http://news.asia-travelers.com Mon, 06 Nov 2006 04:21:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 Alcoa, SMW Automotive enter casting pact in Asia Alcoa Inc. (AA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it agreed with SMW Automotive Hong Kong to form an alliance to produce cast aluminum chassis and suspension components and modules for the automotive industry in China, South Korea, Japan and the Asia Pacific ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/578/alcoa-smw-automotive-enter-casting-pact-in-asia/ Actis closes $130m fund for South East Asia Emerging markets private equity investor Actis has closed its Actis ASEAN Fund on $130m. Investors in the fund include private sector institutional investors from North America, Europe and Asia. Actis closed its Actis Malaysia Fund on $60m in 2004. Due to investor interest the ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/577/actis-closes-130m-fund-for-south-east-asia/ Abhishek voted sexiest man in Asia Abhishek Bachchan tops a list of 50 Sexiest Asian Men in a survey conducted by Eastern Eye, an Asian newspaper in Britain. Abhishek, who was spotted on number three in last years poll, was shocked to hear he had topped the ranking in Eastern Eyes Sexiest ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/576/abhishek-voted-sexiest-man-in-asia/ Dollar Flat Against Yen in Asia The dollar was flat against the yen in Asia Tuesday after overnight data showed that U.S. sales of existing homes fell for a fifth consecutive month in August, further indications of a slowdown. The U.S. dollar was trading at 116.50 yen on the Tokyo foreign ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/575/dollar-flat-against-yen-in-asia/ Mergers and acquisitions forecast to rise in Asia-Pacific region Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is poised to rise in the Asia-Pacific region during the next few years, but companies are not paying enough attention to human-resource issues, according to a study reported Monday. Leadership assessment and cultural fit are being neglected ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/574/mergers-and-acquisitions-forecast-to-rise-in-asia-pacific-region/ South East Asia Briefs MANILA: Asean has sought permanent observer status in the UN, the Philippine Ambassador to the UN, Lauro Baja, said. Mr Baja said that with observer status, Asean would have a seat in all UN meetings that the grouping was interested in and would gain added visibility and ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/573/south-east-asia-briefs/ Asia struggles as US feel-good factor ebbs Asian stocks closed lower on Friday, hit by losses on Wall Street after US data showing a surprise contraction in a key industrial region pointed to a possibly sharper-than-expected US slowdown, dealers said. They said this was more than enough to offset any lingering feel-good ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/572/asia-struggles-as-us-feel-good-factor-ebbs/ Currencies dip in Asia on export fall worries Asian currencies weakened, paced by Indonesias rupiah and the Philippine peso, on speculation investors will sell emerging-market assets as US growth slows. A report on Thursday on Philadelphia manufacturing provided further evidence a two-year cycle of interest-rate increases is cooling the US economy. ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/571/currencies-dip-in-asia-on-export-fall-worries/ Africa: World Bank Study Urges Africa Trade With Asia Africa should embrace growing trade relations between the continent and Asian giants China and India, the World Bank says. In a new study, the Bank notes the growing Asian investment in Africa, saying it holds growth potential for the continent. The study, Africas Silk ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/570/africa-world-bank-study-urges-africa-trade-with-asia/ Asia Orchestra Week 2006 This October, Tokyo and Osaka will host Asia Orchestra Week 2006, an annual festival that celebrates classical music from a distinctly Asian -- and contemporary -- perspective. Over the last four years, AOW has drawn 30,000 people to watch more than 2,000 musicians from 13 Asia-Pacific countries. ... http://news.asia-travelers.com/569/asia-orchestra-week-2006/