DIARY - Asian holidays to December 2008

Reuters: [2008-05-26 12:01:00]

REUTERS DIARY OF ASIAN HOLIDAYS

Details below represent the latest information available and will be supplemented later, particularly with updated entries for Muslim holidays.

Market holiday - Markets and exchanges closed.

Public holiday - Government offices, banks and ordinary businesses closed.

Double-click in brackets for Americas holidays diary [HOL1/DIARY], European holidays [HOL3/DIARY], Middle East and African holidays [HOL4/DIARY].

Alternatively click on <HOLIDAY> to retrieve dates by country.

************************************************************

2008 MARKET HOLIDAYS

************************************************************

** MORE COUNTRIES WILL BE ADDED AS AND WHEN THE DATES ARE CONFRIMED

MAY

MONDAY, MAY 19

MALAYSIA - Wesak Day - Market Holiday

SINGAPORE - Vesak Day - Market Holiday

THAILAND - Wisakha Bucha Day - Market Holiday

TUESDAY, MAY 20

INDIA - Buddha Purnima - Delhi Exchange Closed.

INDONESIA - Birthday of Buddha - Market Holiday

JUNE

MONDAY, JUNE 2

NEW ZEALAND - Queen's Birthday - Market Holiday

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

SOUTH KOREA - Memorial Day - Market Holiday

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

MALAYSIA - King's Birthday - Market Holiday

SUNDAY, JUNE 8

TAIWAN - Dragon Boat Festival - Market Holiday (No addition day off for it's falling on weekend)

MONDAY, JUNE 9

CHINA - Dragon Boat Festival - Market Holiday

AUSTRALIA - Queen's Birthday - Market Holiday

HONG KONG - The day following Tuen Ng Festival - Market Holiday

PHILIPPINES - Independence Day Celebration - Market Holiday

JULY

TUESDAY, JULY 1

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Special Administration Region Establishment Day - Market Holiday

THAILAND - Mid Year Closing Day - Market Holiday

THURSDAY, JULY 17

THAILAND - Asarnha Bucha Day - Market Holiday

MONDAY, JULY 21

JAPAN - Ocean Day - Market Holiday

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

INDONESIA - Isra Mi'raj - Market Holiday

Reuters quote of the day, May 26

Reuters: [2008-05-26 12:00:00]

May 26 (Reuters) - Following is a notable quote from history.

"We knocked the bastard off."

-- Edmund Hillary, on his successful ascent of Mount Everest. On May 26, 2003, Lhakpa Gelu, a Nepali sherpa, set a record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest by reaching the top in 10 hours and 56 minutes smashing the earlier record of 12 hours and 45 minutes set just three days earlier.

Keywords: HISTORY QUOTE

Aussie near 25-year highs on yield, commodities

Reuters: [2008-05-26 08:36:00]

    SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar climbed to 
within striking distance of 25-year highs against the U.S. 
currency on Monday, as higher returns on local assets lured 
investors and firm commodities added to the buoyant tone. 
     The U.S. dollar traded near one-month lows against a basket 
of currencies on growing worries that surging oil prices could 
lead to a sharp downturn in the United States, possibly prompting 
more interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. 
    In contrast, the Australian economy is expected to expand 
this year and the central bank maintains a tightening policy bias 
with inflation still at 17-year highs. 
    As a result, yield spreads between U.S. and Australian 
two-year government bonds widened to 433 basis points from 423 
points last week. Interest rate futures markets <CSRBA1Y=CSAU> 
are factoring in about an 70 percent risk of a domestic rate hike 
in the next 12 months. 
    "The hefty rate differentials, firm commodity prices and 
growing Asian portfolio and trade inflows will keep the Aussie 
bid in the near term," said Sue Trinh, senior currency strategist 
at RBC Capital Markets. 
    "Throw in a weaker U.S. dollar and the Aussie is en route to 
shoot through parity." 
    By 4:10 p.m. the Aussie <AUD=> was at $0.9614/19 against the 
U.S. dollar, up from $0.9579/84 late here on Friday. It hit a 
high of $0.9653 last Wednesday, a level not seen since the Aussie 
was floated in December 1983. 
    The Aussie has now gained nearly 9 percent against the U.S. 
dollar so far this year after overcoming a bout of risk aversion 
which gripped financial markets earlier this year and prompted 
investors to cut their exposure to high-yielding currencies. 
    Currency speculators increased their bets on the Aussie 
dollar in the week to May 20. Data from the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission showed net long positions rising to 61,301 
from 57,454 a week earlier [nN23288374]. 
    The Aussie eased against the yen as lower regional stock 
markets revived risk aversion and saw investors steer clear of 
carry trades, where they buy higher-yielding currencies by 
selling the Japanese currency.  
    The Aussie <AUDJPY=R> eased to 99.29/99.39 yen from 99.65/75 
yen late here on Friday. 
    Firmer commodity prices lent the local currency support. The 
CRB commodities index <.CRB> rose 0.54 percent on Friday, lifted 
by higher oil and gold prices. Australia is a big exporter of 
natural resources. 
    Australian bond futures rebounded from multi-month lows, on 
safe haven buying amid the equity market downturn.  
    Three-year bond futures <YTTc1> rose 0.05 points to 93.31, 
recovering from their lowest levels since late February struck in 
the previous session, while the 10-year bond contract <YTCc1> 
added 0.065 points to 93.535. 
  
 ----------------(Snapshot at 4:10 p.m./0610 GMT)--------------- 
FUTURES                                   CASH YIELD       
90-DAY BILL<YBAc1> (JUN) 92.27 (+0.02)  <AU3MBB=RR> 7.70 (7.69) 
3-YR BOND  <YTTc1> (JUN) 93.310(+0.005) <AU3YT=RR>  6.67 (6.71) 
10-YR BOND <YTCc1> (JUN) 93.535(+0.065) <AU10YT=RR> 6.45 (6.51) 
AUD/USD <AUD=> 0.9614 (0.9579) US 10-YR <US10YT=RR> 3.85 (3.94) 
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
AUD VS   2-YR          10-YR            *AUD 3-YR/10-YR SPREAD 
USD      +433 (+423)    +260 (+257)    *FUTURES -0.225 (-0.200) 
CAD      +379 (+377)    +282 (+283)     *AUD 2-YR/10-YR SPREAD 
NZD 3YR  -0.05(+0.03)   -17 ( -13)      *CASH      -33  ( -30) 
--------------------------------------------------------------- 
 ((Reporting by Anirban Nag; Editing by James Thornhill; 
anirban.nag@reuters.com, Reuters Messaging: 
anirban.nag.reuters.com@reuters.net, +612-9373-1871)) 
Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA DOLLAR/BONDS  
    

Aussie stocks fall on economy worries; Midwest up

Reuters: [2008-05-26 08:30:00]

 (Adds details, comments) 
    By Geraldine Chua 
    SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell 1.1 percent 
on Monday, led down by top miner BHP Billiton Ltd <BHP.AX> and 
retailers such as Woolworths Ltd <WOW.AX> on ongoing worries that 
high oil prices would hamper economic growth and dent consumer 
spending. 
    But Midwest Corp Ltd <MIS.AX> jumped 12 percent after it 
received a A$1.5 billion ($1.44 billion) takeover offer from 
Murchison Metals Ltd <MMX.AX>. 
    Fund managers said while rising commodity prices would 
continue to offer support to Australia's heavyweight oil and 
mining firms, high oil prices have sparked worries that rising 
inflation will hurt consumer spending and company profits. 
    "Whilst we are benefiting from the commodity boom, the rising 
oil price is having a counteracting effect," said Peter Vann, 
head of investment research at Constellation Capital Management. 
    "Inflation in Australia may see interest rates go up further 
and will put further stress on the Australian consumer. Banking 
stocks and consumer stocks may come under considerable pressure." 
    Oil prices <CLc1> rose towards $133 a barrel on Monday, 
extending the previous session's gains on a supply outage at the 
Statfjord oilfield in the North Sea and a weak U.S. dollar [O/R]. 
    The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> fell 61 points to 
5,707.0, based on the latest available data, the lowest closing 
level since May 7 and adding to a 1 percent decline on Friday. 
    The index has now fallen nearly 10 percent since the start of 
the year after rising 11.8 percent in 2007. However, it has 
gained 12.2 percent from its 2008 closing low seen on March 18. 
    New Zealand's benchmark NZX-50 index <.NZ50> closed down 0.4 
percent, or 15.72 points, to 3,573.75. Top stock Telecom Corp Ltd 
<TEL.NZ> was unchanged at NZ$3.91. 
     
    RESOURCES, RETAILERS DOWN 
    Commodity firms fell on worries that weakening consumer 
spending in the U.S., the world's biggest economy, may have an 
adverse impact on global demand for commodities. 
    BHP Billiton, the world's top miner and Australia's top oil 
and gas producer, fell 1.8 percent to A$46.66, while its main 
rival and takeover target, Rio Tinto Ltd <RIO.AX>, lost 1.2 
percent to A$147.79. 
    Worries that rising prices would eat in consumer spending 
also pressured retailers. 
    Wesfarmers Ltd <WES.AX>, a conglomerate that runs supermarket 
chain Coles, dropped 5.2 percent to A$37.79, Woolworths, 
Australia's top supermarket chain, fell 2.1 percent to A$28.19 
and electrical and furniture retailer Harvey Norman <HVN.AX> lost 
1.6 percent to A$3.62. 
    On the upside, Midwest Corp jumped 12 percent to a A$7.00 
after Murchison Metals agreed to buy the iron ore prospector for 
about A$1.5 billion ($1.47 billion) in shares, or an implied 
offer of A$7.17, beating a A$6.38 a share offer from China's 
Sinosteel [ID:nSYD304540]. 
    Murchison shares gained 9.7 percent to A$4.43. 
    Also in favour, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd <FMG.AX> rose 3.6 
percent to A$9.90 following a newspaper report that Sinosteel, 
China's largest ferrous metals trader, is in talks to buy an 8 
percent stake in the iron ore miner [ID:nSYD279122]. 
    Westpac Banking Corp Ltd <WBC.AX> rose 0.8 percent to A$22.68 
while St George Bank Ltd <SGB.AX> gained 0.6 percent to A$32.51 
after Westpac said it will proceed with a bid worth about A$16.6 
billion ($16 billion) for the smaller rival [ID:nSYD175871]. 
 ($1=A$1.04) 
 (Editing by Jonathan Standing) 
 ((geraldine.chua@reuters.com; +61 2 9373 1818; Reuters 
Messaging: geraldine.chua.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
     
 ((Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: 
 * 3000 Xtra    : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com 
 * BridgeStation: view story .134 
For more information on Top News, please visit 
http://topnews.reuters.com)) 
    DIARIES & DATA: 
 IPO diary & data  <AU/IPOMENU>  Asia earnings diary [ASIA/EQTY] 
 U.S. earnings diary  [RESF/US]  European diary       [WEU/EQTY] 
 Australia diary      [AU/DIARY] Wall Street Week Ahead   [.N/O] 
 Eurostocks Week Ahead  [.EU/O] 
................................................................ 
For latest top breaking news across all markets          [NEWS] 
................................................................ 
TOP NEWS SUMMARIES ON OTHER SUBJECTS 
| U.S. Companies     [TOP/EQU] | European Companies  [TOP/EQE] | 
| Forex              [TOP/FRX] | Global Economy    [TOP/MACRO] | 
| Tech.Media,Telecoms[TOP/TMT] | Banking, Financials [TOP/FIN] | 
| Politics & General   [TOP/G] | Sports              [TOP/SPO] | 
................................................................ 
MAJOR STOCK MARKET REPORTS 
New York           [.N]          Weekly outlook New York [.N/O] 
Pan-Europe        [.EU]          Weekly outlook Europe  [.EU/O] 
London             [.L]          Weekly outlook London   [.L/O] 
Tokyo              [.T] 
................................................................ 
ASIA STOCK MARKETS 
Pan-Asia......................[STXNEWS/AS] 
Bangkok......[.BK]    Karachi........[.KA]    S/east Asia.[.SO] 
Bombay.......[.BO]    Kuala Lumpur...[.KL]    Sydney/NZ...[.AX] 
China........[.SS]    Seoul..........[.KS]    Taipei......[.TW] 
Hong Kong....[.HK]    Singapore......[.SI]    Tokyo........[.T] 
................................................................ 
Access to some items may depend on subscription level. 
................................................................ 
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE HEADLINES 
Company results             [RES]  Economic indicators     [ECI] 
Mergers & acquisitions      [MRG]  Interest rates          [INT] 
LIVE PRICES & DATA 
World Stocks           <0#.INDEX>  Currency rates   <EFX=><NFX=> 
Dow Jones/NASDAQ    <.DJI><.IXIC>  Nikkei                <.N225> 
FTSE 100                  <.FTSE>  Debt      <0#USBMK=><EURIBOR> 
HOW TO FIND INFORMATION YOU NEED 
|<REUTERS> | <NEWS> | <PHONE/HELP> | 
|<EQUITY>  | <BONDS>|   <MONEY>    |   <COMMODITY> |  <ENERGY> | 
 
    LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks          <0#.INDEX> 
 Currency rates  <EFX=> <NFX=> 
 Dow Jones/NASDAQ  <.DJI> <.IXIC>  Nikkei                <.N225> 
 FTSE 100                 <.FTSE>  Debt     <0#USBMK=> <EURIBOR> 
 (Local currency)          <AUD=>  LME price overview    <RING=> 
  
 
 
Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA STOCKS  
    

Aussie stocks fall 1.1 pct on inflation concerns

Reuters: [2008-05-26 08:13:00]

 (Updates to market close) 
    SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell 1.1 percent 
on Monday, led down by top miner BHP Billiton Ltd <BHP.AX> and 
retailers such as Woolworths Ltd <WOW.AX> on ongoing worries that 
high oil prices would dent consumer spending and hamper economic 
growth. 
    The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> fell 61 points to 
5,707.0, based on the latest available data, the lowest closing 
level since May 7 and adding to a 1 percent decline on Friday. 
 ($1=A$1.04) 
 (Reporting by Geraldine Chua) 
 ((geraldine.chua@reuters.com; +61 2 9373 1818; Reuters 
Messaging: geraldine.chua.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
     
 ((Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: 
 * 3000 Xtra    : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com 
 * BridgeStation: view story .134 
For more information on Top News, please visit 
http://topnews.reuters.com)) 
    DIARIES & DATA: 
 IPO diary & data  <AU/IPOMENU>  Asia earnings diary [ASIA/EQTY] 
 U.S. earnings diary  [RESF/US]  European diary       [WEU/EQTY] 
 Australia diary      [AU/DIARY] Wall Street Week Ahead   [.N/O] 
 Eurostocks Week Ahead  [.EU/O] 
................................................................ 
For latest top breaking news across all markets          [NEWS] 
................................................................ 
TOP NEWS SUMMARIES ON OTHER SUBJECTS 
| U.S. Companies     [TOP/EQU] | European Companies  [TOP/EQE] | 
| Forex              [TOP/FRX] | Global Economy    [TOP/MACRO] | 
| Tech.Media,Telecoms[TOP/TMT] | Banking, Financials [TOP/FIN] | 
| Politics & General   [TOP/G] | Sports              [TOP/SPO] | 
................................................................ 
MAJOR STOCK MARKET REPORTS 
New York           [.N]          Weekly outlook New York [.N/O] 
Pan-Europe        [.EU]          Weekly outlook Europe  [.EU/O] 
London             [.L]          Weekly outlook London   [.L/O] 
Tokyo              [.T] 
................................................................ 
ASIA STOCK MARKETS 
Pan-Asia......................[STXNEWS/AS] 
Bangkok......[.BK]    Karachi........[.KA]    S/east Asia.[.SO] 
Bombay.......[.BO]    Kuala Lumpur...[.KL]    Sydney/NZ...[.AX] 
China........[.SS]    Seoul..........[.KS]    Taipei......[.TW] 
Hong Kong....[.HK]    Singapore......[.SI]    Tokyo........[.T] 
................................................................ 
Access to some items may depend on subscription level. 
................................................................ 
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE HEADLINES 
Company results             [RES]  Economic indicators     [ECI] 
Mergers & acquisitions      [MRG]  Interest rates          [INT] 
LIVE PRICES & DATA 
World Stocks           <0#.INDEX>  Currency rates   <EFX=><NFX=> 
Dow Jones/NASDAQ    <.DJI><.IXIC>  Nikkei                <.N225> 
FTSE 100                  <.FTSE>  Debt      <0#USBMK=><EURIBOR> 
HOW TO FIND INFORMATION YOU NEED 
|<REUTERS> | <NEWS> | <PHONE/HELP> | 
|<EQUITY>  | <BONDS>|   <MONEY>    |   <COMMODITY> |  <ENERGY> | 
 
    LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks          <0#.INDEX> 
 Currency rates  <EFX=> <NFX=> 
 Dow Jones/NASDAQ  <.DJI> <.IXIC>  Nikkei                <.N225> 
 FTSE 100                 <.FTSE>  Debt     <0#USBMK=> <EURIBOR> 
 (Local currency)          <AUD=>  LME price overview    <RING=> 
Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA STOCKS