CHINA

Japan's Nikkei stock average edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by gains in resource-linked shares such as Inpex after oil surged more than 4 percent and rekindled economic recovery hopes. Truckmaker shares climbed after a brokerage upgrade, with Isuzu Motors up more than 5 percent, and trading houses gained on strong metals prices.

Dell Inc. has chosen Foxconn, a major Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for its first smartphone Mini3i, Apple Daily Taiwan reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed source.

Seven young Chinese women suffered permanent lung damage and two of them died after working for months without proper protection in a paint factory using nanoparticles, Chinese researchers reported on Wednesday.

Stocks rose on Wednesday, shaking off a slide in China's equity market, as investors responded favorably to a surprising drop in crude oil stockpiles that might suggest an improving demand outlook.

Stocks rose on Wednesday, shaking off a slide in China's equity market, as investors responded favorably to a surprising drop in crude oil stockpiles that might suggest an improving demand outlook.

Chinese human rights activist Shi Tao was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2005 after authorities tracked him down using data provided by Yahoo.

BHP Billiton won't accept the iron ore prices reached between Chinese steel mills and Fortescue, Local media reported on Tuesday, citing senior officials of BHP China.

Stock indexes turned higher on Wednesday, erasing earlier losses on strength in crude oil prices after a surprising drawdown in oil stocks.

Oil reversed early losses on Wednesday to leap back toward $71 a barrel, as data showing oil demand could be recovering in the United States outweighed doubts about the strength of the global economy.

Stocks slipped on Wednesday, led by the industrial, materials and financial sectors, as a drop in Chinese shares prompted renewed selling in global equity markets on fears stock prices have outpaced the economic recovery.

The global economic recovery has begun but sustaining it will require refocusing the United States toward exports and Asia toward imports, the International Monetary Fund's chief economist said.

Oil fell below $69 a barrel on Wednesday, at one stage losing more than $1, after a near 5 percent slump in Chinese shares sent doubts rippling through global markets about the strength of the world economic recovery.

Stock index futures pointed to a fall of about 1 percent on Wednesday as a drop in Chinese shares prompted renewed selling in global equity markets on fears stock prices have outpaced the economic recovery.

Stock index futures dropped about 1 percent on Wednesday as a fall in Chinese shares prompted renewed selling in global equity markets on fears stock prices have a run too far ahead of the economic reality.

Oil fell below $69 a barrel on Wednesday after a near 5 percent slump in Chinese shares sent doubts rippling through global markets about the strength of the world economic recovery.

Asian electronics makers are forecasting a turnaround in the second half of this year, citing a pick-up in global demand.

Three detained Chinese employees of Australian miner Rio Tinto appeared healthy and calm, their defense lawyers said on Wednesday after visiting their clients for the first time early this week.

Asian stocks edged up on Wednesday but hovered near three-week lows hit the previous day, with investors cautious ahead of Chinese bank results and wary that profit taking will continue to stall a six-month rally.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said on Tuesday it hired banking veteran Brad Cameron to head its Canadian mergers and acquisitions team, the latest sign a capital markets pick-up may be in the making in Canada.

China could still increase its holdings of US Treasuries if the dollar is stable, even though the long-term trajectory is to diversify its foreign exchange reserves, according to a former central bank governor.

General Motor is to wrap up its Hummer deal with China's Tengzhong at the end of September, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.