Tokyo  Nikkei  8522.02  +1.66%
Seoul   KOSPI  1710.32  +2.63%
Shanghai SSEC  2359.22  Holiday
Hong Kong HSI 17172.28  +5.67%
Singapore STI  2603.12  +2.94%
Mumbai    BSE 15792.41  Holiday
Sydney   AORD  4132.10  +3.50% 
   
1. Asia Stocks Rebound on Hopes for Bank Support Steps
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 5.7%, the biggest 1-day gain for more than 2 years, as expectations grew policymakers would take steps to support European banks. Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.7% and S Korea's KOSPI jumped 2.6%.
 
2. Citic Sec Drops as Much as 10% in HK Debut
CITIC Securities fell to as low as US$1.53, down more than 10% from its IPO price US$1.71. The largest brokerage house in China raised US$1.7 billion from the share sales. 
 
3. S Korea September Retail Sales Worst in 7 Months
Sales at department stores run by the top 3 companies in the sector rose 5.8% in September from a year earlier while sales at discount stores fell 1.4%. Both marked the worst performance since February this year.
 
4. Miraca to Buy Caris Life's Unit for US$725M
The Japanese drug-maker agreed to purchase Texas-based Caris Life Sciences's anatomic pathology business, also known as CDx. Miraca said the move will substantially expand its footprint in the U.S. laboratory testing market.
 
5. Siam Commercial Maintains 2011 Loan Growth Target of 15-18%
The Thailand lender said its loan growth in Q4 will slow due to the global economic downturn. Its loan portfolio jumped 22% in the first 8 months in 2011 from a year earlier.
 
6. Philippine Exchange Plans ETFs to Boost Trading
The bourse introduced exchange-traded funds and securities to lure overseas investors. The market has a market capitalization of US$142 billion as of Monday.
 
7. Toyota Sep Production Back to Pre-disaster Levels
The top Japanese automaker's parts suppliers were damaged by the Mar earthquake and tsunami, leading to a big loss in output in the past few months. Toyota also announced earlier its domestic production rose in August by 12% to 252,374 units.
 
8. PTT Said to Sell US$642.5M Bonds
Thailand's largest company has hired 7 banks to help arrange the bond sales. The 1st part of the proposed bond sales will be open to existing holders of notes expiring this year. The 2nd part will be open to the remaining bondholders.
 
9. Taiwan's Ex-leader Lee to Stand Trial This Month
Former President Lee Teng Hui, accused of embezzling US$7.79 million from the government's diplomatic slush funds while in office between 1988 and 2000, will be at a district court on Oct 21.
 
10. Three HK Tourists Killed near Great Wall
The Hong Kong tourists have died in a freak traffic accident in the outskirts of Beijing. They were struck by an empty coach that rolled down a small, steep slope right outside the entrance to a restaurant near the Great Wall.