AsiaPulse News back issues from April 2006:
FOREX - AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR OPENS STEADY - APRIL 3, 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Australian dollar opened the week almost unchanged, despite the US dollar wavering against the yen and euro over the weekend. The release of a Japanese business sentiment survey will be the focus for the local market today. At 0700 ...
QANTAS MAINTENANCE WORKERS TAKE GRIEVANCES TO COMMISSION.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - Qantas (ASX:QAN) maintenance workers are taking the national carrier to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) over the airline's move to service jets overseas. Qantas angered the workers earlier this month with a decision to service ...
NUMBER OF AUSTRALIAN INTERNET JOBS ADS REACHES RECORD HIGH.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - The number of jobs advertised on the internet has hit a record high on the back of a continuing skills shortage, a new survey shows. The Olivier Internet Jobs Index rose 6.42 per cent in March, seasonally adjusted, with more than 215,000 jobs counted ...
PACIFIC EQUITY BUYS NZ SNACK FOODS BUSINESS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has bought New Zealand snack foods business Griffin's Foods Ltd from French food giant Danone Asia Pte Ltd. The Australian buyout firm today said with a net sales revenue of $NZ176 million ($US108.1 million), Griffin's ...
SEMICONDUCTOR INSIGHTS EXPANDS IN JAPAN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) TOKYO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-April 3, 2006-Semiconductor Insights (SI), the leader in technical and patent analyses of integrated circuits and electronic systems, today announced an increased investment in its Japanese subsidiary and ...
HYUNDAI ENGINEERING LIKELY TO END DEBT WORKOUT.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, March 3 Asia Pulse - The Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., South Korea's largest builder, is likely to end its debt workout program this month, a creditor bank official said Sunday. Hyundai Engineering went under creditor control in October 2001 when it teetered ...
HYUNDAI MOTOR CHAIRMAN LEAVES FOR U.S. AMID LOBBYING SCANDAL.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Chung Mong-koo, chairman of South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co., abruptly left for the United States on Sunday as the prosecution expanded its investigation into a major lobbying scandal involving South Korea's largest auto-making group. ...
S KOREAN ACTING PREMIER PREDICTS 6PCT ECONOMIC GROWTH.
Apr 03, 2006 ... YANGPYEONG, South Korea, April 3 Asia Pulse - Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Sunday the country's economy will grow about 6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, despite some uncertainties. "Acceleration in domestic consumption and solid exports helped correct an ...
SEOUL WANTS FTA TALKS WITH LATIN AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea wants to forge free trade agreements (FTA) with other Latin American and Caribbean countries following one with Chile, the country's vice finance minister said Sunday. "Korea intends to support economic cooperation with Latin and ...
SEOUL TO EASE REGULATIONS ON WON CONVERSION OVERSEAS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea plans to ease regulations on conversion of its currency in other countries as part of its efforts for currency liberalization, the Finance Ministry said Sunday. The South Korean plan will allow foreign financial institutions to freely ...
SOUTH KOREA'S BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION SLOWS IN 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea implemented 27.5 trillion won (US$28.24 billion) of its budget in the first two months of the year, equivalent to 55.6 per cent of the budget earmarked for the first quarter of the year, the Budget Ministry said Sunday. The end-of-February ...
S. KOREAN OVERSEAS CONSTRUCTION ORDERS QUADRUPLE IN Q1.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Overseas construction orders won by South Korean builders more than quadrupled in the first quarter, boosted by brisk demand from emerging markets, a government report showed Sunday. Domestic construction companies clinched a combined US$5.37 billion ...
S. KOREAN SHIPBUILDERS NOTCH UP BRISK ORDERS IN FIRST QUARTER.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korean shipbuilders racked up large overseas orders in the first quarter, leaving them on course to far exceed yearly targets, industry sources said Sunday. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's largest shipbuilder, clinched orders worth ...
AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL 3, 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: THE AGE - Fernando Alonso has won the Australian Grand Prix; Wills do not necessarily deliver a quick-rich solution, economists have shown; A two-year-old broke his elbow while under supervision of ...
INDIAN DESIGNERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR COLLECTIONS IN DUBAI.
Apr 03, 2006 ... DUBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Indian designers will showcase their exclusive collections of traditional bridal and formal attire at the ninth edition of the Bride Show Dubai 2006 to be held here from April 4 to 7. Leading name of the Indian fashion industry Satya Paul and renowned ...
BOMBAY SENSEX SOARS BY 3.01 PCT TO NEW PEAKS, BEATS DOW.
Apr 03, 2006 ... MUMBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Well supported by sound fundamentals on the back of fast growing Indian economy, the stock market remained upbeat and went on a record-setting spree, soaring by a whopping 3.01 per cent last week while it also beat the Dow Jones in numbers. Foreign ...
S. KOREA'S CURRENT ACCOUNT MAY FALL BELOW US$10BLN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's current account balance may fall short of its target of US$15 billion this year due to an increase in imports, a senior government official said Monday. The country's current account balance swung to a deficit for the first time in six ...
US ENERGY GIANTS KEEN ON INDIAN ENERGY EXPLORATION : MINISTER.
Apr 03, 2006 ... HOUSTON, April 3 Asia Pulse - Spurred by India's success in oil and gas exploration coupled with its New Exploration Licensing Policy, global oil giants including Exxon-Mobil and Chevron, have shown "massive" interest in investing in the country's hydrocarbon industry, Petroleum and ...
DUBAI CHAMBER SIGNS MOU TO ENHANCE INDO-UAE TRADE TIES.
Apr 03, 2006 ... DUBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) aimed at enhancing trade ties and exchange of expertise between India and UAE. Joint ventures ...
S. KOREAN CONSUMER PRICE GAIN DECELERATES IN MARCH.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's gain in consumer prices slowed down in March, as a fall in prices of agricultural products offset a rise in service charges and oil prices, a government report showed Monday. Consumer prices in Asia's fourth-largest economy fell by a ...
SOUTH KOREA'S EXPORTS RISE 12.9PCT IN MARCH.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 1 Asia Pulse - South Korea's exports climbed 12.9 per cent from a year ago in March on high overseas demand for cars, auto parts and semiconductors, a government report said Saturday. Customs-cleared exports reached a monthly record of US$27.04 billion in March, ...
MICROSOFT, UTTAR PRADESH GOVT TO PROMOTE IT, E-GOVERNANCE.
Apr 03, 2006 ... LUCKNOW, April 3 Asia Pulse - Software giant Microsoft Corporation (India) on Saturday entered into a multi-pronged partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government to promote e-governance and improve IT literacy in the state. The strategic areas identified include joint efforts to ...
INDIA, OTHER S ASIAN NATIONS MAINTAINED GROWTH MOMENTUM IN 05.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW YORK, April 3 Asia Pulse - Aided by normal monsoon as well as structural changes and reforms, India and other South Asian countries were able to maintain their growth momentum last year despite rising oil prices. On the basis of sustained high economic growth, India is ...
SHINHAN-CHOHUNG MERGED BANK LAUNCHED IN S. KOREA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - The merged bank between Shinhan and Chohung, two units of Shinhan Financial Group Co., was launched Saturday, with its new chief promising to lead South Korea's financial market. Shinhan Financial Group, the nation's second-largest financial services ...
S. KOREA'S EXPORTS RISE 12.9 PCT IN MARCH.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's exports climbed 12.9 per cent from a year earlier in March on high demand for cars, auto parts and semiconductors, a government report said Saturday. Exports reached US$27.04 billion last month, up from $23.83 billion the month before, ...
SEOUL SHARES LIKELY TO REMAIN POSITIVE ON EASED EARNINGS WOES.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's shares are expected to either move in a tight range or go upward this week, as investor concerns over corporate first-quarter earnings have eased, analysts said Saturday. "Most investor worries over first quarter earnings have already ...
TAIWAN EARMARKS US$308 MLN TO BOOST LOCAL SPECIALTY INDUSTRIES.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TAIPEI, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) has earmarked NT$10 billion (US$308 million) as loans for people interested in engaging in businesses related to local characteristics, officials said Friday. To vitalize the economy, the ...
GOV'T PLAYS KEY ROLE IN TAIWAN'S ICT DEVELOPMENT: ECONOMISTS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TAIPEI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Taiwan's government has played a core role in the island's transition from a poor agricultural society into one of the world's leading producers of information and communication technology (ICT) products, according to an article co-written by two World Economic ...
TAIWAN'S COMPUTER SECURITY SOFTWARE MARKET GROWS SLOWLY.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TAIPEI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Taiwan's computer security software market posted total sales of US$24.59 million in the second half of 2005, up approximately 4 per cent from the first half of that year, according to a report released Friday by the International Data Corporation's (IDC) ...
TAIWAN WANTS TO SIGN FTA WITH US BY NEXT JUNE: DEPUTY ENVOY.
Apr 03, 2006 ... WASHINGTON, April 3 Asia Pulse - Taiwan looks forward to signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States before the expiration of the U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) next June, Taiwan's deputy representative in Washington, D.C. said Friday. Speaking at a seminar ...
PPC WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF INDIA OPERATIONS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... BANGALORE, April 3 Asia Pulse - US-based PPC WorldWide, which provides counselling and support to workers, launched its India operations on Friday . EAP services include 24x7 counselling and support through telephone helpline and face-to-face sessions on personal and work ...
CANADA SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH INDIA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TORONTO, April 1 Asia Pulse - Expressing Canada's commitment to strengthen ties with India, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the two countries need to work harder to realise the full potential of the bilateral relationship. "As Canada looks ahead to the anticipated visit of ...
US-BASED GLENROCK GROUP INVESTS US$4 MLN IN INDIA'S PANGEA3.
Apr 03, 2006 ... MUMBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - US-based strategic investment and advisory firm, the GlenRock Group LLC has pumped US$4 million into legal outsourcing and patent support service provider Pangea3. The funding would be used for the company's ongoing expansion plans and also to meet ...
STOCKS - AUSTRALIAN STOCKS OPEN STEADY - APRIL 3, 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SYDNEY, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Australian share market has barely moved at the open, hovering just below record intraday highs, with mixed trading across the major sectors. The bourse shrugged off a negative lead from Wall Street, with global miner BHP Billiton a stand-out, ...
INDIA'S INFLATION RATE FALLS TO 4.06 PCT.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - India's inflation rate has slowed to 4.06 per cent for the week ended March 18 from 4.28 per cent in the previous week and 5.45 per cent in the year ago period. The decline in wholesale price rise was mainly due to cheaper vegetables, poultry ...
INDIA SHOWCASES 55 EXPLORATION BLOCKS IN HOUSTON.
Apr 03, 2006 ... HOUSTON, April 3 Asia Pulse - Intensifying its efforts to attract investment for its oil and gas exploration ventures, India has launched a road show in Houston, the oil capital of the world, showcasing 55 exploration blocks. The 55 blocks were presented under the Sixth New ...
STOCKS - TOKYO SHARES OPEN HIGHER - APRIL 3, 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TOKYO, April 3 Asia Pulse - Tokyo share prices opened modestly higher Monday, with the benchmark Nikkei-225 ...
SOUTH KOREAN TOBACCO GIANT KT&G'S EXPORTS RISE IN Q1.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's tobacco monopoly KT&G Corp. (KSE:033780) showed brisk exports to Central Asia and the Middle East in the first quarter of the year due to high overseas demand for its ultra slim brand Esse, the company said Monday. The company's entire ...
CANADA SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH INDIA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... Repeating to correct date. TORONTO, April 3 Asia Pulse - Expressing Canada's commitment to strengthen ties with India, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the two countries need to work harder to realise the full potential of the bilateral relationship. "As Canada ...
TAIWAN TO DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY WITH BIOGAS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TAIPEI, April 3 Asia Pulse - The government has drawn up a plan to develop technology for producing electricity with biogas by 2008, according to a report by the Council for Economic Planning and Development under the Executive Yuan. The council said a "bio-economy" will soon ...
DIRECT EXPORTS FROM TAIWAN GAIN 2.08% SHARE OF US MARKET IN 2005.
Apr 03, 2006 ... TAIPEI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Direct exports from Taiwan gained a 2.08 per cent share of the U.S. market in 2005, down 0.28 percentage points over the previous year, according to the latest tallies released by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS). ...
PUMA AIMS FOR NUMBER 3 SLOT IN INDIA, TO OPEN EXCLUSIVE STORES.
Apr 03, 2006 ... MUMBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Aiming to position itself as the number three brand in sportslifestyle sector in the Indian market, German company Puma on Friday said it would open exclusive stores in the country starting from the second quarter of 2006. "Our primary aim would be ...
INDIA, SINGAPORE REVIEW ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - India and Singapore on Friday began a review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with a view to sort out various implementation issues and enhance two-way trade and investment flows. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, who is in ...
BANK OF KOREA SHOULD MAKE BOLD RATE DECISION IF NEEDED: NEW HEAD.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's central bank should make a bold move in its monetary policy if such a step is required, the bank's new chief said Monday. "Sometimes, the Bank of Korea should make bold decisions in its monetary policy," Lee Seong-tae said in his ...
RELIANCE PORTS TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL PORT INFRASTRUCTURE.
Apr 03, 2006 ... JAMNAGAR, April 3 Asia Pulse - Reliance Ports and Terminals Ltd (RPTL) plans to develop additional port infrastructure to receive very large crude carriers to feed Reliance Industries' (BSE:5003235) upcoming Rs 270 billion (US$6.05 bln) refinery here. The new refinery, which ...
US ENERGY MAJORS SHOW KEEN INTEREST IN INDIAN ENERGY SECTOR.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - More than 70 global energy firms including ExxonMobil, Chevron Texaco, Conoco Phillip, BHP and Shell lined up in Houston to have a sneak preview of India's latest offering of oil and gas blocks under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP). ...
SOUTH KOREAN NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - APRIL 3, 2006.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers: Vernacular dailies: - Hyundai Motor (KSE:005380) chairman makes sudden departure for U.S. (KYUNGHYANG SHINMUN) - Special favors to avoid military service prevail (KUKMIN DAILY) - ...
SOUTH KOREAN AIR FORCE TO PICK, TRAIN COUNTRY'S 1ST ASTRONAUT.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's first astronaut, scheduled to be put into orbit in 2008, will be selected and trained by the air force, military officials said Saturday. The air force's Aerospace Medical Center will be responsible for the detailed screening and ...
LONE STAR PROBE UNLIKELY TO HIT FOREIGN INVESTMENT: S.KOREAN MIN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - The investigation by the state prosecutors office against alleged illegal activities by U.S. buyout fund Lone Star is not likely to have a detrimental effect on foreign investment here, Minster of Commerce, Industry and Energy Chung Sye-kyun said Saturday. ...
BHARTI SHIPYARD BAGS US$90 MLN EXPORT ORDER FROM FRENCH CO.
Apr 03, 2006 ... MUMBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Bharti Shipyard Limited on Friday said it has bagged a Rs 4 billion (US$89.6 million) contract from France-based Bourbon Supply Investissements for the export of five ...
OPENING OF CAT LOGISTICS FACILITY IN CHINA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) SHANGHAI, March 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) subsidiary Caterpillar Logistics Services, Inc. (Cat Logistics) has opened a new parts distribution center in the Lingang Industrial Area in Shanghai. The ...
INI POWER SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF JAPANESE WEBSITE.
Apr 03, 2006 ... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) CARY, NC., April 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - In response to increasing interest from its clients and suppliers in Japan, INI is pleased to announce the launch of its Japanese website. The site, which can be viewed at ...
CONSORTIUM INCLUDING GAIL INDIA WINS OIL, GAS BLOCK IN OMAN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - A consortium consisting of state run gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd (BSE:532155), Oilex of Australia, Videocon (BSE:511389) and state refiners Hindustan Petroleum (BSE:500104) and Bharat Petroleum (BSE:500547) have won an oil and gas exploration block in Oman ....
ELEMENT SIX ACQUIRES MANUFACTURING PLANT IN UKRAINE.
Apr 03, 2006 ... (Full text of a statement. Contact details below.) SHANNON, March 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Element Six Abrasives announced today the acquisition of a majority of the shareholding of OJSC "Poltava Diamond Plant", a Ukrainian diamond synthesis plant which produces resin bond ...
AFGHANISTAN EYES MEMBERSHIP OF EUROPEAN SECURITY GROUP.
Apr 03, 2006 ... KABUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - The visit of Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht on Friday to Afghanistan has refreshed hopes for the country's membership in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), one of the world's largest security groups. The Belgian ...
AFGHANISTAN'S PER CAPITA INCOME SET TO REACH US$335 THIS YEAR.
Apr 03, 2006 ... KABUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Per capita income in Afghanistan is likely to reach US$335 by the end of the current fiscal year, recording an expected increase of US$42 as compared to the last year. This was stated by head of the Afghanistan Central Bank Noorullah Dilawari, who ...
AFGHAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES STRUCTURE OF NEW CABINET.
Apr 03, 2006 ... KABUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Taking a step forward after days of wrangling, the parliament Saturday approved the structure of the 25 member cabinet paving way for the next crucial step - the vote of confidence for each minister. The parliamentarians unanimously approved the ...
INDIA'S EXTERNAL DEBT FALLS TO US$119.2 BLN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - India's external debt declined by US$5 billion to US$119.2 billion at the end of December 2005 from the previous quarter ending September following the redemption of India Millennium Deposits (IMD). The four per cent decline in external debt from ...
CHICHIN ISLAND SET TO BECOME MAJOR TOURIST RESORT IN KAOHSIUNG.
Apr 03, 2006 ... KAOHSIUNG, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Kaohsiung city government announced a plan Friday to turn Chichin Island -- situated just west of Kaohsiung Harbor -- into a major tourist resort. Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Cheng Wen-lung said the city government has set aside an initial budget ...
INDIA'S TORRENT PHARMA FILES 4 ANDAs, 3 DMFs WITH USFDA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... MUMBAI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BSE:500420) on Friday said it has filed four Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) and three Drug Master Files (DMF) with the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) as part of its launch plan for US markets. ...
MINISTER INVITES FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN AFGHANISTAN.
Apr 03, 2006 ... KABUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - Commerce Minister Hedayat Amin Arsala said on Saturday that Afghanistan had an important geo-economic position in the region, but that economic development and reconstruction needed foreign investment and international cooperation. He was addressing ...
IOC BOARD GIVES NOD FOR 15 MT REFINERY COMPLEX IN ORISSA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - The Board of Indian Oil Corp (BSE:530965), the country's largest oil firm, has approved setting up of a 15 million tonnes refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Paradip in Orissa. The project, consisting of a 15 million tonnes per annum capacity ...
JAPAN EXTENDS US$1.3 BLN ODA TO INDIA.
Apr 03, 2006 ... NEW DELHI, April 3 Asia Pulse - Japan on Friday agreed to extend about Rs 59.10 billion (US$1.3 billion) as Official Development Assistance for financial year 2005-06, to fund various projects in diverse sectors. The ODA, the largest soft loan package from Tokyo to any country, ...
S. KOREA'S LARGER FIRMS TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT IN H1: POLL.
Apr 03, 2006 ... SEOUL, April 3 Asia Pulse - South Korea's job seekers may look forward to a brighter future as a majority of the country's larger companies are expected to boost recruitment in the first half of the year, an industry survey showed Monday. The survey of 110 companies, the top 10 ...
MERCHANT MEDAL WINNER JOINS THIRD WAVE SYSTEMS.
Apr 03, 2006 ... (Full text of statement. Contact details below.) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Third Wave Systems (TWS) is pleased to announce that Dr. David A. Stephenson will be joining the Company as Vice President of Applications Engineering. Dr. Stephenson ...