JAPAN

Asian shares fell 2.6 percent on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei down for a ninth straight day, as concerns about company earnings outlooks weighed, while oil languished near a six-week low as faith in a rapid economic recovery faded.

Japanese brewer Suntory Holdings Ltd said on Monday it was considering a merger with larger rival Kirin Holdings Co , a deal that would create one of the world's largest beverage and food firms.

Japan's Nikkei fell for a ninth straight day on Monday as concerns about company earnings outlooks weighed on Asian stocks, while oil languished near a six-week low as faith in a rapid economic recovery faded.

Thunderstorms have forced NASA to delay Sunday evening's launch of space shuttle Endeavour, making it the fourth time the shuttle is delayed.

Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings Co and smaller unlisted rival Suntory Holdings Ltd are in talks to merge and create one of the world's largest beverage and food firms, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday.

Heavy clouds near the Kennedy Space Center forced NASA to call off Sunday's launch of the space shuttle Endeavour on a mission to deliver a Japanese-built porch to the International Space Station.

Japan's Nomura has bought a 35 percent stake in LIC Mutual Fund in a deal which values the Indian fund firm at 8 billion rupees ($163 million).

NASA has canceled Saturday's launch attempt of space shuttle Endeavour on a construction mission to the International Space Station to assess possible damage from overnight lightning strikes, officials said.

Shuttle Endeavour is ready for liftoff for its latest mission to space on Saturday; however, forecasters are predicting a 60 percent chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms and electrical activity that could cause another delay.

The issue of reserve currencies and the reform of the international monetary regime will probably not take place at the Group Eight Summit (G8) with the so-called Group Five (G5) nations, despite the calls from China and other countries, according to industry experts.

G8 leaders pledged $20 billion (12.3 billion pounds) in farm aid to help poor nations feed themselves, surpassing expectations on the final day of a summit that has yielded little progress on climate change and trade.

Moves to oust unpopular Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso will intensify if, as many expect, his ruling bloc fares badly in a key local election on Sunday that is considered a bellwether for a coming national poll.

The U.S. trade gap narrowed unexpectedly to $26 billion in May to the lowest reading since November 1999 as exports rose despite weak global demand and imports shrank, government data on Friday showed.

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Friday, as investors turned cautious after oil major Chevron Corp warned over its second-quarter earnings.

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world but has higher rates of infant mortality, diabetes and other ills than many other developed countries.

Sharp Corp decided to increase LCD panel production after facing continuous high demands of it LCD panels for TVs.

French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp denied a report on Thursday that they are working together to develop and produce parts for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Israeli start-up 3GSolar says it has developed the world's first commercial-size solar energy system that uses colored dyes to turn sunlight into electricity.

U.S. President Barack Obama said at the G8 summit on Thursday there is still time to close the gap with developing powers on climate change, after the U.N. chief criticised the G8 for not going hard enough.

Leaders of the world's richest nations and major developing powers meet on Thursday to seek common ground on global warming and international trade, with the poorer countries seeking concessions.

Japan's top wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc, said it is in talks with some Asian mobile carriers for possible capital investment as it aims to seek growth overseas to counter the maturing cell phone market at home.