Japan steps up aid to Mekong nations - AFP - Sun 12:20 am
The leaders of Japan and Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations wrapped up a summit at which Tokyo pledged more than 5.5 billion dollars in loans and grants and vowed deeper ties.

HSBC slashes prize money of Women's Champions - AFP - Sat 11:01 pm
Global banking giant HSBC said it was renewing its sponsorship of the Women's Champions tournament for the next three years, but prize money would be slashed.

Japan and Mekong nations to wrap up summit - AFP - Sat 1:44 pm
The leaders of Japan and Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations will on Saturday wrap up a summit at which Tokyo has pledged more than 5.5 billion dollars in loans and grants.

EU, India hope for FTA in 2010 but hurdles remain - AFP - Sat 10:14 am
The European Union and India pledged Friday to push ahead with attempts to conclude a free-trade agreement next year but said much hard work needed to be done to break logjams holding up a deal.

Australia's resources boom set to grow: central bank - AFP - Sat 9:58 am
Australia's resources boom is set to grow as Asian economies lead the global economic recovery, the country's central bank said Friday as it lifted growth forecasts.

Mittal fuels fashion passion with Escada purchase - AFP - Sat 7:51 am
Megha Mittal stepped into the fashion spotlight Friday with the purchase of troubled high-end German brand Escada, backed by the clout of in-laws who own the global steel giant ArcelorMittal.

US says SKorea trade deal 'within reach' - AFP - Sat 6:03 am
The top US trade negotiator said that finalizing a trade deal with South Korea was "within reach" but gave no timeline as he sought greater access for US automakers.

China hits back at US tariffs, trade spat escalates - AFP - Sat 4:44 am
China slammed new US tariffs on Chinese steel goods Friday and launched its own probe into US car imports as a tit-for-tat trade tussle escalated just a week before a visit by US President Barack Obama.

Japan pledges $5.5 bln for SEAsia's Mekong region - AFP - Sat 4:43 am
Japan on Friday pledged 5.5 billion dollars in aid over three years for Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations, seeking to deepen ties with the region amid growing influence from China.

Earlier Headlines

All times are Singapore Time (GMT+8)

· Two Japanese trust banks to merge - AFP - Sat 4:26 am
· [external] Daily Chinese yuan and money market update - Reuters - Sat 2:21 am
· [external] Yuan rises in NDFs as U.S.-China trade spat heats up - Reuters - Sat 2:17 am
· [external] SE Asia Stocks-Mostly higher after earnings, Thailand leads rise - Reuters - Sat 2:16 am
· [external] Hannover Re raises 2009 target after strong Q3 - Reuters - Sat 2:14 am
· [external] Indonesia Coal-Prices firm on China, India demand - Reuters - Sat 2:13 am
· [external] Sun Pharma gets U.S. nod for generic Acular - Reuters - Sat 2:12 am
· [external] Sanko Sangyo-6-month group forecast - Reuters - Sat 2:03 am
· [external] Sanko Sangyo-6-month parent forecast - Reuters - Sat 2:03 am
· [external] SNAPSHOT-Indian stocks, rupee, bonds, money, swaps at 3:19 p.m. - Reuters - Sat 2:02 am

· [external] Nippon Rad-6mth group results - Reuters - Sat 2:00 am
· [external] India call money-03.20-03.30 pct Nov 6 - Reuters - Sat 2:00 am
· [external] Europe shares gain in early trade; jobs data eyed - Reuters - Sat 1:54 am
· [external] Vietnam Oct auto sales surge 103 pct yr/yr-report - Reuters - Sat 1:48 am
· [external] Rouble fixes at 29.0156/dlr, 43.1346/euro - Reuters - Sat 1:47 am
· [external] Dassault denies Rafale price cut in Brazil - Reuters - Sat 1:44 am
· [external] CEZ consortium eliminated from Turk power grid tender - Reuters - Sat 1:43 am
· [external] Vietnam targets 6.5 pct GDP growth in 2010-report - Reuters - Sat 1:42 am
· [external] India cbank sells 2014 bond at 7.0924 percent - Reuters - Sat 1:41 am
· [external] Tokyo Biso Kogyo-6-month group forecast - Reuters - Sat 1:40 am

· [external] Duo Systems-6mth group results - Reuters - Sat 1:40 am
· [external] FOREX-Dollar eases a bit ahead of U.S. jobs data - Reuters - Sat 1:38 am
· [external] Moody's comments on NEC's planned issuance of new shares - Reuters - Sat 1:37 am
· [external] India fwd/annualised dlr premia-Nov 6 - Reuters - Sat 1:33 am
· [external] CORRECTED - CORRECTED-DEALTALK-Even distressed sellers in Asia get top price - Reuters - Sat 1:28 am
· [external] GE in sovereign fund talks on Areva T&D bid-paper - Reuters - Sat 1:27 am
· [external] Average simple rate at 1-wk Turkish repo 6.94 pct - Reuters - Sat 1:24 am
· [external] Stocks, commods gain ground, payrolls eyed - Reuters - Sat 1:21 am
· [external] Iron ore stocks fall 2.4 pct in Chinese ports -Mysteel - Reuters - Sat 1:20 am
· [external] MARKETS-BRITAIN-STOCKS =2 - Reuters - Sat 1:19 am

· [external] Turkish assets make slim gains, borrowing weighs - Reuters - Sat 1:18 am
· [external] FTSE rises, led by banks ahead of U.S. jobs data - Reuters - Sat 1:18 am
· [external] Workers end strike at Indian supplier to GM, Ford - Reuters - Sat 1:14 am
· [external] Indian rupee largely steady at 1-wk highs on stocks - Reuters - Sat 1:14 am
· [external] Taiwan dollar gains on stocks ahead of U.S. data - Reuters - Sat 1:12 am
· [external] Q+A-Japan's fiscal woes deepen, making JGB investors wary - Reuters - Sat 1:10 am
· [external] CORRECTED - CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Japan's Fujii, Geithner to discuss world econ - Reuters - Sat 1:02 am
· [external] CORRECTED - CORRECTED-Japan Fujii: to discuss world economy with Geithner - Reuters - Sat 1:01 am
· [external] India call money-03.00-03.10 pct Nov 6 - Reuters - Sat 1:00 am
· [external] TEXT-MARC affirms Prinsiptek rating - Reuters - Sat 12:55 am