AsiaPulse News articles from November 2004

AsiaPulse News archives from November 2004

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS FIRMER - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar resumed its upward trajectory to open firmer today, as the United States dollar closed lower on Friday night ahead of the US presidential election. At 0700 AEST the local currency was at...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - Mare Makybe Diva will enter the Melbourne Cup as favourite after being sensationally backed at the inaugural Sydney Call of the Card. - Families...

KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: KYUNGHYANG SHINMUN: - Ruling Party Leader Criticizes Main Opposition Party KUKMIN DAILY: - Bush, Kerry Seek Edge in New Bin Laden Tape DONG-A ILBO: - Japan...

JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT SEOUL.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura will visit Seoul around Nov. 6 to discuss the agenda for the next South Korea-Japan summit and other bilateral issues, a government source said Sunday. "The government...

KOREA'S SEMICONDUCTOR OUTPUT DROPS BY NEARLY HALF.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The growth of semiconductor output in South Korea dropped by almost half in the last four months, sending the country's overall industrial production into a tailspin, government data showed Sunday. The production...

KT CORP TO BUILD BANGLADESHI TELECOMS NETWORK.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - KT Corp., (KSE:030200) South Korea's leading fixed-line phone service provider, has reached a deal to construct a telecommunications network worth US$2.83 million in Bangladesh. KT said it will not only provide...

S. KOREAN SMALL FIRMS EXPECT WEAK BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean small and mid-sized manufacturers expect their business activity to remain stagnant in November due to weak domestic demand, high oil prices and a stronger won, a survey found Sunday. The small...

INDIA ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR IT PROMOTION TO UZBEKISTAN.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - India has announced a grant of Rs. 30 million ($US661,959) to Uzbekistan for the promotion of information technology, as the two countries signed an accord to set up a joint centre for information technology (IT)...

CHANGI AIRPORT SELLS STAKE IN LONDON'S LUTON AIRPORT.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Singapore Changi Airport Enterprise (SCAE), which has teamed with the Bharti Group to bid for Delhi airport modernisation, has decided to sell its stake in London's Luton Airport to the UK-based TBI Plc. The...

S. KOREA'S CONSUMER PRICES UP 3.8 PCT IN OCTOBER.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's consumer prices in October climbed 3.8 per cent from a year earlier, fueled by high oil prices, a government report said Monday. The National Statistical Office (NSO) said the figure represented a...

S. KOREAN SHIP TO BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL TRADE WITH N. KOREA.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - A ship with South Korean registry will be used for commercial trade with North Korea for the first time, officials said Sunday. According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, a sand carrier from the...

KOREAN AUTO INSURANCE-RELATED LOSS RATIO FALLS TO 72.4 PCT IN H1.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean non-life insurers saw their average loss ratio for the auto insurance business fall to 72.4 per cent in April-September of 2004 from 74.8 per cent a year earlier, industry sources said Sunday. The...

INDIA'S FOREX RESERVES CROSS US $120 BLN MARK.
November 1, 2004... MUMBAI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - India's foreign exchange reserves surged by US $980 million to cross US $120 billion mark during the week ending October 22, 2004. Foreign currency exchange reserves for the week under review grew by US $980...

SINGAPORE, INDIA URGED TO FORGE CLOSER TIES.
November 1, 2004... BANGALORE, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said at the weekend he sees great potential for Singapore and India to forge an "even closer" partnership. "We can achieve much more together," he said after...

N.KOREA CRITICIZES US ENVOY OVER REMARKS ON KAESONG IND. PARK.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - North Korea criticized Saturday a top U.S. envoy here over his recent remarks warning South Koreans against having rosy expectations for an inter-Korean economic project. Uriminzokkiri, an official North Korean...

S KOREAN BANKS' ASSET QUALITY IMPROVES ON BAD LOAN WRITE-OFFS.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean banks have continued to write off bad loans this year, helping their asset quality improve amid an economic slowdown, industry sources said Sunday. Local lenders, hit by an increase in dud assets last...

INDIAN GOVT SET TO ENHANCE SERVICES EXPORTS.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - In a bid to enhance India's share of global services exports, the government is working out a package to unleash reforms in the sector, apart from bringing about regulations for all listed services. "Domestic...

EU SEEKING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The European Union on Friday said it was keen on establishing a strategic partnership with India and for this it will launch an action plan for promoting ultilateralism, fighting terrorism and furthering economic...

INDIA ASKS PAKISTAN TO SUGGEST DATES FOR OIL MINISTERS' TALKS.
November 1, 2004... ISLAMABAD, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - India on Friday asked Pakistan to suggest dates for a meeting between the Petroleum Ministers of the two sides for discussing the US$3 billion Indo-Iran gas pipeline to be laid through this country as well as other...

AUSTRALIAN INFLATION STAYS WITHIN C. BANK TARGET RANGE IN OCT.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Despite an increase in the cost of petrol, Australian consumer goods and services prices rose modestly in October, keeping inflation within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range, a monthly gauge showed. ...

FEDERAL MINISTER CALLS ON AUSTRALIAN INDIANS TO INVEST IN INDIA.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Calling on Indian diaspora to share its expertise in the motherland, federal Minister for Overseas Indians Jagdish Tytler on Friday invited Australian Indians to invest in areas like tourism, aviation, healthcare and...

INDIAN FM SEEKS OPENING UP OF FINANCIAL SECTOR FOR GLOBAL MAJORS.
November 1, 2004... MUMBAI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - India should open its financial sector for foreign institutional investors and global majors, including brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies, in order to become a financial powerhouse, Union Finance...

SEOUL BOURSE FORECAST TO FACE VOLATILE WEEK.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean share prices may face volatility in the week ahead as investors have to digest a series of economic data at home and abroad and the U.S. presidential election, analysts said. The benchmark Korea...

BURBERRY CHECK SUBJECT TO TAIWAN TRADEMARK LAW PROTECTION.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The famous Burberry Check of the noted British fashion brand Burberry is subject to Taiwan's trademark law protection, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Saturday. The...

TAIWAN FUTURES EXCHANGE SIGNS COOPERATION PACT WITH NYME.
November 1, 2004... NEW YORK, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Taiwan Futures Exchange (TFE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation with the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYME) Friday as part of its globalization drive. The MOU was inked by TFE...

PRODUCTION OF PETROCHEMICAL SECTOR TO TOP US$53 BLN IN 2004.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The total production of Taiwan's petrochemical sector is expected to amount to NT$1.8 trillion (US$53.73 billion) in 2004, which will represent a growth of 27.3 per cent over last year, according to a report by the...

EVERGREEN MARINE Q3 SOARS 449 PCT UP ON LAST YEAR.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd (TAIEX:2603)., Taiwan's largest container liner, announced Friday a combined pre-tax net profit for the first three quarters of NT$10.17 billion (US$303.5 million), marking an...

TAIWAN'S Q3 BALANCE OF PAYMENTS POSTS US$1.855BLN SURPLUS.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Taiwan's balance of payments for the third quarter of this year was about US$1.855 billion, down from both Q1 and Q2 levels, a spokesman for the Central Bank of China (CBC) reported. Citing the newest statistics...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN INDEX OPENS HIGHER - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket opened higher this morning after an improvement on Wall Street and a kick along in international metal prices on Friday. "The market has opened strongly this morning thanks to overseas...

TAIWAN'S TSMC ENCOURAGES WORKERS TO UPHOLD CORE PRINCIPLES.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC) (TAIEX:2330), the world's largest contract chip maker, encouraged his staff Saturday to adhere to the company's three core principles in the face...

ROSY PROSPECTS FOR IT COOPERATION BETWEEN TAIWAN, INDIA.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The prospects for information technology (IT) exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and India are rosy, an Indian official said Saturday, noting that the former is a world-renowned computer manufacturing...

MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TAIWAN'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Taiwan's economic prospects remain rosy despite some indications showing that the booming domestic economy is likely to abate in the coming months, Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh said Sunday. Taiwan's...

BRITAIN'S COSTA COFFEE ENTERS INDIA, TO OPEN 300 OUTLETS BY 2010.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - British cafe chain Costa Coffee will open 300 outlets in India through a franchise agreement with R K Jaipuria Group which will invest Rs 1.50 billion (US$33 million) over the next six years. "We envisage an...

TAIWAN-MAINLAND TRADE CONTINUES GROWING IN 1ST 8 MONTHS.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Bilateral Taiwan-mainland trade in the first eight months of this year totaled US$39.646 billion, up by 38.5 per cent over the previous year's level, according to the latest government statistics. Statistics...

INDIA'S SAIL SIGNS MoU WITH BHP; MAY PICK UP EQUITY.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Faced with huge shortage of coking coal, Steel Authority of India Ltd (BSE:SAIL) has signed an agreement with Australian mining giant BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP_ and SAIL is also considering picking up equity after the...

IRAN, CHINA SEEK CLOSER TIES IN ENERGY SECTOR.
November 1, 2004... BEIJING, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Iran`s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, who is paying an official visit to China, has met with the mayor of Shanghai. In the meeting, Zanganeh mentioned cooperation between Iran and China in the fields of...

FOREX - US DOLLAR OPENS UNCHANGED VS WON - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The U.S. Dollar opened at 1,119.60 won, unchanged from Friday's close. (Yonhap) 01-11 1116

INDIA'S FISCAL DEFICIT DOWN BY 34% AT US$11.7 BLN IN H1.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The fiscal deficit has come down by over 34 per cent to Rs 532.35 billion (US$11.7 billion) in the first half of 2004-05, mainly due to government's expenditure control measures and higher tax mop up. Revenue...

IRAN, CHINA SIGN THREE OIL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS.
November 1, 2004... BEIJING, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Iran`s visiting Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh described his visit to China and talks with its ranking officials on long-term mutual cooperation as successful. Talking to IRNA prior to his leaving Beijing on...

73 PERCENT OF TAIWAN FAMILIES HAVE A COMPUTER: CEPD.
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - About 73 per cent of Taiwan people have at least one computer at home and 53 per cent of them are Internet surfers, according to the results of a recent government survey. Some 43 per cent of the respondents said...

IRAN'S MJF TO CONSTRUCT 38 KM MOUNTAIN ROAD IN UAE.
November 1, 2004... TEHRAN, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Iranian heavyweight and state-run conglomerate, Mostazafan and Janbazan Foundation (MJF), has signed a contract with officials of the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE) to construct a mountain road spanning 38...

JAPANESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... TOKYO, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Fuji Photo Film Co. (TSE:4901) plans to invest 100 billion yen to build a factory in Kikuyomachi, Kumamoto Prefecture, to produce polarizing sheet film for LCDs (liquid crystal displays). - The decapitated body of...

RESCHEDULED CARD BILLS IN S.KOREA DROP 32 PCT JAN-SEPT.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean credit card companies saw their rescheduled credit card bills drop by one third in the first nine months of the year as they actively wrote off bad loans, industry sources said Monday. LG Card Co....

STOCKS - SEOUL SHARES BEGIN STRONGER - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean stocks started higher Monday, but trading was thin ahead of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election and the release of a series of economic data at home and abroad this week. In the first 15 minutes of...

STOCKS - KOSDAQ INDEX OPENS HIGHER - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The tech-filled KOSDAQ index opened at 357.23 points Monday, up 0.19. (Yonhap) 01-11 1150

BANKERS ASKED TO BID FOR ADVISORY FEE FOR BSNL-MTNL IN INDIA.
November 1, 2004... NEW DELHI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Department of Telecommunications has asked the six shortlisted merchant bankers including Kotak Mahindra (BSE:KTKM), DSP Merril Lynch (BSE:DSPM) and UTI Bank (BSE:UTBK) to put in their bids regarding fees to be...

S.KOREA TO RESUME PUBLISHING DEFENSE WHITE PAPER.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea said Friday that it will resume publishing its defense white paper in January, three years after it suspended printing the document over a dispute on its definition of North Korea as the "main enemy." ...

STOCKS - TOKYO SHARES OPEN LOWER - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... TOKYO, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Tokyo shares opened lower Monday, with the Nikkei-225 index dropping 40.40 points or 0.38 per cent to 10,731.02 in early trade. ASIA PULSE 01-11 1201

S.KOREA SET TO KEEP TOP SPOT IN WORLDWIDE SHIP ORDERS.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea is expected to remain the world's biggest recipient of ship orders for two years in a row this year, a British research firm said Monday. Ship orders obtained by South Korean shipbuilders were 14.1...

KIA'S SLOVAKIAN PLANT TO ALSO PRODUCE HYUNDAI MODELS: OFFICIAL.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - A plant in Slovakia being built by Kia Motors Corp. (KSE:000270), South Korea's second-largest automaker, will produce models by its affiliate Hyundai Motor Co. (KSE:005380) as well, a Hyundai Motor official said...

CORR - KIA'S SLOVAKIAN PLANT TO ALSO PRODUCE HYUNDAI MODELS.
November 1, 2004... Repeating to correct U.S. dollar figure in 4th paragraph SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - A plant in Slovakia being built by Kia Motors Corp. (KSE:000270), South Korea's second-largest automaker, will produce models by its affiliate Hyundai Motor...

MERGERS OF S.KOREAN HANDSET MAKERS WITH FOREIGN COS ON THE RISE.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - More foreign telecommunications makers have been seeking mergers with small South Korean mobile phone makers recently, as two mergers were finalized and two others are under discussion, an industry source said Monday....

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING CONTINUES TO GROW IN OCT.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Australian manufacturing continued to grow in October on the back of strong consumer demand. The Australian Industry Group - PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) rose an...

AUSTRALIA'S MYOB EXPECTS 2004 REVENUE TO JUMP 40 PCT.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Accounting software provider MYOB Ltd (ASX:MYO) said today it is expecting 2004 revenue to grow around 40 per cent year-on-year to $A124 million ($US92.71 million). Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and...

KTF'S Q3 PROFIT FALLS 11.9 PCT.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - KTF Co., South Korea's second-largest mobile phone operator, said Monday its net income for the third quarter fell 11.9 per cent from a year ago to 91.7 billion won (US$81.8 million). Third-quarter operating...

INT'L ORGANIZATION INSPECTS S.KOREA'S AVIATION SECURITY.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - An international governing body for civil aviation began a 10-day inspection Monday of South Korea's safety and security measures at airports and on flights, officials here said. A four-member team from the...

KTF'S Q3 PROFIT DROPS DUE TO HEAVY MARKETING COSTS.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - KTF Co., South Korea's second-largest mobile phone operator, said Monday net income for the third-quarter fell 11.9 per cent from a year ago as it spent more in marketing in the saturated market. In the three...

PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... MANILA, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: MANILA TIMES: - Foreign investors remain doubtful about the ability of the Arroyo administration to fulfill its reform promises, according to a global investment bank. -...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN INDEX HIGHER TO NOON - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket is higher at noon, led by the banks and an improvement on Wall Street. At 1230 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was 11.1 points higher at 3789.7, while the all ordinaries firmed 9.1...

US-ASEAN BUSINESS COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN ARROYO.
November 1, 2004... MANILA, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The US-ASEAN Business Council has reaffirmed its full confidence in the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her commitment to reforms that are expected to strengthen the business climate in the...

HIGH FUEL COSTS FORCE AIRLINES TO SUSPEND ROUTES.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - An increasing number of airlines are suspending less-profitable routes owing to increased fuel costs from high oil prices, the Transportation Ministry said Monday. Korean Air (KSE:003490), the larger of South...

NEW KOOKMIN HEAD PROMISES IMPROVED ASSET QUALITY, PRODUCTIVITY.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Kookmin Bank (KSE:060000), South Korea's No. 1 lender, will bolster efforts to improve asset quality and productivity in its endeavor to maintain its leading status, the new head of the leading lender pledged Monday....

STOCKS - MALAYSIAN STOCKS UP IN EARLY TRADE - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Malaysian sharemarket was up 0.10 per cent in early trade due to mild buying support for selected bluechips, dealers said. At 10:10 a.m., the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index rose 0.83 points...

STOCKS - SINGAPORE STOCKS UP IN EARLY TRADE - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SINGAPORE, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Singapore shares were higher in early trade, with the Straits Times Index up 4.73 points at 1985.42 at 10:06 a.m. The market rose due to bargain-hunting in selected bluechips, including Jardine C&C, F&N, UOB...

MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STAR: - Scomi Group Bhd has appointed Ridzuan Ali as its senior vice-president of oil and gas, Malaysia operations to oversee the group's oil and gas business...

VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: HANOI MOI: - Vietnam Airlines officially inaugurated a direct air route linking the Central Highlands City of Da Lat and Hanoi on Oct. 29. The airline will conduct three...

THAI NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... BANGKOK, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: BANGKOK POST: - Fourth Army commander Lt-Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree vows he will continue taking tough action against Muslim militants wreaking havoc in the deep South...

SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SINGAPORE, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE BUSINESS TIMES: - Petrochemical products manufacturers here are feeling the squeeze from rising crude oil prices, leaving many players with little choice but to raise...

S. KOREA'S TRADE SURPLUS SHRINKS TO US$2.5 BLN IN OCT.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's trade surplus shrunk to US$2.5 billion in October due to increased imports, down from US$2.8 billion the previous month, the Commerce Ministry said Monday. The October figure was higher than the...

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS KEY TO BETTER S KOREAN CHAEBOL: US EXPERT.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea must strengthen the role of independent directors in order to improve the corporate governance of its family-controlled conglomerates, a U.S. expert said Monday. "The country has come a long way since...

HCM CITY TO DEVELOP FLOWER, BONSAI TREE CULTIVATION.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Ho Chi Minh City is preparing a plan to develop flower and bonsai tree cultivation, considering it a major part of the city's agriculture, in addition to ornamental fish raising. Flower and bonsai tree farming and...

RIO TINTO SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH JAPANESE PARTNERS.
November 1, 2004... PERTH, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The world's second largest iron ore miner, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO), has formalised closer cooperation with its Japanese partners in the Pilbara iron ore industry, putting behind it the strain caused by its 2000...

VIETNAM SEEKS TO BOOST FRUIT EXPORTS.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Vietnam's agricultural and rural development sector will take urgent measures to expand the existing markets and seek new ones for fruit exports as it has seen a decrease in the export value of this product over recent...

AUSTRALIA'S ST GEORGE POSTS 18.3 PCT INCREASE IN YR NET PROFIT.
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Australia's fifth largest bank, St George Bank Ltd (ASX:SGB), said today it was targeting 10 per cent earnings per share growth in 2004/05 after a solid increase in full year earnings. St George reported net...

INDIA'S SEBI ASKS STOCK MARKETS TO AMEND LISTING PACT.
November 1, 2004... MUMBAI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has asked stock exchanges to amend clause 49 of their listing agreement to insert revised provisions dealing with financial results and corporate...

OFFSHORING WILL INCREASE IF BUSH RE-ELECTED: SURVEY.
November 1, 2004... SILICON VALLEY, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Nearly half of the business and technology professionals quizzed in a survey here Friday said that offshoring will increase if president George W Bush is re-elected. A Meta Group survey of 300 business and...

VIETNAM ATTRACTS MORE FOREIGN CAPITAL JAN-OCT.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Vietnam has licensed 579 FDI projects so far this year, with a total registered capital of US$1.74 billion, up 17.2 per cent from last year, said the Ministry of Planning and Investment. FDI now sits at $3.236...

MERCK ISSUES STATEMENT ON DOCUMENTS RELATED TO VIOXX LITIGATION.
November 1, 2004... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (BUSINESS WIRE) Oct 29 - Merck & Co., Inc. today issued the following statement on company documents related to pending VIOXX litigation: Merck has been informed...

PHILIPPINES, JAPAN MAY REACH TRADE ACCORD SOON.
November 1, 2004... MANILA, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed optimism that the Philippines and Japan would reach a trade accord in two months following the fifth round of negotiations for the proposed Japan-Philippines...

BIDS ARE OPEN FOR US$200 MLN CANAL REVAMP IN HCM CITY.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Bids are open for the second phase of an environmental sanitation scheme to upgrade Ho Chi Minh City's massive Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal. The project has been appraised at US$199.96 million. The World Bank will...

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS SELLS 23 MLN HANDSETS IN US IN JAN-OCT.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - Samsung Electronics Co. (KSE:005930), the world's third-largest mobile phone manufacturer, said Monday it sold a total of 23 million handsets in the United States for the first 10 months of this year. With its...

VIETNAMESE FIRMS TO TAP EUROPEAN MARKET.
November 1, 2004... HANOI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - France's Eurabiz Trade Consultation and Investment Company and Vinh Phuc International Consultation Company have recently signed a contract with Vietnamese firms to export goods via two trade centres in Berlin and...

STOCKS - SEOUL STOCKS RISE IN MORNING TRADE - NOV 1, 2004.
November 1, 2004... SEOUL, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - South Korean stocks rose Monday morning as institutional investors stepped up buying stocks, with SK Telecom and Kookmin Bank leading the gains. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 0.93...

TSE CALLS FOR PROPER DISCLOSURE BY ALL LISTED FIRMS.
November 1, 2004... TOKYO, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - The Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday sent all listed companies written requests urging them to disclose information to investors in an appropriate manner. The move comes on the heels of a series of improper business...