CHINA

Asian stocks fell on Tuesday and were on course for their worst quarterly performance since the end of 2008, while funding concerns in the euro zone sent the single currency tumbling to a record low against the Swiss franc.

The yuan was little changed against the dollar in the onshore spot market and offshore forwards on Tuesday as investors saw little opportunity for the Chinese currency to appreciate sharply in the near term after the end of the G20 summit over the weekend.

Baidu Inc, China's leading search engine, will start hiring software engineers directly from the United States early next month, as it seeks to expand its technological capabilities and raise its global profile.

To get an idea of how some U.S. textile mills can compete with developing-world rivals who pay far lower wages, roll a bowling ball down one of the production lines at Parkdale Mills' Walnut Cove yarn plant.

At a time when Chinese power plants are notorious polluters, Yingli Green Energy, a Chinese solar panel maker, has become an completely integrated manufacturer selling green energy worldwide.

The United States has slapped final duties ranging up to almost 175 percent on about $56 million of electric blankets from China because of unfair pricing, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday.

Diamonds are the in-thing in India now. According to De Beers, demand for polished diamonds in India and China could reach the same level as in the US.

The Swiss franc hit a record high against the euro on Monday, helped by comments from a Swiss central bank broad member, while the dollar recovered after faltering in Asia on concerns about U.S. economic recovery.

India used to be a totally gold oriented jewellery market with over 90% people buying gold jewellery. Traditionally, Indian families go for gold. But, now people want a different look when they pick up jewellery. So they go for platinum. Platinum looks different, looks cool and goes well with diamonds, that is the feeling most of Indians in the cities.

Most Asian stock markets rose on Monday, with Europe set to follow, as fears eased that Washington would draft a harsh bill for regulating the banking sector and after an unremarkable conclusion to a Group of 20 leaders' summit.

The yuan CNY=CFXS closed weaker against the dollar on Monday and traded below the People's Bank of China's mid-point as banks and their clients were cautiously balancing dollar positions in anticipation of only limited yuan appreciation after the G20 summit.

Most Asian stock markets rose on Monday, with Europe set to follow, as fears eased that Washington would draft a harsh bill for regulating the banking sector and after an unremarkable conclusion to a Group of 20 leaders' summit.

The yuan CNY=CFXS weakened against the dollar on Monday and traded below the People's Bank of China's mid-point as banks and their clients were cautiously balancing dollar positions in anticipation of only limited yuan appreciation after the G20 summit.

India's inflation is set to zoom with the announcement by the Manmohan Singh government on the freeing up of petrol and diesel prices. The announcement has raised hopes of a further decontrol of the oil sector over the next few years, which could help balance public finances and let private companies challenge state-run firms' decades-old retailing monopoly.

Group of 20 leaders pledged on Sunday to push for agreement on greater voting power for emerging economic powers in the International Monetary Fund by the next summit in Seoul, South Korea, in early November.

Air China said late on Friday that it would buy 20 Boeing 777-800 airplanes for $1.4 billion.

The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said on Sunday the G20 nations' target to halve their deficits by 2013 was not as important as the measures they implement to reduce debt.

Deficit pledges made by Group of 20 leaders on Sunday won't provide a big boost for financial markets, with uncertainty about the strength of global economic recovery still the larger concern for investors.

World leaders ditched plans to welcome Beijing's shift toward greater exchange rate flexibility at a G20 summit in Toronto on Sunday, highlighting China's sensitivity over the issue.

World leaders agreed on Sunday to take different paths for cutting budget deficits and making their banking systems safer, a reflection of the uneven and fragile economic recovery in many countries.

World leaders agreed on Sunday to take separate paths toward shared goals of lasting growth and safer banks as two years of global crisis give way to a fragile economic recovery.