AsiaPulse News articles from October 2002

AsiaPulse News archives from October 2002

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: - Six Australian companies struck deals worth $A42 million ($US22.7 million) for their business chiefs in the last year without their shareholders' prior...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS WEAKER - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened fractionally weaker from yesterday's close with concerns about the outlook for global growth weighing on the local unit. At 0700 AEST, the Australian dollar was worth $US0.5426/30...

AUSTRALIA'S TELSTRA MUST IMPROVE RURAL SERVICE: FINANCIAL REVIEW.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The government may need to upgrade Telstra Corp Ltd's (ASX:TLS) service obligations, or commit to an ongoing role as a service provider of last resort, if it is to appease rural dissatisfaction with the company before...

AUSTRALIAN EXECUTIVE SALARIES UNREALISTIC: WORKPLACE MINISTER.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Some executive salaries were not in line with reality and reinforced the perception that businessmen were greedy, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott said today. Coles Myer Ltd (ASX:CML) chief executive...

AUSTRALIAN TRADE UNION PUSHES MATERNITY LEAVE TEST CASE.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions) today said they would go forward with a test case to extend unpaid maternity leave despite fierce opposition from the federal government and employer groups. The...

COMPETITION FOR US$648.6 MLN PACIFIC NATIONAL RAILWAY, AUSTRALIA.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Toll Holdings Ltd (ASX:TOL) and Patrick Corp Ltd (ASX:PRK) are about to find their new $A1.2 billion ($US648.6 million) Pacific National railway empire challenged, The Australian newspaper reports. The companies...

AUSTRALIA'S COLES MYER EXPECTED TO DELAY GB, TARGET SPLIT.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Coles Myer Ltd (ASX:CML) board is expected to vote unanimously today to delay a decision on the splitting of Myer Grace Bros and Target until after the crucial Christmas trading period, The Australian newspaper...

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ENERGY PRICE TO GO UP 25 PCT NEXT YEAR: AGL.
October 1, 2002... ADELAIDE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The South Australian government should provide electricity concessions for self-funded retirees, the state opposition said today. The government must also expand electricity concessions for pensioners, SA...

AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION SAYS WAR TAX IDEA DUE TO BUDGET DEFICIT.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The only reason the federal government was toying with a war tax was to pay the $A1.3 billion ($US702.65 million) 2001-02 deficit, Opposition Leader Simon Crean said today. Some government ministers have left...

ENERGY RESOURCES AUSTRALIA DISCUSSES JABILUKA MINE LEASE.
October 1, 2002... DARWIN, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A Senate inquiry into uranium mining regulations will hear evidence today from the Mirrar traditional owners who succeeded in stopping mining at Jabiluka. The senators have travelled to the uranium mining town of...

AUSTRALIA'S NRMA RESOLVING WORKER'S 24 HR STRIKE.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - More than 300 striking NRMA road service officers have agreed to work today as union heads and NRMA chief Rob Carter continue talks, at the request of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC). Yesterday, the...

IRAN EXPECTS H2 SHRIMP EXPORT BOOM.
October 1, 2002... BANDAR ABBAS, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Director General of Hormozgan province Fishery Department Ibrahim Migli-Nejad said on Sunday that 30-40 days of shrimps fishing period in Hormozgan province creates 7,000 jobs. He told a press conference...

DIARY - ARAB CHAMBERS CONFERENCE, OMAN.
October 1, 2002... MUSCAT, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Sultanate will host the 37th session of the Arab Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Chambers Conference at Al-Bustan Palace Hotel from 14th to 16th October. Mohammed bin Al-Zubair bin Ali, Advisor to H.M. the...

INVESTMENT IN OMAN'S MANUFACTURING SECTOR GROWS TO US$89 BLN.
October 1, 2002... MUSCAT, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Under the patronage of Dr. Abdul-Malik bin Abdullah al-Hinai, Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of National Economy a forum on the role of financial institutions in enhancing industrial development...

OMAN'S LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS TIES UP 24TH SESSION.
October 1, 2002... MUSCAT, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The 24th session of the AGCC Labour and Social Affairs Undersecretaries Committee concluded at Al-Bustan Palace hotel yesterday. The session was chaired by Sayyid Hamad bin Hilal al-Busaidi, Undersecretary for...

RADIO FREE ASIA TO AIR BOOK ON CHINA'S LEADERSHIP.
October 1, 2002... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 PRNewswire-Asianet - Radio Free Asia (RFA) will begin broadcasting excerpts from "Disidai" ("The Fourth Generation") -- an inside account of China's leadership...

NEW BROADBAND ACCESS SOFTWARE FROM EFFICIENT NETWORKS.
October 1, 2002... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 30 PRNewswire - AsiaNet - Access Software Efficient Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens Corp. and a global leader in digital subscriber line (DSL) customer...

ELEMENT SIX - A NAME FOR THE FUTURE.
October 1, 2002... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) CO. CLARE, Sept. 30 PRNewswire-AsiaNet -- From October 1st, 2002, the De Beers Industrial Diamonds group of companies (Debid) including Drukker International, will become Element Six. The new...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN STOCKS OPEN WEAKER - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian stock market went down at the open, but maintained ground relatively well given a further steep losing session on Wall St overnight. By 1015 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was 7.3 points...

VERIZON GETS APPROX US$770 MILLION FROM SALE OF TELECOM NZ STOCK.
October 1, 2002... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) NEW YORK, Sept. 30 PRNewswire-AsiaNet -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) has realized approximately $770 million from its recent sale of 370 million shares in Telecom Corporation of...

PRICE OF BREAD MAY RISE DUE TO DROUGHT: AUSTRALIAN FOOD GIANT.
October 1, 2002... NEW YORK, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The price of bread could rise again by the end of the year due to the effects of the drought, Australia's largest food company Goodman Fielder Ltd (ASX:GMF) warned today. Goodman Fielder Ltd, whose brands...

RURAL AUSTRALIA UNHAPPY WITH TELECOM SERVICES: REVIEW HEAD.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The head of the federal government's latest review of telecommunications services in non-metropolitan Australia said he had received a lot of complaints. Dick Estens is currently travelling to remote areas of...

RESCUE PLAN FOR SYDNEY'S MARDI GRAS PARADE.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Sydney may still stage its Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras next year, after creditors today accepted a deal that could prove to be the event's salvation. At a meeting today, creditors backed a deal they hope will see...

AUSTRALIA'S MANUFACTURING SECTOR DOWN 3.3 PCT IN SEPT.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Australian manufacturing slid in September, with analysts saying the result confirms the sector is moving into more stable growth going forward. The Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) from the Australian...

AUSTRALIA POSTS 10TH MONTHLY TRADE DEFICIT OF $US513 MLN IN AUG.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Australia's economy continues to grow faster than many others, despite yesterday's 10th monthly trade deficit in a row, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said today. The August trade deficit jumped to $A948 million...

AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE TOO COSTLY: ICA.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The insurance industry today will try to blame every level of government if public liability cover failed to become cheaper and more available. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said a lack of uniformity...

AUSTRALIA'S FAIRFAX HOLDS BEST MEDIA POSITION FOR UPTURN: CEO.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - John Fairfax Holdings Ltd (ASX:FXJ) has rated itself as the media company with the best position in Australia. Chief executive officer Fred Hilmer will this week tell investors in New York that the newspaper group...

AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS SET TO OPPOSE PLASTIC BAG LEVY.
October 1, 2002... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Australian Retailers plan to oppose a government idea to impose a 25 cents levy on plastic bags at supermarket checkouts. Supermarkets today dismissed the levy as the wrong solution to the problem of plastic...

NEW SIX MONTH PACIFIC TICKET FROM STAR ALLIANCE.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Global airline network the Star Alliance has launched a ticket which allowing up to six months travel around the Pacific. The mileage-based Star Alliance Circle Pacific Fare allowed travellers to visit islands...

AUSTRALIA'S RIMFIRE FINDS FOUR DIAMONDS ON BINGARA PROJECT.
October 1, 2002... BRISBANE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Junior diamond explorer Rimfire Pacific Mining NL (ASX:RIM) has made a discovery of four diamonds at its Bingara Diamond project in northern New South Wales. At Back Creek one diamond of 0.271 metric carat was...

STOCKS - KOREAN STOCKS OPEN LOWER- OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Seoul stocks opened lower again on Tuesday following a 17-point drop in the previous session as U.S. stocks kept losing overnight hit by bleak investor sentiment. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)...

AUSTRALIA'S ECORP POSTS 45 PCT FY PROFIT LOSS.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Ecorp (ASX:ECP) unveiled a 45 per cent smaller full year net loss of $A17.6 million ($US9.53 million) for the year to June 30, 2002. The company remains dedicated to online gaming, but faces regulatory issues, it...

BID FOR AUSTRALIA'S COLONIAL PROPERTY TRUST ENDS AT US$736 MLN.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Commonwealth Property Office Fund (ASX:CPA) and Gandel Retail Trust (ASX:GAN) have won the $A1.36 billion ($US736.03 million) bid for Colonial First State Property Trust (ASX:CFT). The alliance beat rival...

AUSTRALIA'S INCAT HELPED BY US ARMY US$38 MLN PURCHASE.
October 1, 2002... HOBART, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The US Army is coming to the rescue of the struggling Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat, with a catamaran order worth up to $A70 million ($US37.88 million). Company founder and chairman Robert Clifford said the sale...

KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: DONG-A ILBO - Whereabouts of 300 bln won out of HMM's 490 bln won of loans from KDB missing on company book, raising suspicion for its usage - Pyongyang rejects entry of...

FOREIGN INVESTORS IN KOREAN STOCKS CONTINUE NET SELLING.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Foreign stock investors have been net sellers in the Korean market for the eight months since February, the Korea Stock Exchange said Tuesday. Their aggregate net selling from February through last month came to...

DIARY - KOTRA TO HOLD FIRST KOREAN EXHIBITION IN HONG KONG.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Korea Trade & Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Tuesday it plans a large scale event in Hong Kong, the first such exhibition in the Chinese Special Administrative Region, to display Korean goods and boost...

AUSTRALIA'S BIOTA SURPRISED BY BIGSHOP.COM.AU'S SHARE SWOOP.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Australian drug developer Biota Holdings Ltd (ASX:BTA) said today it was unsure why a known corporate raider had become the company's biggest shareholder. Biota told shareholders in its notice of its annual...

JAPANESE MORNING NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of the morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) today: - Koizumi Shifts Bad-Loan Policy, With Takenaka Doubling As FSA Head - Koizumi Sacks Yanagisawa, Second Cabinet Sworn In -...

YAMANOUCHI TO SHOOT FOR US$4.66 BLN IN GROUP REVENUE IN FY04.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. (TSE:4503) unveiled Monday a medium-term business plan that aims for group revenue of 570 billion yen (US$4.66 billion) and operating profit of 114 billion yen in fiscal 2004, mainly by...

AUSTRALIA'S DAIRY FARMERS POSTS MASSIVE FY NET PROFIT RISE.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Dairy Farmers Co-operative has lifted its net profit to $A19.9 million ($US10.77 million) in 2001/02 from $A773,000 ($US418,347.6) in 2000/01 A four year cost reduction program is being touted as the main...

KOREA'S KDIC FILES SUITS AGAINST 4,468 AILING BANK EMPLOYEES FOR INDEMNITY.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse -- The Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. (KDIC) said Tuesday it has filed suits against 4,468 former and incumbent employees of ailing financial institutions seeking 1.2 trillion won (US$933 million) in compensation for...

AUSTRALIA'S TOLL HOLDING MAY BUY BRAMBLES' SHIPPING.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Shares in logistics group Toll Holdings Ltd (ASX:TOL) fell again as the company failed to respond to a newspaper report it might buy Brambles Industries' shipping business. A spokeswoman for Toll managing...

JAPAN'S PIA TO SET UP ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY THINK TANK IN OCT.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Pia Corp. (TSE:4337) will launch on Oct. 1 a think tank to specialize in research on the entertainment industry. The research unit will issue quarterly reports on the entertainment industry that can be used to...

MITSUBISHI TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON FOREIGN-AID ORDERS.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Mitsubishi Corp. (TSE:8058) announced Monday measures to strengthen legal compliance of its business activities related to foreign aid grants. The company will create a new system to ensure that efforts to secure...

TDK TO MASS-PRODUCE FULL-SCREEN COLOR ORGANIC EL DISPLAYS.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - TDK Corp. (TSE:6762) has developed and plans to begin mass production of the industry's first full-screen color organic EL (electroluminescent) displays. TDK has developed two 6.5-inch full-screen color organic EL...

JAPAN'S ASAHI GLASS DEVELOPS TEXT/SHAPE-DISPLAYING GLASS.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Asahi Glass Co. (TSE:5201) said Monday that it has developed glass that displays text or shapes when the electricity is turned on. The company has developed two types of glass that can be used for storefront...

JAPAN'S KITZ MAKES 10-20% CHEAPER COPPER ALLOY FOR WATER PIPE VALVES.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Kitz Corp. (tse:6498) announced Monday that it has developed a copper alloy that is 10-20 per cent lower-priced than conventional products and can be used to cast water pipe valves. The company succeeded in...

AUSTRALIA'S LEIGHTON CEO GETS US$2.24 MLN FY PACKAGE.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX:LEI) chief executive Wal King is one of the growing list of corporate fat cats whose pay packets are orbiting in the multi-million dollar range. The construction giant's annual report...

JAPAN'S OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY SETS UP SALES UNIT IN S KOREA.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Oki Electric Industry Co. (TSE:6703) said Monday that its wholly owned chip sales subsidiary, Oki Microelectronics Co., will establish a sales company in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday. The new firm, which will...

JAPAN'S KDDI TO TEST 3G CELL PHONE WITH CREDIT CARD FUNCTION.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - KDDI Corp. (TSE:9433) said Monday that in March it will start field-testing a new 3G (third-generation) cellular phone that can be used as a credit card. The test will be conducted jointly with JCB Co., Toyota...

JAPAN'S TKC, SANYO ELEC TO JOINTLY SUPPLY MEDICAL SYSTEMS.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - TKC Corp. (TSE:9746) and Sanyo Electric Co. (TSE:6764) will team up in offering systems for medical institutions that will provide comprehensive management of patient information and business processes. TKC will...

TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TO MASS-PRODUCE SMALL VGA LCD.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. announced Monday that it has developed a small LCD with high resolution. The firm plans to begin mass production of the display in April 2003 at its plant in Fukaya,...

ONCOTHERAPY SCIENCE DEVELOPS LARGE-INTESTINE CANCER VACCINE.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Oncotherapy Science Inc., a biotech start-up, has recently developed a vaccine against cancer of the large intestine by using human genome data. The venture has confirmed that the vaccine can boost the body's...

INDONESIA'S TELKOM READY TO BUY INDOSAT'S TOLL CALL NETWORK.
October 1, 2002... SURABAYA, E Java, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - State domestic telecommunications operator PT Telkom (JSX:TLKM) is ready to buy a direct international toll call line with code "008" if its competitor, state international telecommunications operator PT...

WORLD BANK PRESIDENT TO INVITE N KOREA TO DUBAI ASSEMBLY.
October 1, 2002... WASHINGTON, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - World Bank President James Wolfensohn said Monday he will soon send an official letter to North Korea asking it to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank slated to be held in...

AUSTRALIA'S BHP SAYS CASH FLOW BENEFITING FROM STRONG OIL PRICE.
October 1, 2002... NEW YORK, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) today said its cash flows were benefiting from strong oil price. BHP Billiton chief financial officer Chris Lynch said a $US1 increase in the price of oil per barrel was worth $US45...

UPS YAMATO TO OFFER INT'L DOCUMENT SHIPPING FROM RAIL SHOPS.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - UPS Yamato Express Co. on Tuesday plans to start offering international document shipping from convenience stores in East Japan Railway Co. (TSE:9020) stations. The international express envelope service will be...

JAPAN'S SOFTBANK GROUP DEVELOPS TRI-FUNCTION BROADBAND MODEM.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Softbank Corp. (TSE:9984) group has developed a tri-function broadband modem that supports ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line), IP (Internet Protocol) telephone and wireless LAN (local area network) services....

AUSTRALIA'S BHP ASKS SHAREHOLDERS TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE PAYOUTS.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Shareholders at BHP Billiton's (ASX:BHP) annual general meeting are going to be requested to approve a payment scheme which could award executive directors Brian Gilbertson and Charles Goodyear a total of 750,00...

JAPAN'S SEGA, D3 TO ISSUE VALUE-PRICED VERSIONS OF CLASSIC GAMES.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Sega Corp. (TSE:7964) and game software company D3 Publisher Inc. (TSE:4311) will form a joint venture to reissue lower-priced versions of Sega game software, the two companies said Monday. The alliance will...

JAPAN'S CHUGAI FORMS ANTIBODY DRUG DEVELOPMENT TIE-UP WITH U.K. FIRM.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. (TSE:4519) announced Monday that it has formed a partnership with U.K. bioventure Cambridge Antibody Technology Ltd., or CAT, to develop antibody drugs. Under the agreement, Chugai will...

KYOCERA COMM SYSTEMS DEVELOPS INTERNET SOFTWARE FOR ISO WORK.
October 1, 2002... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Kyocera Communication Systems Co. has developed and begun marketing software that helps companies in their efforts to acquire and maintain ISO certification. The software can process over the Internet the entire...

JAPANESE CHAMBER ASKS INDONESIAN GOVT FOR TAX INCENTIVE.
October 1, 2002... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Japanese chamber of commerce and industry at a meeting with the coordinating minister for economic affairs has asked for a tax incentive for Japanese investors who are newcomers in Indonesia. The Japanese...

INDONESIAN GOVT DECIDES TO RAISE FUEL PRICES AGAIN.
October 1, 2002... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The government has decided to raise fuel prices from Rp1,690 to Rp1,750 (around 19 US cents) a liter in October, state oil company Pertamina announced here Monday. The October price touched the "ceiling price"...

AUSTRALIA'S WESTPAC TO OUTSOURCE CARD UNIT FOR US$54 MLN.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Westpac Banking Corp Ltd (ASX:WBC) has outsourced another part of its business, its cards processing unit in a $A100 million ($US54.12 million) deal. Westpac said it had reached a multi-year agreement with the...

SLOW HIGH-END GOODS MARKET INDICATES SLACK KOREAN ECONOMY.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Sales of high-end electronics products such as two-door side-by-side refrigerators and digital TV sets have slowed down, an indication the domestic economy is weakening, industry sources said Tuesday. In October...

TAIWAN TO ADOPT CUSTOMS QUOTA ON RICE IMPORTS.
October 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Council of Agriculture (COA) officially notified the World Trade Organization Monday that Taiwan will adopt customs quotas regarding rice imports and give up its current practice of restricting imports. COA...

KDIC OFFERS US$3.4 BLN TO HELP KOREAN BANKS WRITE OFF INVESTMENT LOSSES.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. (KDIC) has offered 4.4 trillion won (US$3.4 billion) in public funds to several financial institutions to help cover losses incurred by investment in stocks and other financial...

WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL SUMMARY - CHINA, XIAOGAN-XIANGFAN EXPRESSWAY.
October 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse *** ************************************ WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 2002 ************************************ China Project: (R) Hubei Xiaogan - Xiangfan Highway Sector: Transport ...

RAM REAFFIRMS RATING FOR BONDS OF MALAYSIA'S AFFIN HOLDINGS.
October 1, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Rating Agency Malaysia (RAM) has reaffirmed the AAA(bg) rating for Affin Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:AFIN) RM240 million (US$63.2 million) Guaranteed Redeemable Bonds (1997/2005). It said the rating reflects...

TSMC RETAINS TOP PLACE OF TAIWAN'S TOP 10 ENTERPRISES: POLL.
October 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) retained its top position in this year's "Taiwan 10 Guidepost Enterprises" poll conducted by Common Wealth magazine. Unlike in previous years when high-technology...

HSINCHU TAIWAN EXPORTS NOT AFFECTED BY US PORT LOCKOUT.
October 1, 2002... HSINCHU, northern Taiwan, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Exports from the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park were not affected by a 36-hour lockout ordered last Friday by the Pacific Maritime Association, which operates 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast,...

KOREAN HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE MAKERS TARGETS NEWLY WEDS.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Household appliance companies are strengthening their marketing for couples marrying this fall, industry sources said Tuesday. Traditionally in Korea, many couples tie the knot in spring and fall. Himart...

TAIWAN DELEGATION TO ATTEND ASIA-PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL IN SEOUL.
October 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A Taiwan delegation from the field of movies left for Seoul Monday to attend the 47th Asia-Pacific Film Festival, starting today until Oct. 4. Taiwan will present two films - "Blue Gate Crossing" and "The Rule of...

USE OF DIRECT S-N KOREA AIR ROUTE RISES.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Ministry of Construction and Transportation said Tuesday the usage of direct flight air routes between South and North Korea numbered 41 on single flight basis as of the end of September since the historic...

WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL SUMMARY - CHINA, WUHAN URBAN TRANSPORT.
October 1, 2002... *** Asia Pulse *** ************************************ WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 2002 ************************************ CHINA Project: (R) Wuhan Urban Transport Sector: Transport ...

EGG INDUSTRY HAS POTENTIAL TO BOOST PHILIPPINES' FOOD SECURITY.
October 1, 2002... MANILA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The country's budding egg industry has the potential of becoming a vital cog in helping ensure not only food security but also in promoting good health of the Philippines' burgeoning population. Industry leaders...

FOREX - KOREAN WON DOWN AGAINST DOLLAR EARLY - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar inched up slightly against the Korean currency early Tuesday. It opened lower due to its weakness on the won at the non-deliverable forward (NDF) market in New York, but rebounded due to long...

RENAULT-SAMSUNG MOTORS SELLS OVER 11,000 CARS IN SEPTEMBER.
October 1, 2002... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Renault-Samsung Motors said Tuesday its car sales in September jumped 41.3 per cent from the same period last year to 11,448. The figure also represented a 22.3 per cent increase from August's total of 9,357 when...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN STOCKS HIGHER AT NOON - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian stock market was recovering by noon today by reversing early losses, with the banks showing solid gains. By 1205 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was 4.5 points firmer at 2975.4 and the all...

TAIWAN'S BUSINESS TURNOVER IN JULY UP 7.03% FROM YEAR-EARLIER LEVEL.
October 1, 2002... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Business turnover in July totaled NT$719.5 billion (US$21.16 billion), an increase of 7.03 per cent from a year earlier and representing the fifth month of growth in a row, according to statistics released Monday by...

INCREASING USE OF LEADING-EDGE EDA TOOLS IN MAINLAND CHINA & TAIWAN.
October 1, 2002... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) HONG KONG, Sept. 30 PRNewswire Asia-FirstCall-AsiaNet - Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq: GSOL) and Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT, ITB) today announced the results of a joint...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR LOWER AT NOON - OCT 1, 2002.
October 1, 2002... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar was slightly lower to noon although it remains largely on the sidelines, trapped within a very tight range. At 1200 AEST, the Australian dollar was worth $US0.5417/22 compared with 0.5436/41...