CHINA

Investors in Asia generally took China's latest move to fight inflation in their stride on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei posting modest gains, while the euro slipped as the market waited to see if governments will beef up a euro zone rescue fund.

PRC property developer Evergrande Real Estate Group made history last week with a Rmb9.25bn (US$1.4bn) synthetic renminbi bond - the biggest to date in the fast-growing market.

Hong Kong stocks are expected to edge higher on Monday to a near two-month high, as the appetite for risky assets stays steady after JP Morgan's quarterly earnings report lifted Wall Street on Friday.

China's key stock index opened down 0.7 percent on Monday, with banking and property stocks slipping, after the People's Bank of China announced a rise in lenders' required reserves for the fourth time in just over two months.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington this week for a summit. The two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues including global trade and currency valuations.

Seoul shares are likely to open cautiously on Monday after the latest move by China to tighten monetary policy, while crude refiners and airlines may be tracked on crude oil prices' continued gains.

Bank of China Group Investment is expected to spin off its China rental properties through a yuan-denominated REIT listing in Hong Kong, to raise more than HK$2.3 billion ($296 million), the Apple Daily reported on Monday.

Gold rebounded slightly on Monday from a one-percent fall in the previous session, after China further tightened its monetary policy to curb inflation, and holdings in the gold-backed exchange-traded fund continued falling.

Singapore shares may open higher on Monday following gains on Wall Street overnight, lifted by financial stocks. However, any gains may be subdued due to China's latest move to tighten monetary policy.

Li Ning Group Ltd (2331.HK) said on Monday that same-store sales growth of its L-Ning brand products increased 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter and about 3.9 percent for the full year.

Shanghai hopes to encourage foreign companies to raise capital through stock and bond issuance in Shanghai this year, Mayor Han Zheng said on Sunday, while also confirming the city plans a trial property tax during 2011.

Indonesia warned on Sunday that maritime conflicts in Asia could spiral out of control and threaten regional stability, as Southeast Asian nations sought common ground on the disputed South China Sea.

Rain, snow and ice are forecast through Friday in many parts of China and could disrupt travel plans for millions who aim to get on the road ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, state media reported on Sunday.

A Chinese porcelain manufacturing company has won the order to make the official tableware to be used at the British royal wedding of Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton.

Chinese President Hu Jintao urged an end to a zero sum Cold War relationship with the United States and proposed new cooperation, but resisted U.S. arguments about why China should let its currency strengthen.

Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington this week may be the calm after the storm when it comes to economic relations between the world's two biggest economies.

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Chinese President Hu Jintao called on Sunday for an end to zero sum Cold War behavior and suggested new cooperation with the United States in areas like energy, infrastructure development, aviation and space.

China's Li Na staged a remarkable comeback from 5-0 down in the first set to upset Australian Open favorite Kim Clijsters 7-6 6-3 in the final of the Sydney International on Friday.

OPEC is ready to act to address supply shortages in the oil market but not to counter price moves caused by speculation, Secretary General Abdullah al-Badri told an Austrian newspaper. The group is monitoring the situation closely, and OPEC will intervene to stabilize the market if the market is imbalanced. OPEC will not intervene because of speculators, he told Wirtschaftsblatt in excerpts of...

China will not loosen its annual quota on banks' short-term foreign borrowings for 2011 due to rising pressure from speculative capital inflows, a senior regulatory official said on Saturday.