CHINA

Gold prices eased in Asian trade Friday despite a recovery by the euro after China assured investors it was not losing confidence in euro zone assets. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1208.95 an ounce at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for June delivery was at $1208.01 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Asian stocks bolted on Friday posting their third straight day of gains after China's pledge to remain invested in Europe boosted confidence, but the euro dipped after rebounding from near four-year lows the previous day.

Technology companies feeling the pinch from Europe's debt crisis could face a tough sell when industry buyers gather in Taipei to examine the latest whizz-bang features at the world's No.2 computer fair.

Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry plans to raise workers' salaries by about 20 percent at its Foxconn unit in China, as it struggles to stop a spate of worker suicides and quell rising public anger.

Ford Motor Co is considering a plan to drop Mercury, a brand developed in the 1930s that has seen sales and investment plunge in recent years, a person familiar with the discussions said.

The Australian Dollar has had a strong run overnight to be trading just below USD0.8500 following a positive lead on equity markets.

The U.S. economy grew at a slightly slower pace than previously estimated in the first quarter but the recovery still appeared solid, suggesting the economy could withstand fallout from the European debt crisis.

Stocks rallied on Thursday as investor worry was eased after China refuted a report that it was reviewing its euro-zone bond holdings due to the region's debt crisis.

Cheap stocks and robust consumption by its middle class are reason to buy into China now, even though markets have turned cautious on the world's No.3 economy, a fund manager at BlackRock told Reuters.

Stocks rose sharply on Thursday as investor worry was eased after China refuted a report that it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt.

The Western multinationals that have dominated global trade for decades are going to have their lunch eaten in China and elsewhere, and many are unaware it's about to happen.

The U.S. economy grew at a slightly slower pace than previously estimated in the first quarter but the recovery still appeared solid, suggesting the economy could withstand fallout from a European debt crisis.

Major U.S. indexes advanced on Thursday as investors were soothed after China denied a report that it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt crisis.

Stocks advanced more than 2 percent on Thursday after China denied a report that it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt crisis.

Stocks surged 2 percent on Thursday after China denied a report it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt crisis.

Stock index futures pointed to a rise of about 2 percent at the open on Thursday after China denied a report it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt crisis.

The euro rebounded on Thursday after China reaffirmed its long-term strategy of diversifying currency holdings away from the dollar and denied it was reviewing its holdings of euro sovereign bonds.

A 10th employee of iPhone-maker Foxconn jumped to his death late Wednesday, just hours after the company's chairman promised to make life better for employees at the sprawling production site in southern China.

The euro rebounded on Thursday after China reaffirmed its long-term strategy of diversifying currency holdings away from the dollar and denied it was reviewing its holdings of euro sovereign bonds.

Stock index futures pointed to a rise of about 2 percent at the open on Thursday after China denied a report it was reviewing its holdings in euro-zone sovereign bonds due to the region's debt crisis.

Indians gave the biggest boost to gold this week with the demand rising in the country following the onset of wedding season across the country. Breaking all previous records, gold prices zoomed past Rs 18,800 per 10 gm level on Thursday in New Delhi while Mumbai witnessed Rs 18,600 level. This jump in India, which is the biggest consumer of the metal in the world, and the rise in demand have delivered the much needed push to the gold market globally.