month Low
The Oct index was 86, unchanged from the Sep reading which was the lowest level since Dec 2009, as Europe's debt crisis and a weakened US economic recovery hurt the confidence.
 
4. Google to Spend More than US$200M on Asia Data Centres
The US internet giant has acquired 22.6 hectares of land in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan to build data centres. Google has data centres in the US and Europe, but none in Asia.
 
5. Tepco Told to Cut 7,400 Jobs for Reform Plan
The Japanese government-appointed panel advised Tokyo Electric to cut 14% of its full time staff force by Mar 2014 as a plan to help it pay compensation for the Fukushima Daichi nuclear disaster. 
 
6. Malaysia's SP Setia Gets US$2.2B Takeover from PNB
The country's largest listed developer by sales received the offer from state-run PNB, which managed US$48 billion assets. The US$1.96 per share offer was 21% above SP Setia's 5-day average price.
 
7. Thailand Industrial Production Climbs 7% on Year
The Aug index was higher than expected, compared with a revised 0.7% contraction in July. Auto production gained 15.5% in the month from a year earlier. 
 
8. BP Considers Quadrupling Indonesia Gas Plant
The US$5 billion Tangguh liquefied natural gas plant has 2 trains with a combined capacity of 7.6 million tons a year and it was capable to build 8 trains. BP may decide to build a 3rd train this year.
 
9. Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Quits
Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang tendered his resignation to the city’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang, a move widely seen as the first step in his campaign to be chosen Hong Kong's leader next year.
 
10. S Korea to Build Naval Base near Disputed Island
The government will build US$300 million base on Ulleung Island by 2015. The base will be near an island claimed by both Seoul and Tokyo, so that the warship will deploy faster than Japan's in case of dispute.