Asia

During Monday trades gold prices recovered from its early drop which spurred buying from jewellers in Asia, but further gains could be limited by a rally in the U.S. dollar amid persistent euro zone debt concerns.

Investors also closely watched an escalating tension in the Korean peninsula, although dealers said there were no signs of buying related to the crisis sparked by North Korea's artillery attack on a southern South Korean island.

MasterCard has set collaboration with SilkAir in a move to offer discerning travelers in eight exotic destinations in Asia exclusive privileges on board SilkAir's Business Class.

The eight destinations include the followings:

During early Thursday deals in Asia the Japanese yen dropped to multi-day lows against the US and Swiss counterparts as a rise in most Asian stocks reduced demand for the safe-haven Japanese currency.

The yen declined against the Swiss franc during early Asian deals on Thursday. The yen is currently trading at a 2-day low of 82.25 against the franc with 82.7 seen as the next downside target level. At yesterday's close, the franc-yen pair was quoted at 81.97.

As it became known Monday, AIG named former Prudential plc chief executive and experienced Asia hand Mark Tucker, as the head of its Asian life insurance business, AIA. AIG will now push ahead with an AIA (initial public offering) IPO, which bankers have said could raise about $15 billion.

Nepal is a country Internet and e-commerce of which we are to examine today. The country is officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, representing according to 2010 estimation the world's most recent nation to become a republic. This landlocked country is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Nepal represents 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country, with the population of approximately 30 million.

Today we are to consider the Internet and e-commerce infrastructure of a landlocked country located in East and Central Asia, Mongolia. The country, that has its capital in Ulaanbaatar, borders Russia to the north and the People's Republic of China to the south, east and west, although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan. Mongolia represents the 19th largest and the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, with a population of slightly over 3 million people. Mongolia's economy is focused on agriculture and mining.

We are to consider today the country that represents the largest island of the Republic of China. Taiwan, also known as Formosa, is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Taiwan is characterized by a dynamic capitalist, export-driven economy with gradually decreasing state involvement in investment and foreign trade. Some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. But what about the telecom market?

Today, we are to consider one of the Asian countries located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea. The country populated by over 50 million people is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. South Korea has the fourth largest economy in Asia and the 15th largest in the world. The economy of the country is export-driven, with production focusing on electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics. This Asian country is a member of the United Nations, WTO, OECD and G-20 major economies.

Brunei, or officially the State of Brunei Darussalam, is a Muslim micro-state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia, populated by slightly over 388,000 people. Having one of the world's fastest growing GDP at purchasing power parity, the country also can boast about the second highest Human Development Index among the South East Asia nations, after Singapore.

Thursday, bullion prices surged up to $1,100 per ounce as a recent fall to 7-week lows spurred some bargain hunting in a holiday-thinned market.

Spot gold added 0.9% rising to $1,096.30 as of 10:22 p.m. EST, compared to New York's notional close of $1,087.00 per ounce. Tuesday, precious metal fell to a 7-week low of $1,074.10 an ounce.

Wednesday, bullion prices inched up as bargain hunters resurfaced after the price dropped to its weakest level in 7-weeks Tuesday, but a stronger US dollar was likely to terminate gains. 

Spot gold crept higher by 0.85% moving up to $1,084.40 an ounce by 5:37 GMT, compared to New York's notional close Tuesday, when it fell as low as $1,074.10 marking its lowest level since early November.

Tesco PLC's expansion into the U.S. and Asia markets as well as its nascent banking services helped boost the U.K.-based supermarket giant's third-quarter sales amid lingering recessionary conditions in some of its markets.

Citigroup Inc. economists and analysts forecasted the United States and Asia to lead the recovery, while Europe and Japan lag next year. Longer term emerging Asian economies are expected to lead the world.
A new report form Citi’s investment Research and Analysis group says that in early 2010 the output will be quite solid and even across major economies, but after this initial burst, Citi predicts sustained momentum in Asia (excluding Japan), and a fairly strong recovery in the U.S., with more gradual recovery in Europe and Japan.

The Philippines – is one of the most amazing archipelago countries, comprising 7,107 islands and having the 5th longest coastline in the world populated by almost 98mn of people. The country, divided into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, is located western Pacific Ocean of South East Asia. Multiplicity of islands led to appearing and developing variety of ethnicities and cultures, as well as one of the most diverse tropical climates in the world.

Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma (Myanmar) to the far southeast and is bounded by the Bay of Bengal to the south. Being the seventh most populous country Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. Nevertheless, Bangladesh is listed amid the "Next Eleven" economies, with the capital Dhaka and other urban centers considered as the driving force behind the growth.