Jose Galang

Retail prices of building materials in the Philippines’ Metro Manila area surged by a two-year high of 4.9 percent in March compared to year-before levels, newly released government statistics show.

Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported on Tuesday a decline in average monthly wage rates in March while the Nikkei Business Index took its steepest decline ever in the same month.

New York-based global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has taken a 10 percent interest in Masan Consumer Corp., a leading producer and distributor of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in Vietnam.

The Philippines’ Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned on Friday amid a swirl of controversy and criticism in her office’s handling of big corruption cases and the agency's allegedly low conviction rate.

A $1.6-billion aluminium smelting plant that will be put up in Malaysia’s Sarawak state by a partnership of two major Chinese and Malaysian groups will have a capacity of 370,000 tonnes a year.

Some 15,000 model structures made from an estimated 30 million Lego bricks, along with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions, will be the main features at Legoland Malaysia that is set to open late next year.

A nascent growth in manufacturing activity in the Philippines slowed in February in terms of both volume and value of production, according to newly released government statistics.

A major threat to banana plantations reportedly caused by bacteria became the focus of discussions at a scientific conference in the Northern Territory’s capital Darwin on Tuesday.

Chinese heavy equipment maker Sany Group has disclosed plans to invest some $200 million in a plant in Indonesia as part of a company move to penetrate the Southeast Asian market and possibly Australia and Japan.

Plunder charges were filed Tuesday against former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo before the Department of Justice.

Record increases in food prices are again threatening to push millions of people in Asia’s developing countries into extreme poverty, a report released Tuesday in Manila by the Asian Development Bank warned.

Thailand’s car companies implement steep production cutbacks for six weeks starting this week due to the shortage of parts from Japan that is now biting into their revenue position.

Holcim Philippines mulling over new cement plant

With the shortage of parts from Japan now biting into their revenue position, Thailand’s car companies have slated steep production cutbacks for six weeks starting this week.

Amid restrictions imposed by more countries on imports of Japanese products, Japan sets out to brief importers abroad on measures to ensure the safety of Japanese farm and fishery items.

Indonesian car makers posted total sales of 225,413 units in the first quarter of the year, with Astra Motors cornering more than half of the total

Hong Kong International Airport has reported increases in passenger traffic and cargo volume handled during the first quarter of 2011.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says that instead of grabbing jobs away from locals, foreign workers are actually helping grow the economy.

Canada’s Banro Corp. and China Gold International Resources Corp. have signed a MOU to pursue talks on a proposed joint venture partnership to develop gold mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department raises maximum airline fuel surcharges for passengers, cargo

Philippine share prices closed mostly higher Wednesday as investors regained their bearing after the previous day’s jitters caused by the Standard & Poor’s downgrade of US bonds.

Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has raised $900 million in new capital from a public offering of common shares and convertible bonds to foreign investors

Thailand is looking into proposals for a temporary ban on chicken egg exports coinciding with a planned freeze on domestic prices of the poultry product.

Indonesian automotive components maker PT Astra Otoparts Tbk and NYSE-listed Visteon Corp. have announced the establishment of a new joint venture that will produce car parts for both the Indonesian and global markets.

Malaysian officials have formally registered opposition to a proposal in the Australian parliament calling for new labels on food products containing palm oil

Thailand electronics and electrical appliance makers see a big drop in exports growth due to a shortage of components from Japanese suppliers

A software platform developed by a research officer at the University of Melbourne, “StatPlanet World Bank”, has been named winner of the World Bank’s first-ever “Apps for Development” competition.

Workers’ remittances in the first two months of 2011 reached $2.98 billion, up by nearly 7 percent from the year-ago, raising optimism that total inflows for full year will reach $20 billion.

Philippine share prices sustain rise for the third consecutive day, but peso slightly softer