AsiaPulse News articles from October 2003

AsiaPulse News archives from October 2003

STOCKS - DSE TRADELESS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2003.
October 1, 2003... NEW DELHI, Sep 30 Asia Pulse - The Delhi Stock Exchange remained tradeless for yet another day today as most of the market players executed their transactions on other bourses for better liquidity. The DSE authorities decided not to issue...

STOCKS - BSE CLOSES UP - SEPTEMBER 30, 2003.
October 1, 2003... MUMBAI, Sep 30 Asia Pulse - The benchmark zoomed up further by 51.19 points to close at nearly 36-1/2 month high of 4453.24 on the Stock Exchange, Mumbai (BSE) today following continued heavy buying from foreign funds as well as operators. ...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS LOWER - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened lower today after surging to a five and a half year high last night. At 0700 the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.6798/03 compared with yesterday's close of 0.6802/07. ...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - $7.5 billion federal budget surplus prompts calls for tax cut. - Strong economy fuels federal government's tax take. - Controversy over...

PROFILE - AUSTRALIA'S POWER INDUSTRY (SEPT 2003).
October 1, 2003... (Repeating story transmitted on Sept 30, 2003 to insert dropped word in second paragraph) By Bernard Lim **************************************************** A PROFILE OF AUSTRALIA'S POWER INDUSTRY PREPARED BY ASIA PULSE...

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR SEEN RISING FURTHER.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Some currency experts now believe the forecast rise of the Australian dollar to 70 US cents by Christmas may be too conservative following the local unit's surge to a five and a half year high last night. The...

KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: KYUNGHYANG DAILY NEWS - Decision to Send Troops to Iraq Imminent KOREA DAILY NEWS - Gov't to Decide Whether to Send Troops This Month KUKMIN DAILY - Gov't...

KOREA'S KT CORP TO CUT 5,500 WORKERS VIA EARLY RETIREMENT.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - KT Corp. (KSE:30200), South Korea's largest fixed-line telecom operator, said Tuesday it will slash its workforce by about 5,500 through early retirement. As part of its restructuring efforts, the company received...

SOFTBRANDS TO IMPLEMENT GROWTH & PROFITABILITY RESTRUCTURING PLAN.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Hospitality Unit to Undergo Re-Organization; Company Names Randy Tofteland President & Chief Operating Officer; New Business Unit...

ARROW THERAPEUTICS RAISES MAJOR PART OF VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) LONDON, Oct. 1 PRNewswire-AsiaNet - Arrow Therapeutics, the London based anti-infectives drug discovery company, announced today that it has raised more than 21M pounds sterling in the first...

LIONBRIDGE INDIA AWARDED SEI-CMM LEVEL 5 CERTIFICATION.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall-AsiaNet/ -- Attains The Software Engineering Institute's Highest Quality Level Rating Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIOX), a...

INTERACTIVE DATA CORP, MONEYLINE TELERATE TO FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) NEW YORK, and BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 30 PRNewswire-AsiaNet - Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC) and Moneyline Telerate today announced their intent to develop a strategic relationship...

GERMAN ECONOMIC DELEGATION TO VISIT IRAN THURSDAY.
October 1, 2003... BERLIN, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A German economic delegation, headed by Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Economics Ministry Rezzo Schlauch, will visit Iran on Thursday. "The parliamentary state secretary will be accompanied in his...

FOREIGN TOURISTS IN TAIWAN ELIGIBLE FOR TAX REBATES ON PURCHASES.
October 1, 2003... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Beginning Wednesday, foreign tourists who make one-stop purchases totalling NT$3,000 (US$88.75) or more during their visit can apply for a 5-percent tax rebate upon their departure from Taiwan under a new government...

IRAN'S RAILROAD SECTOR WELCOMES FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.
October 1, 2003... TEHRAN, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Managing director of state-run Iran Railroad Organization (IRO) Mohammad Saeed-Nejad said here Monday that the private sector is to purchase 2,200 cargo train wagons valued close to US$90 million and 100 passenger...

INDIA'S ECONOMY GROWS BY 5.7% IN Q1.
October 1, 2003... NEW DELHI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Led by a strong recovery in the manufacturing sector, the Indian economy grew by 5.7 per cent during the first quarter of this fiscal year as against 5.3 per cent during the same period of last year. The...

INDIA'S TEXTILE EXPORTS REGSISTER HIGH GROWTH IN 2002-03.
October 1, 2003... MUMBAI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - India's exports of synthetic and rayon textiles touched an all-time high of Rs 76,290 million (US$1.67 billion) during the year 2002-03, Chairman of the Synthetic & Rayon textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC)...

STOCKS - TOKYO STOCKS OPEN HIGHER - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Tokyo shares opened 0.16 per cent higher Wednesday, with the Nikkei 225 index rising 16.83 points to 10,235.88 at 9:15 a.m. ASIA PULSE 01-10 1019

BRITAIN'S RM OPENS SOFTWARE CENTRE IN INDIAN TECHNOPARK.
October 1, 2003... THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The UK-based educational firm, RM plc has opened its new software development centre at the Technopark here. The 8000 sq ft state-of-the-art centre, RM Education solutions India Pvt Ltd,...

PAKISTAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 30, 2003.
October 1, 2003... KARACHI, Sept 30 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: DAWN - Islamabad rejects Kabul's charges - US troops come under heavy attacks in Iraq - Pakistan undeterred by Al Qaeda calls: Foreign Office - No decision...

INDIA'S WIPRO INFOTECH PLANS OFFICE IN SAIDI ARABIA.
October 1, 2003... BANGALORE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Wipro Infotech, the West Asia, India and Asia Pacific IT division of Wipro Ltd (BSE:WIPR), on Monday said it proposed to set up an office and a dedicated technical competency centre in Saudi Arabia. The...

STOCKS - KOREAN STOCKS OPEN LOWER - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Korean shares began weaker Wednesday on a slash in the U.S. stock markets. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), or the barometer of the main market, opened 7.05 points, or 1.01 per cent, lower at 690.47....

RADIANCY INTRODUCES NEW PSORIASIS LIGHT UNIT ASSEMBLY.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) ORANGEBURG, N.Y., Sept. 30 PRNewswire-AsiaNet - Radiancy, Inc., the global leader in light based skin therapies, has expanded the treatment applications for its LHE(TM) (Light Heat Energy)...

PAKISTAN READY TO INK SAFTA AT KATHMANDU SAARC MOOT.
October 1, 2003... ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Pakistan is ready to sign a framework agreement on the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) at the five-day Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) conference, scheduled to be held in Kathmandu...

CENTRAL ASIA TRANSIT TRAFFIC AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE FROM TODAY.
October 1, 2003... ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A landmark agreement between Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan over traffic in transit will be effective from today, Oct. 1. The agreement was signed in 1995, but its implementation was delayed due to...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN STOCKS OPEN LOWER - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket opened lower today following sharp falls on major bourses last night. Bluechips including BHP Billiton, most of the major banks, News Corp and Telstra all fell in early trade. The...

PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT TO SET UP 3 TEXTILE CITIES.
October 1, 2003... KARACHI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The government will set up three 'textile cities' at Karachi, Lahore and Faislabad to meet the challenge of WTO regime when textile quotas will come to an end and an era of free market will start from January 1,...

AUSTRALIA'S GRAINCORP RAISES WINTER CROP FORECAST.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - GrainCorp Ltd (ASX:GNC) today raised its forecast for its winter crops. The grain marketer said it now expects to receive 11.1 million tonnes of grain for the coming harvest of winter crops. The forecast is...

SOUTH KOREA SET TO OPEN HIGH-SPEED RAIL SERVICE IN APRIL.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea is putting the final touches on its first bullet train project that will go into service six months later, promising to bring "revolutionary" changes to the daily lives of its people. The French-built...

CORR - INDIA'S WIPRO INFOTECH PLANS OFFICE IN SAUDI ARABIA.
October 1, 2003... (Corrects spelling in headline) BANGALORE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Wipro Infotech, the West Asia, India and Asia Pacific IT division of Wipro Ltd (BSE:WIPR), on Monday said it proposed to set up an office and a dedicated technical competency...

DIARY - INTERNATIONAL MARITIME EXPO IN MUMBAI FROM OCT 8.
October 1, 2003... MUMBAI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A 4-day international maritime exhibition with interactive sessions on emerging opportunities in the areas of shipping, shipbuilding, ports and harbours in India, middle east and south-east Asian region will be held...

AUSTRALIA'S GEELONG WOOL COMBING TO CLOSE TEXTILE PLANT.
October 1, 2003... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Geelong Wool Combing (GWC) will close its plant, Leigh Schmitt, the chief executive of the ailing textile firm said. The closure of the plant will result in the loss of almost 100 jobs. Schmitt announced...

S&P ASSIGNS RATINGS TO AUSTRALIA'S AWB HARVEST FINANCE.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Standard & Poor's (S&P) has assigned its AA-minus/A-1-plus ratings to AWB Harvest Finance Ltd (AWBHF). This follows the restructure of AWB Ltd (ASX:AWB) and the ring fencing of the export wheat pool operations...

PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY (OCT 2003).
October 1, 2003... By Hwang Seok-joo ***************************************************** A PROFILE OF SOUTH KOREA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY PREPARED BY ASIA PULSE ANALYSTS (UPDATED OCTOBER 2003) *****************************************************...

NET INDIAN FII EQUITIES PURCHASE TOUCHES US$126.4 MLN.
October 1, 2003... MUMBAI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in India netted purchases in equities at Rs 5805 million (US$126.4 million) and Rs 2153 million (US$42.7 million) in the debt market during the trading week ended September 26....

FOREX - KOREAN WON OPENS LOWER AGAINST DOLLAR - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The South Korean won started weaker against the dollar Wednesday morning as a result of Japan's intervention in its currency market the previous day. The local currency began at 1,152.30 won to the greenback, down...

7 BIDDERS SUBMIT EOI FOR PAKISTAN RAILWAY PROJECT.
October 1, 2003... LAHORE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The tenders for a contract to carry out a feasibility report for the construction of a railway track from Gwadar Port to main lines were opened here on Monday. Seven potential bidders, who submitted their...

THAI NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... BANGKOK, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE BANGKOK POST: - Paolo Medic says it is committed to investing at least three billion baht in the health-care business over the next two years, including a capital...

CHINA AIRLINES DENIES PILOT BANNED FOR DRINKING ALCOHOL.
October 1, 2003... TAIPEI, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - China Airlines (CAL), Taiwan's largest air carrier, denied a news report Tuesday that a CAL pilot was banned from flying for having consumed alcohol before taking charge of an Anchorage to New York flight. A...

AUSTRALIA'S TRANSFIELD SETS UP PROPERTY MANAGEMENT JV.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Transfield Services Ltd (ASX:TSE) and Colonial First State Property have teamed up to provide integrated end-to-end property and facilities management services. Their joint venture firm, Five D Pty Ltd, will...

KOREA'S EQUITY-INVESTMENT CEILING AIMS TO BETTER CHAEBOL GOVERNANCE.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's top anti-trust regulator said Wednesday the current limit on chaebol equity investments is designed to make their governance structures more transparent. Subsidiaries of South Korean chaebol, or...

S KOREAN DEPT STORES HIT CRISIS POINT.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Department stores in South Korea have reported a decrease in sales for the eighth consecutive month because of poor consumer sentiment, business insiders said today. Lotte Department Store, the nation's largest...

HK'S NEW RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LENDING RISES TO 11-MONTH HIGH.
October 1, 2003... HONG KONG, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - New residential mortgage lending in Hong Kong rose to an eleven-month high in August, with the value of new loans drawn down during the month rising by 13.6 per cent to HK$7.6 billion (US$982.02 million), according...

NURSING SOCIETY GIVES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO PRINCESS ROYAL.
October 1, 2003... (Full text of this release can be found at http://www.asianet.com.au) LONDON, Oct 1 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, today presented its highest honor - a Lifetime Achievement Award - to...

KOREAN GOVT TO CREATE 300,000 JOBS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - In preparation for an aging society,the South Korean government plans to create 300,000 jobs for senior citizens by 2007. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that it will operate a resource center...

S KOREA'S KOOKMIN BANK MAY POST LOSS IN Q3: HEAD.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's largest lender, Kookmin Bank, may have posted a net loss in the third quarter, its head revealed today. "Kookmin had to put up an additional 500 billion won (US$433.5 million) against lending by its...

S KOREA'S HYUNDAI ACQUIRES AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A new era for the Hyundai brand in Australia has begun with the Korean car manufacturer taking over its local distributor. Hyundai Motor Co (HMC) today finalised its purchase of Cycle & Carriage Ltd's (C&C)...

AUSTRALIAN STATE OF QUEENSLAND SET TO GROW 5% THIS YEAR.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Queensland's economy has defied an apocalyptic set of odds and still posted growth of more than five per cent this year, an economic forecaster said today. "Any state that can rack up more than 5.0 per cent growth...

BHP BILLITON'S NEW CEO REAPS US$3.5 MLN IN 2002/03.
October 1, 2003... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - BHP Billiton's (ASX:BHP) new chief executive, Chip Goodyear, received a remuneration package of more than $US3.5 million in 2002/03 as the world's largest diversified miner predicted an improved outlook ahead. ...

INDONESIA'S IBRA SELLS CAPC ASSETS FOR US$71.45 MLN.
October 1, 2003... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has sold its assets of the country's largest petrochemical company PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Center (CAPC) for Rp602 billion (US$71.45 million) or 5.96 per cent of...

SINGAPORE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SINGAPORE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STRAITS TIMES - Singapore will get the first factory in South-east Asia to make DVD recorders, touted the next big thing in home entertainment, as Japan's Matsushita...

S KOREA TO GAIN US$40 BLN FROM FTA WITH JAPAN: REPORT.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - A South Korean free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan is projected to give South Korea a US$40.8 billion annual trade surplus over the long term, according to a Japanese report published today. In the first one or...

JAPANESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: NIKKEI NET - Japanese managers grew more upbeat about business condidions in the three months to September, a key Bank of Japan survey showed Wednesday, with optimists...

KOREAN SYNTHETIC FIBER SECTOR UNDERGOES FACILITY UPGRADES.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's leading synthetic fiber manufacturers are in the midst of implementing facility upgrades in pursuit of higher value-added products, industry sources said today. Korean synthetic fiber makers are...

JAPAN GOVT TENDER - MICROWAVE FREQUENCY BAND TEST EQUIPMENT.
October 1, 2003... *** ASIA PULSE TENDER *** The following procurement notice was published in the Kanpo government gazette on Sept 30. MINISTRY OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, HOME AFFAIRS, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS TO PROCURE THE TEST EQUIPMENT FOR THE...

JAPAN GOVT TENDER - A4 PRINTING PAPER.
October 1, 2003... *** ASIA PULSE TENDER *** The following procurement notice appeared in the Kanpo government gazette on 30 Sept 2003 MINISTRY OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, HOME AFFAIRS, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS TO PROCURE A4 PRINTING PAPER (1)...

TELSTRA UNVEILS REGIONAL TELCO, PAY-TV PACKAGES WITH AUSTAR.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Telstra Corp Ltd (ASX:TLS) has unveiled its bundling packages with regional pay-tv operator Austar, with customers now able to save up to 10 per cent on a basic subscription. The announcement came after Telstra...

STOCKS - MALAYSIAN SHARES HIGHER IN EARLY TRADE - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Malaysian sharemarket was higher in early trade, with the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index up 2.07 points to 735.52 at 10.15 a.m. The Emas Index was up 0.3 points to 182.33, the Industrial...

AUSTRALIAN PM FLOATS TAX CUT AFTER STRONG SURPLUS RESULT.
October 1, 2003... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard today raised hopes of a tax cut after saying it remained the government's preference to return any unexpected surplus to the taxpayer. Treasurer Peter Costello yesterday unveiled a...

UK'S FITNESS FIRST PLANNING TO EXPAND AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The world's second largest health club chain believes Australia has the potential for more than 100 of its Fitness First gyms across the country. The Australian subsidiary of Britain's Fitness First UK today said...

ECONOMIST SAYS PHILIPPINES NOT READY FOR FTA WITH U.S.
October 1, 2003... MANILA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Philippines is not yet ready to enter into a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States given the stringent conditions that would be demanded of the Philippines under such a deal, an international...

STOCKS - SINGAPORE SHARES LOWER IN EARLY TRADE - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SINGAPORE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Singapore sharemarket was lower in early trade, with the Straits Times Index down 6.81 points to 1623.99 at 10.28 a.m. The market fell due to profit taking in selected bluechips including Venture...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN STOCKS LOWER AT NOON - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket was lower at noon, dragged by falls in resource stocks in response to the firmer Australian dollar. Fat Prophets analyst Angus Geddes said major resource stocks such as BHP Billiton,...

MANILA HOPING FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS ON 'OPEN SKIES' WITH US.
October 1, 2003... MANILA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Philippines is still hoping to hold another round of talks with the United States air panel despite the implementation today of the open skies policy. Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin said...

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR UP AT NOON - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... SYDNEY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar was stronger at noon after reaching a five-and-a-half year high last night as the US currency came under severe pressure. At 1200 the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.6830/35 compared...

AUSTRALIA'S OXIANA, RIO TINTO SIGN CONTRACT WITH OUTOKUMPU.
October 1, 2003... MELBOURNE, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Oxiana Ltd (ASX:OXR) today said its Khanong copper joint venture with Rio Tinto Ltd had signed off on a long term off-take contract with the Outokumpu Group of Finland. The contract provides for the full 60,000...

PHILIPPINE BANKS CAUTIOUS DUE TO SLOWING ECONOMY: BANK EXEC.
October 1, 2003... DAVAO CITY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The picture of economic uncertainty has generally slowed down loan performance in banks, a bank executive said. Lorna Lao, president of the Davao City Bankers Association, said however that banks are trying...

PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... MANILA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE MANILA TIMES: - Marked improvements in its fiscal deficit and progress in financial reforms are seen to boost the Philippines economic growth to 4 per cent this year, and...

S KOREA'S ASIANA TO RESUME ULSAN-JEJU FLIGHTS.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Asiana Airlines, one of South Korea's two national flag carriers, said today it will resume flights between Ulsan, a southeastern industrial city, and the country's southernmost resort island of Jeju on Oct. 10. ...

PHILIPPINE GOV'T TO ADOPT PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS ON MOTOR VEHICLES.
October 1, 2003... MANILA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved in principle the implementation of preferential tariffs on motor vehicles under the automotive export program to help sustain economic development. Trade and...

IRAN TO JOIN INVESTMENT GUARANTEE AGENCY AFFILIATED WITH WB.
October 1, 2003... TEHRAN, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Iran's Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance said the country has started its cooperation with the Multilateral Investments Guarantee Agency (MIGA) affiliated with the World Bank. Mohammad Khazaie said that with...

AUSTRALIA'S LIVESTOCK SECTOR STILL SUFFERING FROM DROUGHT.
October 1, 2003... CANBERRA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The drought is continuing to hit the domestic livestock sector with new figures today showing another fall in meat production. The Australian Bureau of Statistics said lamb production in August dropped to...

CEBU EYES MORE CHINA TOURISTS WITH NEW CATHAY FLIGHTS.
October 1, 2003... CEBU CITY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Cebu can expect more tourists from China with both the government and the private sector working to make it easier and more affordable for the Chinese to visit the island-province, Cathay Pacific Airways...

INDONESIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights from today's newspapers: KOMPAS: - Bowing to public pressure, President Megawati Soekarnoputri cancelled her decision to raise the electricity tariff to be effective as from today. - An...

AUSTRALIA'S NT KEEN ON BOOSTING TIES WITH BIMP-EAGA.
October 1, 2003... DAVAO CITY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Australia's Northern Territory is bent on strengthening its trade relations with the focus areas of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), embarking on an...

S KOREA'S KT LAUNCHES INCHEON AIRPORT WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - KT Corp. today announced the launch of wireless Internet access in Incheon International Airport, the main gateway to the country. The wireless Internet or Wi-Fi, widely known here as "Nespot," allows travelers...

KOREAN MARKET RESPONDS POSITIVELY TO KT CORP RESTRUCTURING PLAN.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Shares of KT Corp. (KSE:30200), South Korea's largest fixed-line telecom operator, rose 3.64 per cent, or 1,650 won, as of 11:10 a.m. Wednesday morning after the company's announcement Tuesday that it plans to...

SAMSUNG LOSES TOP POSITION IN DESKTOP MONITOR MARKET TO DELL.
October 1, 2003... SEOUL, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Samsung Electronics (KSE:05930) lost its No. 1 position in the global desktop monitor market to U.S. firm Dell Inc. during the second quarter, according to data released Wednesday by Display Search, a market research...

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... HONG KONG, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STANDARD: - More than 90 per cent of Hong Kong nursing staff are dissatisfied with the precautions taken by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority in...

INDONESIAN DISTRICT TO BUY STAKE IN COAL COMPANY.
October 1, 2003... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The district administration of Kutai Timur in East Kalimantan has said it will buy a stake in PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), which is to divest 51 per cent of its shares to Indonesian investors. Kutai Timur regent...

MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - OCT 1, 2003.
October 1, 2003... KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE STAR: - The retail portion of Astro All Asia Networks plc's initial public offering has been priced at RM3.80 per share and is subject to a refund in the event the...

INDONESIA'S BARITO TO BUILD INDUSTRIAL TIMBER FOREST.
October 1, 2003... JAKARTA, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Timber processing company, PT Barito Pacific Timber, has announced plans to build an industrial timber estate in Kalimantan. Barito President, Johannes Djalimin, said the timber estate is to be built in...

AUSTRALIA KEEN TO TRADE WITH PHILIPPINES DESPITE FRUIT DISPUTE.
October 1, 2003... CEBU CITY, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - The trade dispute between the Philippines and Australia is not a hindrance to Australia's intention of strengthening trade relations with the Philippines. "This is not a setback. We face each other in the...

JAPAN'S YAKULT SEES 12% JUMP IN GROUP NET PROFIT IN 1ST HALF.
October 1, 2003... TOKYO, Oct 1 Asia Pulse - Yakult Honsha Co. (TSE:2267) announced Tuesday that it now expects to report a group net profit of 10.5 billion yen (US$94.25 million) for the fiscal half ended the same day, up 12 per cent on the year and an...