TOYOTA

Asian stock markets mostly advanced Tuesday despite pessimistic global growth forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as expectation of a further easing measure from the Chinese central bank provided support.

Japanese auto giants like Toyota plan to halve China production after sales slumped. Non-Japanese brands stand to gain.

Asian stock markets were mixed Monday as the weak economic reports from China and Japan increased the concerns over the global growth slowdown.

Asian stock markets advanced Thursday as the weak Chinese industrial profits raised hopes that the government could launch fresh measures to support growth in the world’s second largest economy.

There are fears over the economic impact of the dispute between China and Japan if the row over islands in the East China Sea is not resolved soon.

Most of the Asian markets dropped Tuesday as investor confidence was weighed down by the intensifying tensions between China and Japan and the increasing concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.

In the wake of the rising tensions with Japan over a disputed set of islands in the East China Sea, China has threatened to retaliate with economic measures that would negatively impact the Sino-Japanese trade.

Chinese riot police forcibly broke up an anti-Japan protest in southern China Sunday as demonstrators again took to the streets in scores of cities in a long-running conflict over a group of tiny disputed islands.

Asian stock markets made gains Friday as investor confidence was lifted following the announcement of another round of quantitative easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve which is expected to rejuvenate the economic growth.

Volkswagen AG (PINK: VLKAY) cuts its internal European 2012 annual sales guidance by 150,000 vehicles, according to German news magazine Der Spiegel, Reuters reported.

Growing global demand for electric cars could drive demand for lithium up by as much as 20 percent per year, benefiting chemical and mining companies such as the FMC Corp. (NYSE: FMC), Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE: RIO) and Rockwood Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ROC), according to Standard & Poor's Capital IQ.

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is hoping its Chinese designed Chevrolet Sail can push its struggling Indian unit out of a sales doldrums.

Asian stock markets advanced Thursday as market participants awaited the European Central Bank (ECB) policy decision meeting later in the day.

General Motors Co began initial production of its first ever Chinese-designed car for the Indian market this week, a major step for the U.S. automaker as it tries to scale up in a market where foreign companies have struggled.

Global carmakers reported robust sales growth in August, indicating improving consumer sentiment and demand by small businesses and contractors. Companies including Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) all reported major gains.

Matt Kenseth has reportedly come to the conclusion that he no longer wants to be a part of the Roush Fenway Racing Team. The winner of the NASCAR Daytona 500 confirmed on Tuesday that he would be moving to Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Global automakers report August U.S. car sales, Tuesday. Follow the blog for the latest updates from Chrysler, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), Volkswagen AG (Frankfurt: VOW) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM).

The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for Hollywood film producer Brian Gerber, who has been missing for two days.

Several passengers who witnessed Tony Scott's tragic jump off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles are shopping around video of the fatal leap. While TMZ has reportedly seen the footage, the Thirty Mile Zone entertainment news outlet opted to steer clear of the potentially controversial video and not purchase the material.

A source close Tony Scott told ABC News on Monday that the 68-year-old director had inoperable brain cancer. The report has not been confirmed by authorities, and so far Scott?s family is not commenting.

Tony Scott's tragic jump off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles County was reportedly witnessed by a group of passengers on a harbor cruise. According to TMZ, some of those passengers took photos and shot video.