AsiaPulse News articles from July 2001

AsiaPulse News archives from July 2001

AUSTRALIAN RETAIL CHIEF HARVEY NORMAN SLAMS COLES MYER M'GEMENT.
July 1, 2001... SYDNEY, July 1 Asia Pulse - Gerry Harvey, wealthy boss of a retail chain, has strongly criticised the management of Australia's largest retailer Coles Myer Ltd (ASX:CML), offering his own services for nothing to turn the company around. Mr...

IRANIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 1, 2001.
July 1, 2001... TEHRAN, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of Sunday's newspapers: IRAN DAILY - Iran deposits with Western banks almost doubled during the year 2000 from US$8.1 billion to US$16 billion, according to the Bank of International Settlement...

STOCKS - MUSCAT SHARES CLOSE HIGHER - JULY 1, 2001.
July 1, 2001... MUSCAT, July 1 Asia Pulse - The general price index of the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) today rose by 0.42 points to close at 166.62 points. A total of 352.757 shares worth RO 336.041 were traded through 305 deals. Trading focused...

ASIA.
July 2, 2001... ASIA FOREX - US DOLLAR AT RECORD PEAK AGAINST RS - JUL 2, 2001 pticloser $all $in $stx MUMBAI, July 2 Asia Pulse - The US dollar ended at a record peak against the Rupee at Rs 47.14/15 per dollar and the Pound Sterling turned...

ASIA.
July 2, 2001... ASIA STOCKS - DSE CLOSE 10.20 PTS DOWN - JUL 2, 2001 pticloser $all $in $stx NEW DELHI, Jul 2 Asia Pulse - The Delhi Stock market was ushered into the new trading system today on a cheerful note, but dwindled on profit...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: - Allan Langer's one man search-and-destroy mission broke NSW's heart last night in the State of Origin match. - John Howard has cancelled the...

OPEN - ASIA PULSE INTERNATIONAL - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... Good Morning. This is the Asia Pulse International service of business intelligence, news, tenders and expert commentary on the economies of Asia provided by Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (Asia Pulse). Asia Pulse reserves all rights including...

S KOREAN JUNE EXPORTS DROP 13.4PCT YEAR-ON-YEAR.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Exports decreased 13.4 percent to US$13.2 billion in June from a year earlier, marking decreases four months in a row, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said Sunday. The number represents the largest...

S KOREAN 1H PC SALES DROP 21 PCT FROM A YEAR AGO.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Personal and notebook computer sales in the first half of the year dropped 21 percent from a year earlier to a preliminary 1,389,000 units and fell 12 percent from those sold in the latter half of last year,...

SHERRITT COAL COMPLETES LUSCAR COAL INCOME FUND TAKEOVER.
July 2, 2001... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) TORONTO, June 30 CNW-AsiaNet - Sherritt Coal Partnership (Sherritt Coal) today announced that it now holds all the outstanding Units and Debentures of Luscar Coal Income Fund (the Fund)....

ADB PROCUREMENT - THAILAND, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** THAILAND - SKILLS DEVELOPMENT...

ADB PROCUREMENT - THAILAND, COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEM.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** THAILAND - SKILLS DEVELOPMENT...

ADB PROCUREMENT - PAPUA NEW GUINEA, ROADS.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** PAPUA NEW GUINEA - ROAD...

ADB PROCUREMENT - MALAYSIA, EDUCATION.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** MALAYSIA - TECHNICAL AND...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDONESIA, HYDROELECTRIC POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDONESIA - POWER XXIII PROJECT...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - KARNATAKA URBAN...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS HIGHER - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened higher today, rebounding from its lows on Friday and expected to again threaten a move higher. The unit showed some good strength over the US Friday session with some solid buying...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENT - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - GUJARAT POWER SECTOR...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - GUJARAT POWER SECTOR...

KOREA'S KOLON GROUP POSTS NET LOSS OF US$131 MLN IN FY 2000.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Kolon Group posted 171.17 billion won (US$131.46 million) in net loss in fiscal 2002 ended last December 31, according to its consolidated balance sheet submitted Saturday to the Financial Supervisory Service. ...

S KOREAN MINISTER EMBARKS ON TRIP TO EUROPE.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Han Seung-soo has embarked on a seven-day trip to Britain, France and Switzerland to seek support for inter-Korean reconciliation and to discuss ways to enhance bilateral political...

KOREAN FSS TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said Sunday that it will lift restrictions on insurance premiums on private and business-purpose passenger cars and motorcycles beginning Aug. 1. The deregulation will...

HYUNDAI MOTOR LAUNCHES IR ACTIVITIES IN U.S., EUROPE.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Hyundai Motor Co. has launched a large-scale investor relations (IR) activities in the United States and Europe last week to attract possible investors in the nation's largest automaker, a Hyundai spokesman said...

INDIAN CALL TO REDUCE DELAYS IN DUTY DRAWBACK TO EXPORTERS.
July 2, 2001... MUMBAI, July 2 Asia Pulse - Delays in payment under duty drawback scheme to the exporters should be reduced to ensure smooth trade transactions, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) N L Lakhanpal said on Friday. "We will take up the...

S KOREAN HIGH-TECH VENTURE COS SET TO VISIT TAIWAN, HK.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Representatives of a group of South Korean Internet solutions and other high-tech venture firms will visit Hong Kong and Taiwan today to attract both investors and buyers, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Corp....

DEFECTION VIA MANILA NOT TO UNDERMINE N.KOREAN- PHILIPPINE TIES.
July 2, 2001... MANILA, July 2 Asia Pulse - The defection Saturday of seven North Koreans to South Korea via the Philippines will not adversely affect the relations between Pyongyang and Manila which normalized ties last year, a Philippine Foreign Ministry...

INDIA'S GDP GROWTH DIPS TO 5.2 % IN 2000-01.
July 2, 2001... NEW DELHI, July 2 Asia Pulse - India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth slumped to 5.2 per cent during 2000-01 as against 6.4 per cent in the previous year mainly due to dismal performance of manufacturing, construction and some of the...

S KOREA TO SELL 30PCT OF EQUITY IN CHO HUNG BANK.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The South Korean government is to sell 30 percent of its equities in Cho Hung Bank by the end of the year, the Cho Hung Bank President Wee Sung-bok said. "We are establishing an autonomous management system by the...

S KOREA TO CONVENE MEETING ON NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The government is to convene a meeting of the National Security Council this week to discuss ways to address the issue of North Korean defectors and the impact of the recent high-profile defection of a family of seven...

WIPRO CHIEF CALLS FOR HALVING OF INDIAN EXCISE DUTY ON HARDWARE.
July 2, 2001... BANGALORE, July 2 Asia Pulse - Suggesting that India emulate China and Israel, chairman of Wipro Limited Azim H Premji said the centre should bring down the excise duty on hardware from 16 per cent to eight per cent and the sales tax to zero to...

KOREAN MEDIA HEADS ACCUSED OF TAX EVASION BANNED FROM EXIT.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Prosecutors have requested the Justice Ministry to take measures to ban all of the 12, including owner of some newspapers, involved in the alleged tax evasion, from leaving the country, prosecution sources said...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - GUJARAT POWER SECTOR...

ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - GUJARAT POWER SECTOR...

[3] ADB PROCUREMENT - INDIA, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** INDIA - GUJARAT POWER SECTOR...

INDIA'S MODICORP PLANS INT'L CELLULAR SERVICES IN NEPAL.
July 2, 2001... NEW DELHI, July 2 Asia Pulse - Cellular operator Modicorp is planning to start international cellular services in Nepal soon. "The group plans to soon start its first international cellular services in Nepal," the company said in a...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN INDEX OPENS LOWER - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket opened lower today, backpedalling from Friday's last minute surge to a record high. The major banking stocks all fell, but were offset by strengthened media giant News Corp. By...

KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: DONG-A ILBO - Opposition party accuses gov't of trying to tame the press prior to the arrival of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il - Exports shrink by biggest margin in...

ADB PROCUREMENT - CHINA, PORTS.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************* CHINA - XIAMEN PORT PROJECT...

GEMS AND JEWELLERY AMONG LEADING INDIAN EXPORT ITEMS TO US.
July 2, 2001... NEW DELHI, July 2 Asia Pulse - Gems and jewellery, readymade cotton garments and cotton yarn fabrics have emerged leading export items to the US during April-January 2000-01 with gems and jewellery cornering over a 30 per cent share despite...

KOREA'S MDP TO CONSIDER PARLIAMENTARY INSPECTION OF MEDIA PROBE.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Chairman Kim Choong-kwon of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party said Sunday that his party may consider conducting a parliamentary inspection of the recent probe of media organizations by the National Tax...

ADB PROCUREMENT - CHINA, ENVIRONMENT.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** CHINA - BEIJING ENVIRONMENTAL...

IRAN'S PRESENCE IN WORLD MARKETS GUARANTEES GROWTH: EXPERTS.
July 2, 2001... SHIRAZ, Fars Prov., July 2 Asia Pulse - Experts and industrialists in Fars Province believe that growth of the Iranian industries is highly dependent on presence of Iranian manufactured products in world markets. Expressing their views in...

NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO PROMOTE INDO-RUSSIAN TRADE.
July 2, 2001... NEW DELHI, July 2 Asia Pulse - Indo-Russian trade will receive a shot in the arm as exporters from both countries gear to utilise the North-South Transport corridor linking India and Russia via Iran. The new trade route would considerably...

ADB PROCUREMENT - CHINA, AGRICULTURE.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************** ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENT - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** CHINA - HAINAN AGRICULTURE AND...

BRITAIN'S MG ROVER SEEKS TO PRODUCE CARS IN IRAN: FT REPORT.
July 2, 2001... TEHRAN, July 2 Asia Pulse - A lossmaking British carmaker is negotiating to produce automobiles in a frontier Iranian city near Afghanistan, the London-based daily Financial Times has said. MG Rover is holding talks with Dastan which is a...

IRAN, YEMEN BEGIN JOINT ECONOMIC MEETING.
July 2, 2001... TEHRAN, July 2 Asia Pulse - The fifth Iran-Yemen Joint Economic Commission meeting, attended by the co-chairmen of the joint economic commission, Iran's Agricultural Jihad Minister Mahmoud Hojjati and Yemeni Minister of Planning and Development...

KOREAN STOCK MARKET EXPECTED TO REBOUND.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The key index of the Korea Stock Exchange is expected to rebound this week, testing the 600-point level as the market showed signs of stability after sliding towards 580, stock experts. Samsung Electronics, Korea...

TAIWAN'S CHINATRUST BANK TO SET UP OFFICES IN MAINLAND CHINA.
July 2, 2001... TAIPEI, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Taipei-based Chinatrust Commercial Bank (CCB) is planning to set up representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to service Taiwanese businessmen operating there. CCB Chairman Jeffrey Koo said the...

TAIWAN PC MAKER MITAC INTERNATIONAL LAYS OFF 150 EMPLOYEES.
July 2, 2001... HSINCHU, July 2 Asia Pulse - Affected by market stagnation, Mitac International Corp., one of Taiwan's largest PC makers, laid off 150 employees without warning Friday. A Mitac official said that the layoff is expected to save the company...

KOREAN GOV'T, LOCAL EXPORTERS TO JOINTLY PAY FOR CHINESE GARLIC.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Korean exporters of polyethylene and mobile phones will defray the cost of Chinese garlic imports, government sources said. Officials stressed Saturday that the 10,300...

ADB PROCUREMENT - BANGLADESH, POWER.
July 2, 2001... *** Asia Pulse Tender *** ********************************************* ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCUREMENTS - JUNE 2001 ********************************************** BANGLADESH - DHAKA POWER SYSTEM...

KOREAN CHAEBOLS IN THE RED, COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHOW.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - South Korean conglomerates experienced hard times last year as many reported deteriorating debt-equity ratio and shrinking profits, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said Saturday. Despite calls by the...

TAIWANESE FREIGHTER SHIPMENT OF GRAVEL REJECTED BY CHINA.
July 2, 2001... KINMEN, July 2 Asia Pulse - The direct "mini three links" suffered a setback earlier this week when mainland China banned a Taiwan freighter from shipping gravel directly from a mainland port to Taiwan via Kinmen. The 777-ton...

TAIWAN GOVT SET TO TRIM 15,000 EMPLOYEES NEXT YEAR.
July 2, 2001... TAIPEI, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Taiwan government has been trimming its workforce since the mid-1990s and is set to reduce the total number of its administrative staff by 15,000 next year, the country's top personnel administrator said...

ONE-THIRD OF KOREAN LISTED STOCKS BELOW PAR VALUE.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Shares below par value accounted for 36.3 per cent of the 658 listed companies, according to the Korea Stock Exchange Monday. Shares priced below 10,000 won (US$7.70) represented 58.21 per cent of the total. ...

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... HONG KONG, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - A leading insurance company is scaling back involvement in the employees' compensation market, dealing a further blow to the troubled...

STOCKS - KOSPI, KOSDAQ INDEX EDGE UP - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - Shares on the Korea Stock Exchange rose slightly early Monday. As of 9:58 a.m., the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.37 points to 596.50. The over-the-counter KOSDAQ index edged up 0.38 point...

AUSTRALIAN RETAIL TRADE PREDICTED TO SLOW IN MAY.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - Economists are expecting retail trade to finally slow over May after five consecutive strong months of data. The retail trade data, which is due for release tomorrow, is expected to show a median rise of just 0.1...

THAI NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... BANGKOK, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE BANGKOK POST - It used to be said that a job with the Siam Cement Group was a job for life. In a sense, that has been true, even during the worst of the recession. ...

IRANIAN DAM RESERVES TO BE DEPLETED IN TWO MONTHS TIME: OFFICIAL.
July 2, 2001... ISFAHAN, July 2 Asia Pulse - The deputy governor general of Isfahan Province said that given the current rate of water consumption in the province, water reserves of the Zayandeh-Roud Dam will be depleted within two months. Speaking at the...

TAIWAN TO EASE RESTRICTIONS ON RECRUITING MAINLAND CHINESE.
July 2, 2001... TAIPEI, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Investment Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said Friday that local private enterprises will be given help to recruit foreign and mainland Chinese high-technology personnel from July 1. ...

JAPANESE MORNING NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei): - NHK Spring To Tie Up With Faurecia In Car Seat Business - Gloom Deepening Over Manufacturing Sector: Nikkei Forecast - Koizumi...

AUSTRALIA'S ARISTOCRAT COMPLETES TAKEOVER OF LAS VEGAS COMPANY.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) today said its US$180 million takeover of Las Vegas company Casino Data Systems (CDS) has been completed. The merger agreement was signed on June 29, Aristocrat said. "Our...

MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STAR - Foreign fund managers are now more receptive towards investing in the KLSE compared to six months ago, with many expressing concern that they may miss out...

TAIWAN TO ISSUE NEW DESIGN NT$100 BANK NOTE.
July 2, 2001... TAIPEI, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Central Bank of China (CBC) announced Friday that a new design of NT$100 bill issued by the Bank of Taiwan will go into circulation Monday. A CBC official said that a NT$200 bank note and a NT$2,000 bill...

SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SINGAPORE, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STRAITS TIMES - A bidding war for control of Overseas Union Bank (OUB) looms and it is likely that the weapons of choice will be very different. - Demand for...

MEDICAL SPENDING RISES IN JAPAN HITS RECORD $US248.93 BLN IN FY99.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Medical spending in Japan reached a record 30.93 trillion ($US248.93 billion) in fiscal year 1999, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported, representing a 3.7 per cent rise over the previous year, with the...

AUSTRALIAN INTERNET JOB VACANCIES FALL AGAIN IN JUNE.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - Internet job vacancies were 4.5 per cent lower in June, according to the latest figures. The Olivier Internet Job Index result for June confirms a downward trend for internet jobs, with information technology and...

JAPAN, U.S. TO CREATE TRADE TALKS FRAMEWORK.
July 2, 2001... WASHINGTON, July 2 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush have agreed to set up a new framework of bilateral consultation this autumn to help strengthen economic cooperation and ease trade friction, the...

LION NATHAN TO BID FOR NEW ZEALAND'S MONTANA GROUP.
July 2, 2001... WELLINGTON, July 2 Asia Pulse - Australasian brewer Lion Nathan is making a full bid for New Zealand's largest winemaker, Montana Group, starting with a partial offer for 11 per cent. Lion said in a statement today that the initial offer...

JAPAN'S HITACHI TO SHIFT TV & VACUUM CLEANER PLANT OUT OF SINGAPORE.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Hitachi Ltd. (TSE:6501) announced that it will stop production of TVs and vacuum cleaners in Singapore by the end of September and transfer output to China, Thailand and Indonesia. The decision means the layoff of...

KOIZUMI VOWS TO SHOW LEADERSHIP IN MAKING FY02 BUDGET.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday expressed strong determination to exercise leadership in formulating the budget for fiscal 2002. In formulating the budget, "I'll never fail to abide by the policies set...

JAPAN FTC ORDERS MATSUSHITA ELEC TO STOP PRESSURING WHOLESALERS.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Fair Trade Commission on Friday ordered Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (TSE:6752) to stop pressuring its wholesalers not to sell its products to discount retailers, claiming the practice violates the...

HEAD OF JAPAN'S FSA URGES BANK LEADERS TO DISPOSE OF BAD LOANS.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Minister of state for Japan's Financial Services Agency Hakuo Yanagisawa has urged bank leaders to speed up the elimination of bad loans. "Bad-loan disposal should be undertaken at an early time; then there is a...

AUSTRALIAN GOVT TO SPEND $US25MLN TO EXTEND CDMA NETWORK.
July 2, 2001... CANBERRA, July 2 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard confirmed today that the Australian government was set to spend another $A50 million ($US25.58 million) to extend the CDMA mobile phone network. Mr Howard said details of the plan...

AUSTRALIA'S PANBIO ACQUIRES STELLAR BIO SYSTEMS FOR US$1.2 MILLION.
July 2, 2001... BRISBANE, July 2 Asia Pulse - Medical diagnostics company PanBio Ltd (ASX:PBO) said today it had acquired United States diagnostics company Stellar Bio Systems for A$2.35 million (US$1.2 million) in a bid to expand its offshore revenue base....

JAPAN'S CONSUMER SPENDING INDEX DOWN 1.5 PTS IN JUNE.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - The June Nikkei consumer forecast index was 1.5 points below the previous result in March, the Nikkei Research Institute of Industry and Markets reported Friday. For June, the index, which takes June 1985 as its...

AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY SET TO GROW STRONGLY IN YEAR 2002.
July 2, 2001... SYDNEY, July 2 Asia Pulse - BIS Shrapnel has reported that the Australian economy is expected to grow strongly over calendar year 2002. However, it is seen still weak for the remainder of this year, said. The Economic Outlook report...

FOREX - KOREAN WON OPENS DOWN AGAINST THE DOLLAR - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... SEOUL, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Korean won opened weaker against the US dollar this morning as the latter gained in overseas trading. The dollar bought 1,300.70 won as of 10:15 am, up slightly from 1,297.50 won at Friday's close. ...

TAIWAN'S HSINCHU INDUSTRIAL PARK NEEDS A STRUCTURAL TRANSITION.
July 2, 2001... TAIPEI, July 2 Asia Pulse - Twenty years after its establishment, the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park has become a center for Taiwan's high-technology industries, but "Taiwan's Silicon Valley" needs to undergo a structural transition if...

JAPAN SEES 2.9% RISE IN PRIVATE-SECTOR CAPITAL OUTLAY IN FY01.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - The estimated capital outlay by Japan's private sector for the fiscal year 2001 is 2.9 per cent higher than that estimated for last year, according to survey results announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and...

AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY ON ROAD TO RECOVERY: ACCI.
July 2, 2001... CANBERRA, July 2 Asia Pulse - The Australian economy had turned the corner and was on the road to recovery as long as policy remained supportive, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said today. ACCI chief executive Mark...

NIKKEI WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2, 2001.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's issue of the Nikkei Weekly: FRONT: - Japan's individual investors developing appetite for risk - Fast-moving Net era puts spin on business strategies - Chipmakers slash spending...

JAPAN'S CRUDE STEEL DEMAND TO SLIP 3.7 PCT IN JULY-SEPT: METI.
July 2, 2001... TOKYO, July 2 Asia Pulse - Crude steel demand in July-September is forecast be 3.7 per cent below estimated output for the previous quarter, at 25.3 million tons, according to a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry estimate released Friday....