AsiaPulse News articles from September 2007

AsiaPulse News archives from September 2007

FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS WEAKER - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sep 3 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened weaker today on the back of an unwinding in carry trades. At 0700 AEST, the Australian dollar was trading at .8159/63, compared to Friday's close of 0.8244/45. Over the weekend,...

AUSTRALIAN PM USES INTERNET TO OUTLINE APEC BENEFITS.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard this morning used the internet to push the benefits of this week's APEC meeting in Sydney. Mr Howard, delivering his message on YouTube, said APEC was a chance for Australia to be the...

AUSTRALIAN PM ANNOUNCES CLIMATE CHANGE PLANS.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard has announced $A70 million ($US57.06 million) in international climate change initiatives on the first day of the APEC summit in Sydney. Mr Howard said Australia would contribute $50...

ORIGIN ENERGY CONSIDERS BUYING WIND FARMS.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) is considering buying wind farms, and says a shift to renewable energy sources could potentially push electricity bills up by 20 per cent. Origin chief executive Grant King said...

NUMBER OF ONLINE JOB ADS SURGES IN AUSTRALIA.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The number of job advertisements on Australia's three top employment internet sites has risen to another record as an interest rate rise did little to weaken the economy. Job ads on seek.com.au, mycareer.com.au...

LEIGHTON TO MERGE GULF REGION UNIT WITH UAE FIRM.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Engineering and construction firm, Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX:LEI) will merge its gulf region division with United Arab Emirates company, Al Habtoor Engineering, investing $A879 million ($US716.52 million) for a 45...

AUSTRALIAN BONDS OPEN WEAKER - SPET 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The Australian bond market has opened weaker today, tracking US Treasuries which lost ground on Friday as investors turned their attention to stocks. At 0900 AEST, the yield on the Commonwealth Government...

SOUTH KOREAN ECONOMY EXPANDS 1.8PCT IN Q2.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's economy expanded a revised 1.8 per cent in the second quarter from three months earlier, up from an earlier 1.7 per cent estimate, mainly on strong manufacturing of semiconductors, machinery and ships,...

CHARTERED SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING UNVEILS TECH FORUM DETAILS.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(CA-CHARTERED-SEMICONDUCT) (CHRT)(CHARTERED.SI) Chartered's 2007 Asia-Pacific Technology Forums Highlight Collaboration and Customer Design Solutions SINGAPORE-(BUSINESS...

LG ELECTRONICS SEES OPERATING LOSS OF 4-5PCT IN DISPLAY BUSINESS.
September 3, 2007... BERLIN, Sept. 2 Asia Pulse - LG Electronics Inc., South Korea's second-largest consumer electronics maker, expects its display division to post an operating loss of between 4 and 5 per cent this year, hit by weak panel prices and higher raw...

S. KOREA'S TRADE DEPENDENCE ON U.S., JAPAN REDUCES IN 2007.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's trade dependence on the United States and Japan dropped in the first seven months of this year from a year ago, while its trade with China is increasing, officials said Sunday. South Korea's...

SOUTH KOREA TO SEND RESOURCE EXPLORATION TEAM TO AFRICA.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea will send a fact-finding team to three Central African countries this week to explore cooperation in natural resources development, the government said Sunday. The 12-person team, made up of officials...

SHARES HELD BY SOUTH KOREAN OWNER FAMILIES IN CHAEBOLS FALL.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - The portion of shares of South Korean family-owned business conglomerates owned by conglomerate heads and their families dropped in 2007 from a year earlier, the country's corporate watchdog said Sunday. A...

U.S., NORTH KOREA START DIPLOMATIC NORMALIZATION TALKS.
September 3, 2007... GENEVA, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - A working group of American and North Korean officials met here on Saturday to discuss ways to normalize diplomatic ties between their two countries, foes since the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. The...

HYUNDAI MOTOR WORKERS POSTPONE WALKOUT.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - Unionists at South Korea's largest carmaker Hyundai Motor voted to launch a strike but postponed the move until next week, their spokesman said Saturday, amid intense public pressure to resolve the wage dispute...

AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE AGE - Victoria's health department has conceded it bungled investigations into the neglect and mistreatment of residents in privately run, low-care nursing homes. Four...

TAIWAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS UPBEAT ABOUT BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
September 3, 2007... TAIPEI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - A majority of 85 per cent of Taiwanese manufacturing firms responding to a recent survey are optimistic about business prospects for the second half of the year, a local think tank researcher said Friday. The...

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CONSIDERS OPTIONS IN SYMBION.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Primary Health Care Ltd (ASX:PRY) is saying it is considering its options in relation to Symbion Health Ltd (ASX:SYB), including a potential bid with a private equity partner. "One of the options being considered...

TAIWAN GASOLINE PRICES TO BE CUT BY US 2 CENTS PER LITER.
September 3, 2007... TAIPEI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Gasoline prices will be lowered by NT$0.60 (US$0.02) per liter from Sunday, while diesel prices will be cut by NT$0.7 per liter, the state-run petroleum company, CPC Corp., Taiwan, announced Saturday. Under a...

ING PRIVATE EQUITY REPORTS SLIGHT FALL IN ANNUAL NET PROFIT.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - ING Private Equity Access Ltd (ASX:IPE) (ING PEAL) has reported a slight dip in annual profit and says current market volatility should only have a moderate impact on private equity activity. ING PEAL today...

ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF UK TO OPEN OFFICE IN BANGALORE.
September 3, 2007... BANGALORE, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - UK-based Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) has chosen Bangalore to establish its first branch office in the country, said a top official of the Aeronautical Society of India. "The Bangalore branch of the RAeS...

FOREX - US DOLLAR OPENS WEAKER AGAINST WON - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The U.S. dollar on Monday opened at 938.0 won, down from 938.3 at the close on Friday. (Yonhap) 03-09 1032

STOCKS - TOKYO SHARES OPEN LOWER - SPET 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... TOKYO, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Tokyo shares opened lower on Monday, with the Nikkei-225 index losing 58.02 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 16,511.07 in early trade. ASIA PULSE 03-09 1033

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY FALLS IN AUGUST.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Manufacturing activity in Australia eased in August as growth in consumer demand and new orders waned, new figures show. The Australian Industry Group-PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Performance of...

INDIA'S RELIANCE MONEY EYES ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES.
September 3, 2007... BANGALORE, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Anil Ambani Group's financial services distribution arm Reliance Money on Saturday said it is looking for potential acquisition opportunities in the fast growing money changing and money transfer businesses. ...

STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN SHARES RISE AT OPEN - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The Australian sharemarket started the week in full stride, after US President George Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reassured US investors they would work to rectify recent market troubles. At...

S KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: Vernacular dailies -- Intelligence chief under fire for breaching anonymity rules in hostages' release (Kookmin Daily) -- N.K. postponed inter-Korean summit after U.S....

TRIUMPH TO SET UP LINGERIE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN CHENNAI.
September 3, 2007... MUMBAI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Switzerland-based international lingerie brand Triumph International is all set to start its factory on a 560,000 sq ft area in Chennai from the first quarter of 2008. "The factory is under construction and will...

WORLD PV LEADERS TO GATHER IN MILAN.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27358 World PV Leaders to Gather in Milan MILAN, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Worldwide leaders in the PV industry will be gathering in Milan, Italy from...

ATLAS COPCO EXTENDS ITS LEADERSHIP IN OIL-FREE AIR.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27370 Atlas Copco Extends Its Leadership in Oil-Free Air With New ISO 'Class 0' Certificates ANTWERP, Belgium, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Atlas Copco has...

INDONESIA, EGYPT EXPLORING CO-OPERATION IN HYACINTH PROCESSING.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Cooperatives and Small-and-Medium-Scale Enterprise Minister Suryadharma Ali said Indonesia was negotiating a deal to cooperate in industrial process and marketing of hyacinths with Egypt. Business owners...

STOCKS - SEOUL SHARES START HIGHER - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - South Korean stocks started stronger Monday as investors picked up shipbuilding and construction shares, following Friday's Wall Street gains, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index...

SEOUL SHARES EXPECTED TO STABILIZE THIS WEEK.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - South Korean stocks are likely to remain in positive terrain this week as concerns about U.S. subprime wooes are easing and expectations for a cut in benchmark interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve are growing,...

MOOD IS UPBEAT AT THE IFA 2007.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) ( BW)(MESSE-BERLIN) Mood is Upbeat at the IFA 2007 Organisers and exhibitors thoroughly satisfied with the IFA BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2007--After the first three days the...

NEW STUDY FINDINGS CONFIRM CLEXANE/LOVENOX LONG-TERM CLINICAL BENEFIT.(Clinical report)
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27371 New Study Findings Confirm CLEXANE(R) LOVENOX(R) Long-Term Clinical Benefit in Patients Suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome PARIS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/...

MOBILEMONDAY, GSMA JOIN FORCES HELPS SMES WITH MOBILE PRODUCTS.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(MOBILEMONDAY) MobileMonday and GSMA Join Forces to Enable Entrepreneurs to Reach Mobile Operators Technology Editors HELSINKI, Finland-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Aug. 31,...

COUNTRY CLUB INDIA TO RAISE US$130 MLN OVERSEAS TO SET UP CLUBS.
September 3, 2007... MUMBAI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Entertainment and leisure conglomerate Country Club India (BSE:526550) on Friday said it will raise about US$130 million through issue of securities in the overseas market for setting up clubs at various locations...

SUPREME MASTER TELEVISION CELEBRATES ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27368 Supreme Master Television Celebrates One Year Anniversary with Special Peace Programs and Entertainment Programs From Around the World LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1...

BUSINESS WIRE DAILY SUMMARY - AUG 31, 2007.
September 3, 2007... A summary of news releases for August 31, 2007, compiled by Business Wire, the global leader in news distribution. To view any of these news release on Business Wire's website, please go to www.businesswire.com. 1) Category Code: Health...

INDIAN SEMICONDUCTOR MKT MAY TOUCH US$5.5 BLN IN 2009: REPORT.
September 3, 2007... NEW DELHI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Global chip majors may not be rushing to India but the Indian semiconductor segment is showing potential with the total market revenues expected to reach US$5.49 billion in 2009 driven by telecom, IT, power and...

SOUTH KOREAN SMALL STORE SALES FALL FOR 5TH MONTH IN JULY.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Sales by small neighborhood grocery stores and shops fell for a fifth straight month in July as they lost customers to large discount outlets and convenience stores, a government report said Monday. The National...

U-BLOX ENHANCES GPS INTEGRATION WITH EPSON TOYOCOM GYROSCOPE.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27356 u-blox Enhances GPS Integration With Epson Toyocom Gyroscope in Dead Reckoning Reference Design THALWIL and MUNICH, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- u-blox,...

CONVERGYS HELPS TELECOM EGYPT RE-ENGINEER BILLING PROCESSES.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(OH-CONVERGYS/TELE-EGYPT)(CVG) Convergys Helps Telecom Egypt Re-Engineer Billing Processes Business Editors CINCINNATI & CAIRO, Egypt--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2,...

INDIAN RADIO OPERATOR BIG FM TO PROVIDE CONTENT TO THE US.
September 3, 2007... NEW DELHI, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Adlabs' radio initiative, Big FM on Friday announced its tie-up with the United States Asian FM for providing non-music content to non-resident Indians in the US. "This tie-up marks the foray of Big FM in the...

OXBOW CARBON LLC COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF SSM COAL.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(FL-OXBOW-CARBON/SSM-COAL) Oxbow Carbon LLC Completes the Acquisition of SSM Coal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 2007--Oxbow Carbon LLC ("Oxbow") announced today...

CARSEM SELECTS EAGLE TEST SYSTEMS FOR PARALLEL MIXED-SIGNAL.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27357 Carsem Selects Eagle Test Systems for Parallel Mixed-Signal and Analog Test BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Eagle Test Systems, Inc....

S KOREAN GOVT TO HELP FARMERS COPE WITH U.S. FTA: AGRI MINISTER.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The government will faithfully take steps to help farmers cope with challenges that might result from a free trade pact with the United States, South Korea's new agriculture minister said Friday. In an inaugural...

MOBILEMONDAY AND GSMA JOIN FORCES.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) (BW)(MOBILEMONDAY) MobileMonday and GSMA Join Forces to Enable Entrepreneurs to Reach Mobile Operators Technology Editors HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31,...

INDONESIA RAISES RICE IMPORT DUTIES.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The Indonesian government will raise its rice import duty from Rp450 (US$0.05) per kg to Rp550 per kg after state-owned logistics agency (Perum Bulog) has completed its 2007 planned rice imports of 1.5 million tons....

S. KOREAN EXPORTS SURGE 14.4 PCT ON-YEAR IN AUGUST.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - South Korean exports grew 14.4 per cent year-on-year to over US$31.2 billion in August, fueled by strong overseas demand for autos, steel and general machinery, a government report said Monday. Imports expanded...

MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: BUSINESS TIMES: - An ALUMINIUM smelter in Sarawak could boost Malaysia's economy by some RM3 billion a year, a senior official of Australian miner Rio Tinto said. ...

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... HONG KONG, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: - Hong Kong stocks are set to extend a record-setting rally as earnings growth, economic expansion and the inflow of funds from the mainland...

INDONESIA'S PTPN X SEEKS US$116.6 MLN SYNDICATED LOAN.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - State-owned plantation company PTPN X is exploring the possibility of obtaining a syndicated loan worth Rp1.1 trillion (US$116.6 million) from Bank Mandiri (JSX:BMRI), BRI Bank (JSX:BBRI), Bank Mega (JSX:MEGA) and...

PTBA TO RELOCATE BRIQUETTE PLANT TO TANJUNG ENIM.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - State-owned coal mining company PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (JSX:PTBA) will relocate its coal briquette factory to a new site in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra province, a spokesman said. "Media reports that we...

HYUNDAI MOTOR UNION TO RESUME NEGOTIATION WITH MANAGEMENT.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL/ULSAN, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co. (KSE:005380), South Korea's largest automaker, will resume negotiation with management officials Monday, following a 10 day hiatus, raising the possibility of an agreement...

MALAYSIA'S FIRST "ALL NEWS" RADIO STATION TO BE LAUNCHED MONDAY.
September 3, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Radio24, Malaysia's first "all news" radio station, will be launched here on Monday. The 24-hour radio station is operated by the National News Agency (Bernama) from its studios at the 15th floor of Wisma...

ISRAELI GROUP TO INVEST US$700 MLN IN JATROPHA CULTIVATION IN INDONESIA.
September 3, 2007... KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Marhavv Group Israel has earmarked US$700 million to set up jatropha curcas plantations in Kupang district, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a spokesman said. "We will invest the money in jatropha...

CHALLENGER FINANCIAL BUYS CHOICE AGGREGATION.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Challenger Financial Services Group Ltd (ASX:CGF) has bought Choice Aggregation Services, the owner of mortgage broker Choice Home Loans, for $A163 million ($US132.87 million). "Consideration for the acquisition...

INDONESIA WANTS TO BUY URANIUM FROM AUSTRALIA IF IT BUILDS NUKE PLANTS.
September 3, 2007... MELBOURNE, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia has said it would expect Australia to sell uranium to the island nation if it builds nuclear power plants. Indonesia is yet to decide if nuclear plants would be safe in its unstable environment due...

ACTIVISTS DISRUPT OPERATION AT VICTORIA'S LOY YANG POWER STATION.
September 3, 2007... MELBOURNE, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Four members of a group calling itself `Real Action on Climate' have chained themselves to a coal-carrying conveyor belt at the Loy Yang power station as a way of sending a message to APEC leaders in Sydney. ...

CENTRAL JAVA, QUEENSLAND EXTEND SISTER STATE LINKS.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Australia and Indonesia have strengthened their trade and economic ties with a reaffirmed deal between Australia's northern eastern state, Queensland and Central Java Province, an Australian Embassy media release...

MALAYSIA'S TERENGGANU TO BE BIGGEST HUB FOR BARRAMUNDI IN ASEAN.
September 3, 2007... KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here Sunday that has the potential to make Terengganu the biggest hub for barramundi in the Asean region, with the potential to export the fish to Europe and...

AUSTRALIAN CO GROSS OPERATING PROFITS UP IN JUNE QTR.(Financial report)
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Company gross operating profits, in current prices, rose 1.4 per cent in the June quarter, seasonally adjusted, to be up 11.2 per cent over the year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Economists were...

SURABAYA JOINS ASIA PACIFIC TOURISM NETWORK.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Surabaya city in East Java province through the Surabaya Tourism Promotion Board (STPB) has joined the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO), which has a membership of 56 cities in 12...

S. KOREAN MANUFACTURERS BULLISH ABOUT Q4 BUSINESS: POLL.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - A majority of South Korean manufacturing companies have a rosy outlook for their business in the fourth quarter on steadily growing exports, the bullish stock market and hopes for a recovery in private consumption, a...

THE PENINSULA TOKYO OPENS ITS DOORS.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MEDIA RELEASE PR27342 The Peninsula Tokyo Opens Its Doors TOKYO, Sept. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Luxury And Glamour Meet High Design And Technology At Tokyo's Newest...

INDONESIAN GOVT ANNOUNCES PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN CPO EXPORT TAX.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The government has announced a progressive increase in the prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and derivatives to as high as 10 per cent if the price of the commodity is US$850 or higher per ton. The export tax is...

INDONESIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights from today's newspapers: INVESTOR DAILY: - Jakarta Stock Exchange is the fourth best in composite share price index performance with gain 21.5 per cent in the January-August period after Shenzen...

INDONESIAN GOVT RAISES RICE IMPORT DUTY TO US$61 PER TON.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The government has raised the import tax on rice from Rp450,000 to Rp550,000 (US$61) per ton to keep the price of the country's staple food stable. Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the new import duty will...

MANULIFE INDONESIA POSTS 31% RISE IN PREMIUM INCOME IN H1.(Financial report)
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Canadian life insurance company PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia reported a 31 per cent increase in premium income to Rp1.1 trillion (US$122 million) in the first half of this year from the same period last year....

BANK INDONESIA TO KEEP CLOSE WATCH ON RUPIAH: ANALYSTS.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Despite a surge last week, the rupiah will likely remain under close central bank watch as market volatility resulting from U.S. housing loan problems could resurface, analysts say. Local shares meanwhile are...

OPUS STRENGTHENS AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE.
September 3, 2007... (Full text of a statement. Contact details follow below.) Opus Strengthens Australian Presence WELLINGTON, Sept. 3 /NZPA-Asianet/-- OPUS STRENGTHENS AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE Opus International Consultants (Opus), the New Zealand...

E JAVA PERHUTANI SEEKING ECOLABEL CERTIFICATES FOR PRODUCTS.
September 3, 2007... SURABAYA, E Java, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The East Java branch of state-owned forestry company Perum Perhutani is making systemstic efforts to obtain ecolabel certicates for its products, a spokesman said. "We want to win international...

FOREX - RINGGIT OPENS STRONGER AGAINST US DOLLAR - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The ringgit opened at 3.4945/4995 against the U.S. dollar on Monday, stronger than 3.5020/5060 at the close on Thursday. ASIA PULSE 03-09 1231

INDONESIA EARMARKS US$53 MLN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION.
September 3, 2007... MAKASSAR, S Sulawesi, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The government has set aside Rp500 billion (US$53 million) for environment preservation programs in all of the nation's districts in 2007, an environmental affairs official said. "Each district...

HYUNDAI MOTOR DOWNGRADES ANNUAL SALES TARGET IN CHINA.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 Asia Pulse - Hyundai Motor Co. (KSE:005380), South Korea's largest automaker, said Monday that it has revised downwards its annual sales target in China for this year amid intensifying competition and other tough market...

KEPCO WINS ADVISORY SERVICE CONTRACT FROM LIBYA.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's power monopoly Korea Electric Power Corp. said Monday it has signed a US$600,000 contract to advise the Libyan government on the country's future power demands. The contract signed in Tripoli...

PAKISTANI DATE SHOW OPENS IN DHAKA.
September 3, 2007... DHAKA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The 4th Pakistan Dates Show-2007 will begin at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on Sunday. Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka in collaboration with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is organizing the two-day show....

AUSTRALIAN PM HOPES TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE FRAMEWORK AT APEC.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard believes there could be real hopes for progress on climate change if he can get the United States, Russia and China to come to some agreement on addressing the global warming problem. ...

PUTIN EXPECTED TO BRING US$10 BLN INVESTORS TO INDONESIA.
September 3, 2007... JAKARTA, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Russian President Vladmir Putin, who is due to arrive in Jakarta on Sept 6 will include in his entourage a group of Russian business leaders, who plan to invest at least US$10 billion in various industrial sectors...

AUSTRALIA OFFERING FAST-TRACK COMM'L PILOT LICENCE PROGRAM.
September 3, 2007... SYDNEY, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - One day soon, the co-pilot taking the helm of your Boeing 747 flight to Los Angeles or Frankfurt may never have flown a plane before. The scenario might sound like a nightmare but it could be a reality within...

STOCKS - SINGAPORE SHARES START STEADY - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... SINGAPORE, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Singapore shares were slightly higher in early trade Monday, with the Straits Times Index inching up 2.8 points at 3,395.7 at 10.45 a.m. ASIA PULSE 03-09 1251

STOCKS - HONG KONG BOURSE OPENS WEAKER - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... HONG KONG, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - Hong Kong stocks fell 1.6 per cent in early trade, with the Hang Seng Index falling 373.12 points at 23,611.02. ASIA PULSE 03-09 1252

STOCKS - MALAYSIAN SHARES START SHARPLY HIGHER - SEPT 3, 2007.
September 3, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 Asia Pulse - The Malaysian sharemarket was up 0.90 per cent in early trade Monday, with the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index surging 11.5 points at 1,285.43 at 10.24 a.m. ASIA PULSE 03-09 1254