JAPAN

Asian stocks inched higher on Monday, with investors taking profits on defensive plays and buying back other beaten down shares, though selling could resume shortly as the U.S. and Chinese economies are slowing in tandem.

Gold ticked up on Monday after a drop in the U.S. dollar spurred bargain hunting, with firmer stock markets helping investors shrug off a slight decline in ETF holdings. Jewellers were on the sidelines after buying heavily on Friday, when bullion fell to a five-week low. With U.S. investors away for a holiday, the metal was likely to trade in a tight range of $1,210 to $1,215 an ounce.

Asian stocks edged up on Monday, with investors taking profits on defensive plays and buying back other beaten down shares, though selling could resume shortly as the U.S. and Chinese economies are slowing in tandem.

Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday it would recall 270,000 of its luxury Lexus models and Toyota Crown sedans for the chance that faulty valve springs may cause engine stalling.

Toyota Motor Corp may recall up to 270,000 vehicles worldwide to fix an engine glitch, with Japan's Asahi newspaper reporting the move could cost the car maker up to 20 billion yen ($228 million).

With the global economy slowing, interest rates about as low as they can go, governments getting austere and banks being investigated for stress, it is getting harder for investors to keep putting on their bullish faces.

World shares eked out gains for only the second time in nine sessions on Friday but the rise was likely to be contingent on key U.S. jobs data due later.

Asian stocks recovered on Friday after three days of declines but investors remained nervous ahead of a closely-followed U S. job report amid concerns over the U.S. and global outlook.

Oil was steady around $73 on Friday, near 3-week lows after a spate of weak manufacturing data renewed worries about slower global economic growth ahead of a key U.S. jobs report. Manufacturing growth cooled around the world in June, reports from China, Europe and the U.S. showed on Thursday, adding to evidence that the global economic recovery is losing steam.

Sstock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.1 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.12 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.03 percent at 0745 GMT.

Asian stocks recovered on Friday after three days of declines but investors remained nervous ahead of a closely-followed U S. job report amid concerns over the U.S. and global outlook. World stocks closed out a dismal second quarter and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has fallen below 3 percent as European debt woes and growing fears of a double-dip recession on the back of grim economic data rolled financial markets.

Oil prices rebounded on Friday from 3-week lows, but were still far from reversing the biggest one-day drop in almost a month a day earlier, after a spate of weak manufacturing data reflected slower global economic growth.

Gold bounced from a 5-week low on Friday as weaker prices ignited buying by bargain hunters and jewelers, but investors were cautious ahead of the release of a U.S. employment report. Investors shrugged off a small drop in ETF holdings, turning their attention to the June non-farm payrolls data which will set the tone for currencies and equities. Gold tumbled nearly 4 percent on Thursday as funds sold bullion to cover losses in other markets.

The dollar was on the back foot against the euro and slipped against the Aussie on Friday after a big euro short squeeze ahead of U.S. jobs data, while the yen lost ground all round as the squeeze spilled into Asian trade.

The dollar was on the back foot against the euro and slipped against the Aussie on Friday after a big euro short squeeze ahead of U.S. jobs data, while the yen lost ground all round as the squeeze spilled into Asian trade.

The Bank of Japan is expected to revise up its economic forecast for the year to March 2011 at its next policy meeting on July 14-15, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.

Toyota Motor Corp may recall up to 270,000 vehicles worldwide to fix an engine glitch, with Japan's Asahi newspaper reporting the move could cost the car maker up to 20 billion yen ($228 million).

Toyota Motor Corp plans to recall up to 270,000 vehicles at a cost of up to 20 billion yen ($228 million), Japan's Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.

World stocks fell to three-week lows on Thursday and commodity prices sagged after data showing China's rapid growth was losing steam added to worries about the strength of the global economic recovery. Wall Street looked set to track Asian and European peers lower with U.S. stock index futures all in the red.

Asset managers are ramping up their presence in Asia to tap the cash of the growing middle class but some industry managers are warning that the quick bucks these funds are chasing may be elusive.

According to Russian diamond-mining giant Alrosa's rough diamond price forecast up to 2018, rough diamond production is expected to return to 2008 levels (165 MM carats) no earlier than 2015 and, thereafter, to remain at around 165-167 MM carats per year as a result of a limited supply of new projects and depletion of existing mines.