CHINA

Asia's initial public offering market is booming as economies inch out of recession and equity markets improve, setting the scene for the region to emerge as the world's top spot for firms rushing to raise money.

Chinese machinery maker Tengzhong is still working to close a deal with General Motors Co to buy the U.S. automaker's Hummer brand after a regulatory setback, Chinese media reported on Monday.

The government in China's far western city of Urumqi ordered shops to close on Monday, sending new rumors through the city despite calls for calm after reported syringe attacks that inflamed ethnic tension.

Iran's president snubbed on Monday U.S. President Barack Obama's end-September deadline to talk to world powers on its disputed nuclear program, saying in his opinion discussion on the issue is finished.

Japan's prime minister-elect said on Monday he will forge ahead with a tough 25 percent cut in emissions by 2020, despite growing opposition from industry which says the target will hurt the world's No. 2 economy.

Food Titans Deal; Breaking Up AIG; Market Surge Post G20

Shares in Asia rose on Monday after U.S. data showed a slowdown in layoffs, while Chinese shares extended gains on hopes that Beijing will pull out more policy tools as needed to support its volatile stock market.

Fang Yan and Jacqueline WongChinese airlines are negotiating with Boeing Co to further delay taking delivery of 787 Dreamliner orders, a senior Boeing executive said on Monday, as they continue cost-cutting initiatives amid weak international air travel demand.

Shares in Asia rose on Monday after U.S. data showed a slowdown in layoffs, while Chinese shares extended gains on hopes that Beijing will pull out more policy tools as needed to support its volatile stock market.

Chinese shares rose on Monday to extend gains on hopes that Beijing will continue to use policy to support asset prices, while gold prices dipped but kept within striking distance of $1,000 after U.S. unemployment rose to a 26-year high.

General Electric Co is confident about winning contracts to supply engines for China's big aircraft project, the company's China chief said on Monday.

Oil prices were little changed on Monday, hovering above $68 a barrel, as concerns about weak energy demand in the United States, the world's top energy consumer, were offset by a broad rise in Asian equities markets.

Huntsman , an American chemicals group, is looking to buy chemical plants in China with part of a $2.7 billion compensation package, said senior executive Paul Hulme in a Financial Times interview on Monday.

After driving his BMW 5 series model for just three years, Chinese futures trader Jerry Lin traded in his car for an Audi A6.

Financial markets are likely to remain buffeted by uncertainty over government policy despite an unprecedented pledge by the world's top finance officials to cooperate as the global economy emerges from recession.

Nerves remained raw in China's far western city of Urumqi, in turmoil over a wave of reported syringe attacks, and a small band of protesters again called on the region's top official to step down.

Kai-fu Lee, Google Inc's former China chief who quit the search giant this week, said on Sunday he will launch his own business next week to fund Chinese technology start-ups.

Vietnam has freed a blogger who was recently detained over a plan to distribute anti-China T-shirts, he said on Sunday, as Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh prepared to leave on a visit to Australia and New Zealand.

LG Electronics Inc, the world's second-biggest TV brand, expects LCD TV sales to jump nearly 50 percent next year as demand from emerging countries continues to grow robustly, a top executive said.

China sacked the top official of the strife-torn city of Urumqi as well as the regional police chief on Saturday, as the town crept back to calm after days of sometimes deadly protests that inflamed ethnic enmity.

G20 finance leaders pledged on Saturday to keep economic life-support packages in place until a recovery is firmly secured, but reached no deal on putting limits on bankers' pay.