Asia News, Asian News, News from Asia, Global Asian World News at Wall Street Journal.com

Asian Stocks Take a Beating
Asian markets plunged as investors dismissed the passage of a U.S. bailout plan and focused instead on deepening financial turmoil in Europe. The Nikkei fell 4.7%, Hong Kong ended nearly 5% lower and Indonesia sank 10%.
- Searching for a Silver Lining

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India Cuts Its Cash-Reserve Ratio for Banks
India's central bank cut the reserves banks have to hold, injecting liquidity as the global financial crisis escalates.
China Moves to Clean Up Dairy Industry
China is posting inspectors to monitor dairy companies and imposing new rules to improve milk suppliers' accountability, as Beijing moves to restore consumer confidence after tainted baby formula sickened children.
Zoellick Seeks 'Better Group' to Lead World
World Bank President Robert Zoellick called for the G-7 to be expanded to include major developing countries, saying the current world leadership structure is ill-equipped to deal with global crises.
Hong Kong Seeks to Aid Investors In Lehman Debt
Hong Kong's government proposed a way to let investors recoup some losses from a reported $2 billion in securities linked to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., urging distributing banks to buy the bonds back.
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AIG to Pare Its Asian Investment
AIG plans to sell stakes in its Thai life-insurance business and consumer-finance banking arm, while offloading its Philippine unit.
Earthquakes Hit Central Asia
A powerful earthquake killed at least 72 people in Kyrgyzstan, while a pair of quakes jolted the capital of Chinese-ruled Tibet, killing 30 people.
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Indonesia Rate Increase Is Likely
Higher-than-expected inflation in Indonesia raised the prospect of an interest rate increase and battered the stock market while the rupiah fell.
China Opens Debt Market
China's central bank has reopened a nascent market for corporate debt, in its latest move to increase local companies' access to funding and help them cope with a slowing domestic economy and the global financial crisis.
Aso Unlikely to Call Snap Election
Japan's prime minister said he wasn't thinking of calling an election now because of uncertainties in the country's economy, the latest sign that an expected early poll to break a political deadlock may be delayed.
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Pakistan Debt Protection Cost Soars
The cost of protection against a default on Pakistan's debt surged after the government unveiled a further depletion of its foreign exchange reserves, leading to a ratings downgrade.
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China Plans Trading Trial Programs
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Slowdown Crimps SingTel Operations
U.S. Plans Taiwan Arms Sale
Bombing Kills 27 in Sri Lanka
Thai Protest Leader Arrested

Country by Country News

News from the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires

India Cranks Out Small Cars for Export
India is becoming a small-car manufacturing hub for some of the world's biggest auto makers.
Hotelier Stresses Service, Development
The Four Seasons Hotels aim to take care of travelers who are looking for attention to detail, says Chris Hart, the hotel chain's senior vice president for Asian-Pacific operations.