JAPAN

Asian stocks bounced on Thursday after tentative steps by euro zone policymakers to tackle a crippling debt crisis, but investors remained wary that obstacles the bloc's leaders face could weigh on the euro and Asian currencies in the medium term.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Wednesday the world had entered a new economic danger zone and Europe, Japan and the United States all needed to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

The European Union wants more clarity from Beijing on increased export quotas for rare earth minerals from dominant producer China in meetings next month and December, Europe's trade chief said.

Phil Mackenzie scored a try seven minutes from time to give Canada a thrilling 25-20 World Cup victory over Tonga at the Northland Events Center on Wednesday.

The head of the World Bank said Wednesday the world had entered a new economic danger zone and that Europe, Japan and the United States all need to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

The head of the World Bank said Wednesday the world had entered a new economic danger zone and that Europe, Japan and the United States all need to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

In July, Nomura said it would seek to reduce annual expenses at its wholesale unit by about $400 million.

The head of the World Bank said the world had entered a new economic danger zone and that Europe, Japan and the United States all need to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

iPhone 5 Release Date: Orange CEO Spills Out Date as Mid-October

Lastel corpse hotel in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, offers rooms for the dead while the bereaved families wait their turn in the queue for one of the city's overworked crematoriums.

Oil fell on Wednesday, pulling U.S. crude off six-week highs, as the dollar strengthened and investors saw little upside from declining inventories in an environment where anxiety over the euro zone debacle is overshadowing tightening supply.

Sentiment at Asia's top companies fell in the third quarter, hitting its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2009 as doubts about the strength of the global economy weighed, a Reuters survey showed.

Sony Corp will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan, kicking off a global rollout, and insisted it will not reduce the price in the face of discounting by rival Nintendo.

Bank of Japan board member Ryuzo Miyao said on Wednesday the country's economy may get less support than initially expected from overseas demand as the recovery in the U.S. and European economies loses steam.

Japan's economy may get less support than expected from overseas demand as Europe's debt woes escalate and U.S. growth slows sharply, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, painting a bleak picture for the prospects of recovery from the March earthquake and tsunami.

Asian stocks, U.S. index futures and the euro fell on Wednesday as investors remained unconvinced that euro zone leaders have a coherent plan to tackle the bloc's sovereign debt problems, which many fear could trigger a new banking crisis.

Bank of Japan board member Ryuzo Miyao said on Wednesday the country's economy may get less support than initially expected from overseas demand as the recovery in the U.S. and European economies loses steam.

Sony Corp will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan, and will not discount the price, the head of its Japanese games unit said on Wednesday.

Suzuki Motor will likely locate a planned new $1.3 billion passenger car factory in Gujarat, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Wednesday.

A rebound in Asian stocks and the euro stalled and gold edged up on Wednesday as investors waited for convincing signs of progress on taming the euro zone debt crisis.

The Asian Development Bank trimmed most of its 2011 and 2012 growth forecasts for the region while noting that Asia's emerging economies are showing resilience in the face of the darkening global environment.