AsiaPulse News articles from February 2007

AsiaPulse News archives from February 2007

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS FIRMER - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened firmer today for the first time in eight days, as mixed inflation data moderated the impact of stronger-than-expected US economic growth figures. At 0700 AEDT, the domestic currency...

AUSTRALIAN BONDS RALLY AT OPEN - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian bond market rallied overnight to open firmer as US Treasury yields fell after US Federal Reserve left interest rates on hold. At 0900 AEDT, the yield on the Commonwealth Government February 2017...

BHP TO RECRUIT OVERSEAS WORKERS.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - BHP (ASX:BHP) has started talks with the federal government to recruit more than 200 overseas workers for its $A2 billion ($US1.54 billion) Pilbara iron-ore expansion operation. The move comes as the miner seeks...

SOUTH KOREAN BUSINESS SENTIMENT BLEAK FOR FEBRUARY.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb. 1 Asia Pulse - A majority of South Korean manufacturers are pessimistic about their business in February due to a firmer currency and anemic domestic demand, the central bank said Thursday. The Bank of Korea said in a monthly...

INDONESIA TO TARGET US$9BLN NON-OIL/GAS EXPORT INCOME.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Indonesia will target a 100 per cent increase in its exports of non-oil/non-gas commodities to US$9 billion in 2010, following the signing of details of the Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (JIEPA) in...

FOREX - US DOLLAR ENDS STEADY AGAINST RUPEE - JAN 31, 2007.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Jan 31 Asia Pulse - The US Dollar ended barely steady against the Rupee at Rs 44.20 per dollar and the Pound Sterling turned lower at Rs 86.37 per pound at the close of the Interbank Foreign Exchange (FOREX) market here on Wednesday....

STOCKS - SENSEX ENDS LOWER, JAN 31, 2007.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Bombay Stock Exchange failed to hold early gains on Wednesday, as the benchmark Sensex closed lower by 121 points at 14,090.92, on selling by funds in heavy-weight stocks led by Tata Steel. The 30-share...

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING GROWTH SLOWS IN JANUARY.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Growth in Australia's manufacturing industry slowed in January, due to weakening demand, supply shortages and the drought, new figures show. The Australian Industry Group/PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian...

STOCKS - JAKARTA MARKET ENDS HIGHER - JAN 31, 2007.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Jakarta stock market closed yesterday with lower prices. The composite index lost 8.264 points (0.47%) to 1,757.258. Total volume of 1.6 billion shares worth more than Rp1.8 trillion. (ANTARA) ...

REEM DEVELOPERS UNVEILS ABU DHABI MARINA PROJECT.
February 1, 2007... ABU DHABI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Reem Developers has announced plans to build three world-class marinas that will form the cornerstone of its flagship project, Najmat Abu Dhabi, which is well on course to becoming Abu Dhabi's landmark urban...

OIL SEARCH TO SHELVE TROUBLED PNG GAS PROJECT.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Oil Search Ltd (ASX:OSH) has announced it is shelving its troubled $A8 billion ($US6.2 billion) Papua New Guinea gas project. In a statement the company said the costs of the pipeline project weren't attractive...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE AGE - Civil jury finds Geoff Clark led two pack rapes against a teenager more than 35 years ago; Rape victim's joy: I've got my life back; Connex crisis plan cuts 400...

INDIAN HR COMPANY MA FOI FORAYING INTO EUROPE, FAR EAST.
February 1, 2007... CHENNAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - HR Services provider Ma Foi is exploring possibilites of foraying into Europe and the Far East during the current fiscal year, CEO K Pandiarajan said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters here, he said the company...

RAYTHEON TO BE PRESENT AT BANGALORE 2007 AERO SHOW.
February 1, 2007... BANGALORE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Defence and government electronics major, Raytheon Company will have a big presence at the 2007 Aero India trade show being held here from February 7. As a global technology leader, US-based Raytheon offers a...

SONY ERICSSON TO MANUFACTURE MOBILE PHONES IN CHENNAI.
February 1, 2007... CHENNAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Mobile phone major Sony Ericsson will manufacture mobile phones in Chennai, a top company official said on Wednesday. The mobile phones would be manufactured through manufacturing agreements with the company's...

LEIGHTON TO BUY 40PCT STAKE IN PROPERTY CO DEVINE LTD.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX:LEI) will pay about $A94.7 million ($US73.43 million) for a 40 per cent stake in listed property developer Devine Ltd (ASX:DVN), deepening its footprint in the residential property market....

TATAS PIP CSN TO WIN CORUS TAKEOVER BATTLE.
February 1, 2007... LONDON/MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Tatas on Wednesday pipped Brazil's CSN to acquire Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group Plc at slightly more than US $11 billion. With a bid of 608 pence a share, Indian corporate giant Tata Steel outsmarted...

ANALYSIS - STEELY NERVES PREVAIL FOR RATAN TATA.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Every Tata has his legacy and Ratan Tata, the man with a rare mix of grace, composure and steely nerves, has created his own by winning the Corus battle against odds just as he steered the people's car project at...

TATA STEEL SHARES DIP ON CORUS DEAL CONCERNS.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Shares of Tata Steel (BSE:500470) on Wednesday plunged over 7 per cent or Rs 38 on the bourses in the first few minutes of trade Wednesday, on concerns in the market that the US $11.3 billion Corus deal could stretch...

TATA STEEL WINS CORUS GROUP BIDDING WAR.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Tata Steel (NSE:TATASTEEL) on Wednesday said it will shortly seek approval of its revised offer from the Board of Corus Group Plc. The $US11.3 billion transaction is likely to be finished by the middle of March...

INDIA INC HAILS TATA'S CORUS TAKEOVER.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - India Inc on Wednesday welcomed Tata Steel's (BSE:500470) acquisition of Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus while expressing concern that the deal might re-rate the entire steel industry, making steel companies...

STATE BANK OF INDIA OPENS FIRST COMMERCIAL BRANCH IN BAHRAIN.
February 1, 2007... DUBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - State Bank of India (BSE:500112) will open its first commercial branch in Bahrain today with an initial investment of US$3 million. "We shall function like any other local bank and the initial services will...

CLASS ACTION TO BE SERVED ON QANTAS, OTHER AIRLINES.
February 1, 2007... MELBOURNE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - A $A200 million ($US155.07 million) cartel class action will be served on Qantas (ASX:QAN) and six other large international airlines today. The case is being brought by leading law firm Maurice Blackburn...

MICRO INKS TO ACQUIRE US FIRM HOSTMANN STEINBERG.
February 1, 2007... MUMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Micro Inks (BSE:532886) will acquire US-based Hostmann Steinberg (HST) from MHM Holding GmbH, Germany, for a total consideration of US$4 million. The acquisition of 100 per cent equity capital and preferred stocks...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN INDEX OPENS HIGHER - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian share market has opened stronger, buoyed by Wall Street and higher base metals prices. At 1015 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 was up 41.6 points to 5,815, while the all ordinaries index gained 40.2...

SOUTH KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: VERNACULAR DAILIES -- Gov't to provide 2.6 mln public housing units by 2017 (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- 2.6 mln rental homes to be supplied (Kukmin Daily) -- Supreme Court selects 224...

INDONESIA TO DECLARE BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS A NATIONAL DISASTER.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Indonesian government will soon declare bird flu outbreaks in the country a national disaster owing to the fact that the H5N1 virus has caused an endemic disease which is spreading on a national scale, a minister...

ALUMINA LTD POSTS 62PCT RISE IN FULL-YEAR EARNINGS.(Financial report)
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Alumina Ltd (ASX:AWC) has forecast increased production in 2007, after today reporting a 62 per cent rise in full year earnings. The bauxite miner, and aluminium refiner and smelter today reported an annual net...

EU LIKELY TO REVOKE ANTIDUMPING DUTIES ON S. KOREAN PET CHIPS:.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The European Union (EU) is likely to revoke antidumping duties on polyethyrene trephthalate (PET) chips from South Korea, a trade body said Wednesday. The European Commission, which levied antidumping tariffs on...

ONGC BOARD APPROVES US$1.4 BLN INVESTMENTS IN WESTERN OFFSHORE.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (BSE:500312), the country's largest firm by market value, on Tuesday said its Board has approved investment proposals of Rs 61.52 billion (US$1.4 billion) for four major projects in...

AXA ROSENBERG STRENGTHENS TEAM IN AUSTRALIA.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) AXA Rosenberg Strengthens Team in Australia SYDNEY, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- AXA Rosenberg, an AXA Investment Managers company specializing in global, active equity asset...

MINNESOTA BUSINESS DELEGATION TO VISIT INDIA.
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - With an eye on the huge demand for consumer goods and high-technology in India, the Governor of the US state of Minnesota will lead a business delegation to the country in October to explore trade and investment...

SNAPSHOT OT TATA GROUP'S TAKEOVERS ABROAD.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Tata Steel's successful US .3 billion takeover of its much bigger rival Corus Group is the latest in a series of acquisitions abroad executed by India's largest and one of the oldest corporate groups. The...

KOMAG TO PARTICIPATE IN UPCOMING INVESTOR CONFERENCE.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) Komag to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Komag, Incorporated, a leading independent supplier of thin-film media for...

INDO-MYANMAR WATERWAYS PROJECT AWAITS CABINET NOD.
February 1, 2007... AIZAWAL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Rs 8.61 billion (US$195 million) BKaladan Multi Modal Transport Project, designed to link Mizoram with Myanmar by highway and inland waterway would take off as soon as the union Cabinet give nod to the project, a...

SHIBAURA INSTITUTE SELECTS BENTLEY'S BE CAREERS NETWORK PROGRAM.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) Shibaura Institute of Technology Selects Bentley's BE Careers Network Program Program Provides Support for Department of Architecture and Environment Systems, College of Systems...

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... HONG KONG, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: - Civic Party lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit yesterday announced he had secured 111 nominations for chief executive, making him the first democrat...

BUSH FOR TECH SUPPORT TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON HYDROCARBONS.
February 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Underlining the global nature of dependency on oil, President George W Bush on Wednesday said it only made sense for the US to help countries like India and China to make them less dependent on hydrocarbons. ...

TAIWAN NEW PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN 2007 TO BE 11PCT HIGHER.
February 1, 2007... TAIPEI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - With last year's target for new private investment achieved, the government has set a goal 11.44 per cent higher for this year for a total of around NT$1 trillion (US$30.3 billion), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)...

$800 MLN IN COMMERICAL REAL ESTATE TO BREAK GROUND, INCHEON, SK.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) Million In Commerical Real Estate To Break Ground, Incheon, South Korea NEW YORK, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Signature Commercial Building Anchors New Songdo City as Northeast...

TAIWAN AIRLINES SEE DIFFICULTIES IN ADDING NEW YEAR CHARTERS.
February 1, 2007... TAIPEI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Taiwan airline operators said Wednesday that it would be difficult to add additional flights to the schedule for the 2007 Lunar New Year direct cross-Taiwan Strait charter flight services with the major holiday being...

SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SINGAPORE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STRAITS TIMES: - Creative Technology's quarterly gain surged by 11 times after a one-off payment by rival Apple to settle a legal dispute boosted net profits to a...

FOREX - US DOLLAR OPENS WEAKER AGAINST WON - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar Thursday opened at 938.5 won, down from 941.0 at the close on Wednesday. (Yonhap) 01-02 1130

RUSSIA'S IMPORT OF RICE FROM INDIA TO REMAIN SUSPENDED.
February 1, 2007... MOSCOW, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Russia on Wednesday said the import of rice from India would remain suspended till it verifies the export quality control mechanism in the country. Russia had imposed a blanket ban on import of rice from all...

PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... MANILA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE MANILA TIMES: - The Philippines missed its economic growth target last year on the back of a series of typhoons in the last quarter that pulled down farm output, which...

STOCKS - SEOUL SHARES OPEN HIGHER - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb. 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean stocks started higher Thursday, led by gains in steel and finance shares, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 4.16 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,364.39 in the...

SAMSONITE TO OPEN 50 STORES IN INDIA, INVEST US$10 MLN.
February 1, 2007... BANGALORE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - US Travel solutions firm Samsonite plans to open additional 50 brand stores in India with an investment of US$10 million by the year-end, a company official said on Wednesday. Samsonite has currently 168 stores...

INDIAN GOVT READY TO HELP TATAS COMPLETE CORUS ACQUISITION: MINISTER.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Terming Tatas' successful bid for acquiring Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus as an example of aggressive Indian businesses, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said the government would be ready to help the...

JAPANESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... TOKYO, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: NIKKEI NET: - Foreign and domestic investment funds are plowing money into Japanese real estate in pursuit of higher returns, with U.S. financial services firm Morgan Stanley...

CORUS COSTS A PREMIUM, BUT WORTH IT: RATAN TATA.
February 1, 2007... MUMMBAI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Wednesday asserted that the Corus takeover cost would prove to be worthwhile, even though the group paid much higher than what it had started with. Prices went up when investors...

ARUMUGAM SARAVANAN JOINS EMC CORPORATION AS VP, MD.
February 1, 2007... BANGALORE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Software company EMC Corporation on Wednesday announced that Arumugam Saravanan has been appointed as the vice-president and managing director of EMC's Center of Excellence. "Saravanan, a 10-year veteran of...

SUMTOTAL SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH BEIJING-BASED FOUNDER ORDER.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(CA-SUMTOTAL-SYSTEMS-INC)(SUMT) SumTotal Signs Agreement with Beijing-Based Founder Order Business Editors BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2007--SumTotal(R) Systems...

A.M. BEST ASSIGNS RATINGS TO SOUTH CHINA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(NJ-A.M.-BEST-CO.) A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to South China Insurance Company Limited OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2007--A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength...

PAKISTAN'S ONYX EXPORTS UP BY 4.47 PCT IN FIRST HALF.
February 1, 2007... KARACHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Pakistan has exported onyx manufactured items worth US$6.878 million during July-December, 2006, showing an increase of 4.47 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year. The exports of onyx...

KKR PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS DISCUSSES PACE OF INVESTMENTS.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(KKR-PRIVATE-EQUITY)(KPE.AS) KKR Private Equity Investors Discusses Pace of Investments Business Editors GUERNSEY, Channel Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2007--KKR Private...

WELFARE GROUPS TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR PAKISTANI WOMEN.
February 1, 2007... KARACHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Al-Khidmat Welfare Society in collaboration with Charity Australia and Muslim Aid Australia has set up Al-Khidmat Cottage Industry, to provide jobs to unemployed women in Karachi. According to group, the...

WASTEWATER PLANT PLANNED FOR PAKISTAN'S HUB INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
February 1, 2007... KARACHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Lasbela Industrial Estate Development Authority (Lieda) has started conducting a topographical survey of Hub Industrial Trading Estate (Hite) and other industrial areas for the establishment of a combined...

AIDING INDIA'S AGRI SECTOR WITH WEATHER RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(DC-WRMA) Aiding India's Agricultural Sector with Weather Risk Management Tools The Weather Risk Management Association Sponsors Feb Meeting in Mumbai Agriculture...

A.M. BEST AFFIRMS RATINGS OF MEIJI YASUDA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2007--A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent)...

HEXION COMPLETES PURCHASE OF ORICA'S ADHESIVES & RESINS BUSINESS.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(OH-HEXION/ORICA) Hexion Specialty Chemicals Completes Purchase Of Orica Limited's Adhesives & Resins Business Business Editors COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31,...

ROCKWELL AUTO SELLS MECHANICAL, MOTOR BUSINESSES TO BALDOR.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) Rockwell Automation Completes Sale of Mechanical and Motor Businesses to Baldor Electric Company MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2007--Rockwell Automation, Inc. today announced...

SIGNACERT INTRODUCES ENTERPRISE TRUST SERVICES.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(OR-SIGNACERT) SignaCert Introduces Enterprise Trust Services Trusted Integrity Verification Proves IT Systems Stay Configured as Intended PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS...

TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY LEADERS ADVANCE NEW SECURITY APPROACH.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(OR-SIGNACERT) Technology Industry Leaders Come Together to Advance New Security and Management Approach SignaCert and Intel, Sun Microsystems, Juniper Networks, Applied Identity,...

TATA LANDS AMONG WORLD'S TOP TEN STEELMAKERS.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Tata Steel's successful takeover of Corus Group Plc - Europe's second-largest and the world's eight-largest steelmaker - has catapulted it to fifth position among world's top steel producers. From a mere 5.6...

EFD INTRODUCES NEW RADIAL SPINNER SYSTEM.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(RI-EFD)(NDSN) EFD Introduces New Radial Spinner System An efficient, cost-effective way for manufacturers in all industries to apply production fluids inside cylindrical parts ...

INDIAN COS MAY GET TO TAP OVERSEAS EQUITY MARKETS: PAPER.
February 1, 2007... LONDON, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - India may soon allow its companies to go in for a primary listing in overseas exchanges, relaxing current regulations that require firms to first list in domestic bourses. "The suggestion has come that companies...

INDONESIA SEEKS MAJOR ROLE IN JV WITH QATAR INVESTMENT FUND: MINISTER.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) expressed hope that further negotiations with the Qatar Investment Fund (QIF) would enable Indonesia to assume a more dominant role in a joint venture to be...

OVERSI HELPS SERVICE PROVIDERS AFTER ASIAN EARTHQUAKE.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) Oversi's P2P Caching System Helps Service Providers to Maintain Service Levels After Asian Earthquake PETACH TIKVA, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Oversi, a pioneer in innovative...

WESFARMERS PURCHASES LINDE GAS AUSTRALIA.
February 1, 2007... PERTH, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Diversified industrial group Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) has completed the $A500 million ($US387.68 million) purchase of specialty gas business Linde Gas Australia. Linde Gas will be renamed Coregas Pty Ltd and operate as...

INDIAN FRANCHISE INDUSTRY SEEKS SPECIFIC REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The franchise industry in the country is seeking specific legal framework for regulating the sector, which is growing exponentially following the retail boom. According to Franchise Association of India...

S. KOREAN EXPORTS JUMP 21.4 PCT IN JANUARY.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean exports grew at a much faster pace in January than the previous month, fuelled by strong overseas demand for semiconductors, autos, ships and steel products, a government report said Thursday. ...

ANTAM'S FeNi III FACTORY STARTS OPERATION.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Diversified mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) (JSX:ANTM) said its FeNi III factory has been in operation since January 29. The operation followed the handover of the factory from the turnkey contractor...

S. KOREA RECORDS SHARP RISE IN INTERNET USERS IN 2006.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The number of internet users in South Korea rose more than one million in 2006, with people in their 40s and 50s leading the gain, a government report showed Thursday. According to the report by the Ministry of...

ANADIGICS ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION SHIPMENTS OF WLAN 802.11N POWER AMPLIFIERS.
February 1, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR24987 ANADIGICS Announces Production Shipments of WLAN 802.11n Power Amplifiers WARREN, N.J., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- ANADIGICS, a Leading Supplier of...

PAKISTANI, S KOREAN FIRMS TO INVEST US$500 MLN IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR.
February 1, 2007... LAHORE, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Chosun Construction of South Korea and Shafsal Limited of Pakistan will jointly invest US$500 million to develop various commercial and residential projects in Pakistan. Addressing a joint press conference at...

INDONESIA REPORTS 12 PCT RISE IN EXPORTS TO US.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The American Importers Association (AIA) announced on Wednesday that the value of Indonesian exports to the United States in 2006 reached US$13.14 billion, an increase of about 12 per cent from US$12 billion in 2006....

INDONESIAN GOVT URGED TO LIFT TAX ON CRUDE PALM OIL EXPORTS.
February 1, 2007... JAKARTA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - The Association of Indonesian Vegetable Oil Producers (GIMNI) is calling for the imposition of a seven per cent tax on crude palm oil (CPO) exports, in order to stem rising exports that are slowing the development of...

MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - FEB 1, 2007.
February 1, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: BUSINESS TIMES: - Bursa Malaysia Bhd's net profit soared 85 per cent in the fourth quarter on the back of stronger trading activity in the equities and derivatives...

PAKISTAN, NEPAL SIGN ACCORD ON AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT.
February 1, 2007... ISLAMABAD, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Secretary Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, Pakistan, Mohammad Ismail Qureshi and Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, Nepal, Ganesh Kumar K.C, on behalf of their respective governments,...

FORMER HEAD OF AUSTRALIA'S HIH MAY STAND TRIAL.
February 1, 2007... SYDNEY, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Former HIH chairman Geoffrey Cohen will know by April whether he will stand trial on charges of misleading shareholders shortly before the insurer's collapse. Cohen, 72, is charged with two counts of knowingly...

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT GROWERS, NATIONALS SPLIT ON FUTURE OF AWB.
February 1, 2007... CANBERRA, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - Uncertainty over Australia's beleaguered wheat marketing system has sparked a row between the Nationals and the wheat growers' lobby over the future of AWB's (ASX:AWB) monopoly. The rift between the Nationals -...

S. KOREA TO INVEST OVER US$113 MLN IN DEVELOPMENT OF IT SECTOR.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea will spend more than 106.3 billion won (US$113.3 million) this year on educating workers and students in the information technology (IT) sector, officials said Thursday. The Ministry of Information and...

SK ENGINEERING TO BUILD LUBRICATING-OIL PLANT IN INDONESIA.
February 1, 2007... SEOUL, Feb 1 Asia Pulse - SK Engineering & Construction Co. (KSE:00720), a South Korean construction company, said on Thursday that it has won a US$150 million order to build a lubricating-oil plant in Indonesia. The contract also calls...

India's ONGC to invest US$1.4 bln in 4 offshore projects.
February 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Asia in Focus - OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION (BSE:500312) on Tuesday said its Board has approved investment proposals worth Rs 61.52 billion (US$1.4 billion) for four major projects in the western offshore region. The...