In forcing Maruti Suzuki to backtrack on a controversial production deal with its Japanese parent, a group of Indian fund managers scored a rare win that heralds increased activism for an Indian fund industry long seen as timid

In battling Maruti Suzuki, fund managers find voice

Maruti Suzuki has over Rs 70 billion invested in funds, according to its annual statement

Reuters | Mar 31, 2014, 09.31AM IST

MUMBAI: In forcing automaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd to backtrack on a controversial production deal with its Japanese parent, a group of Indian fund managers scored a rare win that heralds increased activism for an Indian fund industry long seen as timid.  Read more of this post

As reforms for long-term development kick in, stock picking best way to invest in China

As reforms for long-term development kick in, stock picking best way to invest in China

Bonnie Lam
April 1, 2014 1:00 am

China’s trade has exceeded expectations, with both imports and exports recording annual growth and inflation generally in line with predictions, driving the Shanghai Composite Index up 5.4 per cent in February and regaining January’s losses. Read more of this post

SET joins with Malaysian, Singapore bourses to bolster Asean Exchanges project

SET joins with Malaysian, Singapore bourses to bolster Asean Exchanges project

Erich Parpart
The Nation April 1, 2014 1:00 am

Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are taking the lead in making seven stock markets in six Asean countries a global force to be reckoned with through a push for greater cooperation within the Asean Exchanges (AE) and the launch of the Asean Stars Index. Read more of this post

Joko Pledges to Avoid Back-Room Deals in Ministerial Appointments

Joko Pledges to Avoid Back-Room Deals in Ministerial Appointments

By Jakarta Globe on 04:38 pm Mar 31, 2014

1.  Jakarta Governor and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential candidate, Joko Widodo, has said that any PDI-P-led coalition will consist of ministers best placed to handle the relevant ministry and will not be subject to party favors.

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Japan shoppers see first sales tax rise in 17 years

Japan shoppers see first sales tax rise in 17 years

POSTED: 01 Apr 2014 05:39
URL: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/japan-shoppers-see-first/1054952.html#
The price of everything from beer and sushi to cars and dishwashers will rise across Japan as shoppers are greeted by the first sales tax rise in 17 years. Read more of this post

HK starts new IPO ruling including stricter disclosure, penalty for sloppy underwriters

Updated: Tuesday April 1, 2014 MYT 6:48:40 AM

HK starts new IPO ruling including stricter disclosure, penalty for sloppy underwriters

HONG KONG: Companies seeking to list in Hong Kong will be subject to a stricter disclosure regime as the city’s regulators crack down on sloppy underwriters and issuers. Read more of this post

Struggling Chinese groups pad out bottom lines; Asset shuffles and share placements bolster results

April 1, 2014 2:40 am

Struggling Chinese groups pad out bottom lines

By Tom Mitchell in Beijing

China’s largest shipping company avoided a third consecutive annual loss and a mandatory delisting from the Shanghai stock exchange last week, but the reprieve for China Cosco Holdings does not mean the tide is finally turning for the country’s heavy industry sector. Read more of this post

Zhou Yongkang was one of China’s most powerful men, building up patronage networks that spanned the oil, mining and security industries as well as regional support bases

March 31, 2014 7:59 pm

Zhou Yongkang: Downfall of a patron

By Lucy Hornby

Zhou Yongkang was one of China’s most powerful men, building up patronage networks that spanned the oil, mining and security industries as well as regional support bases. A corruption investigation has led to the detention of many officials and executives related to Mr Zhou and his family, giving unusual insight into the way Chinese officials build their networks as they rise to the top.

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Caterpillar, the world’s largest maker of heavy machinery, used a Swiss affiliate to shift 85 per cent of its parts profits to defer or avoid paying $2.4bn in US taxes

Last updated: March 31, 2014 11:04 pm

Caterpillar accused of ‘shifting’ profits

By Gina Chon in Washington

Caterpillar, the world’s largest maker of heavy machinery, used a Swiss affiliate to shift 85 per cent of its parts profits to defer or avoid paying $2.4bn in US taxes, according to a report by Carl Levin, a Democratic US senator. Read more of this post

Triple A sovereign ratings deposed; Double A becomes biggest category in government debt

arch 31, 2014 3:38 pm

Triple A sovereign ratings deposed

By Ralph Atkins and Keith Fray in London

The triple A government bond is dead. Long live the double A bond.

The global pool of government bonds given a top “risk free” rating by all three main credit rating agencies has contracted by 6 per cent over the past year and by more than 60 per cent since 2007, according to Financial Times analysis. Read more of this post

Alert on leveraged loan terms; Big buyer Eaton Vance warns of growing risk of piling on debt

March 31, 2014 4:10 pm

Alert on leveraged loan terms

By Stephen Foley and Tracy Alloway in New York

One of the biggest buyers of US leveraged loans is sounding the alarm over unusual new terms being jammed into deals, increasing risk in one of the hottest investment areas of recent years.

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Let China’s cities flourish free from central control

Yukon Huang

March 31, 2014

Let China’s cities flourish free from central control

After prolonged debate, China’s long anticipated “New-Type Urbanisation Plan 2014-2020” was unveiled in mid-March. There is much to be applauded. It rightly focuses on improving the quality of urbanisation by reining in wasteful investments, meeting the social needs of migrant workers, addressing environmental concerns and developing new financing sources. The ultimate target is that by 2020 China will be 60 per cent urban compared with 54 per cent today. Read more of this post

Captured in a tiger hunt: The demise of one of China’s most powerful men has as much to do with politics as with graft

March 31, 2014 8:05 pm

Captured in a tiger hunt

By Jamil Anderlini and Lucy Hornby

The demise of one of China’s most powerful men has as much to do with politics as with graft Read more of this post

MP shocked – S’porean faculty staff in tertiary institutions are minority

MP shocked – S’porean faculty staff in tertiary institutions are minority

10:292014

👤by Andrew Loh 13 Comments

In Parliament earlier in March, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, Seah Kian Peng expressed shock at the number of foreigners who have staffed the faculties in Singapore’s tertiary institutions. Read more of this post

For Deal Makers, China Is a Drag; Major global mergers are being held up by several months because China’s antitrust authority has a relatively small staff and an unusually broad mandate

For Deal Makers, China Is a Drag

Major Mergers Are Being Held Up for Months

TOM FAIRLESS, BRENT KENDALL and CYNTHIA KOONS

March 31, 2014 4:47 p.m. ET

For deal makers, China has emerged as a great wall to vault. Read more of this post

What Do Indians Care About? Not Just The Economy, Stupid; India’s BJP Says Economy Would Be First Priority

Mar 31, 2014

What Do Indians Care About? Not Just The Economy, Stupid

NIHARIKA MANDHANA

The Congress party’s prospects have plummeted because Indians are unhappy with the economy, right?

Well, not exactly. A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds a majority of Indians – 57% – think the economic situation today is good. And this assessment is stronger in northern India, where the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and its standard bearer Narendra Modi are expected to win big.  Read more of this post

Bags of Mountain Air Offered in Smog-Addled Chinese City

Mar 31, 2014

Bags of Mountain Air Offered in Smog-Addled Chinese City

Proving that China’s fight against pollution has moved decisively into the realm of parody, bags containing mountain air were shipped into one particularly smog-addled city over the weekend. Read more of this post

China Big 5 Banks Step Up Bad Loan Disposals; Write-Offs Highlight Mounting Debt Risks for Cooling Chinese Economy

China Big 5 Banks Step Up Bad Loan Disposals

Write-Offs Highlight Mounting Debt Risks for Cooling Chinese Economy

March 31, 2014 8:41 a.m. ET

China Construction Bank is one of five large Chinese lenders that wrote off and moved off their books billions of yuan in nonperfoming loans. Reuters Read more of this post

China’s New Wager: Pulling Energy From the Ocean

China’s New Wager: Pulling Energy From the Ocean

Lengthy Coastline, Pollution Make Country a Prime Testing Ground in Joint Ventures With Western Firms

SIMON HALL

March 31, 2014 12:15 p.m. ET

HONG KONG—A race is under way to unlock one of the world’s biggest untapped sources of clean energy—the ocean—with China emerging as an important testing ground. Read more of this post