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Asia rises on Japan policy moves

Asia rises on Japan policy moves Asian shares rose on Friday, building on day-earlier gains as investors took a Bank of Japan move to slowly tighten credit as a sign of optimism in the long-term prospects of the world's number-two economy. However, the yen was pinned near two-week lows because investors don't expect an immediate rate rise despite the Bank of Japan's announcement it was dropping a super-loose monetary policy. Japanese government bond (JGB) yields rose in anticipation of a rate hike later this year, oil and gold were flat, and London spread betters called the FTSE 100 14-17 points lower. The Nikkei share

Fed helps lift optimism in Asia

Fed helps lift optimism in Asia Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher on Friday after the Federal Reserve signaled that it might end a two-year run of interest-rate increases. The Nikkei 225 stock average climbed 384.03 points, or 2.5 percent, to 15,505.18, the Kospi posted its biggest weekly rise in Seoul for eight months and the Straits Times index in Singapore closed more than 2 percent higher. The benchmark Australian stock index surged 1.5 percent. The MSCI benchmark index for shares of Asias biggest companies outside Japan jumped 3.1 percent to a three-week high. The U.S. central

Asia’s energy thirst will stretch refiners

Asia's energy thirst will stretch refiners Asian demand for gasoline and other petroleum products is likely to outstrip refining capacity for the rest of the decade, even as new plants start up in countries like China, Caltex Australia said Thursday. Fuel demand started to exceed capacity in the region in about 2003 and is not likely to be met this decade, a trend that will bolster returns from oil processing, said the Caltex Australia chief executive, Dave Reeves. Australia may have to import 25 percent of its fuel supply by 2010 to prevent shortages, up from about 20 percent

Asia: Japanese brokers post gains

Asia: Japanese brokers post gains "Investor expectations about profit gains at brokerages grew stronger," said Atsushi Osa at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management. The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific index rose 1.00 point to close at 126.20. Financial companies like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the parent of the brokerage house, and Daiwa Securities accounted for 40 percent of the rise. The Nikkei 225 added 240.02 points, or 1.5 percent, to 15,891.02. Japan's imports and exports jumped to records in December, the government said in its report, evidence that both domestic and overseas demand are helping growth. Indexes rose in South

Ramsay eyes Asia after lift

Ramsay eyes Asia after lift AUSTRALIA'S biggest private hospital operator, Ramsay Health Care, yesterday said it was putting feelers out for acquisitions in Asia, after unveiling an 80 per cent rise in interim net profits. Managing director Pat Grier said that the company's strong cash flow and falling debt had allowed it to begin scouring for potential takeover targets in Asia, followed by Britain. He said management was keen to "build capacity" in Indonesia - where Ramsay already has a small portfolio of three hospitals - as well as seek out small "bolt-on" acquisitions. The company booked a better than expected interim