Business news with words asian+recession+shares. 10 news.

ASIAN stocks rose for a second day, led by electronics makers, after consumer spending increased more than forecast in the United States, the region's biggest export market. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, maker of iPods for Apple Inc, and Samsung Electronics Co climbed to the highest in more than a week. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index advanced the most in three weeks last Friday after the report on November spending eased concern about recession in the world's biggest economy. "US shares showed firm gains, and we're seeing the influence in shares today (yesterday)," said Kim Jae Dong, who oversees the equivalent of US$8.6 billion at Korea Investment Trust Management Co in Seoul. BHP Billiton Ltd led an increase among miners after metals prices climbed, and a UK regulator set a deadline for a formal takeover bid for Rio Tinto Group. The MSCI Asia Pacific, excluding Japan Index, rose two percent to 524.1 as of 3:38pm in Hong Kong, with all 10 industry groups climbing.

FT.com - Shares fell across the Asia Pacific region on Wednesday as investors seemed worried by the US Federal Reserve's statement that the US economy was slowing, and that its 25 basis point cut in interest rates may not be enough to prevent a recession.

Shares fell across the Asia Pacific region as investors seemed worried by the US Federal Reserve's statement that the US economy was slowing, and that its cut in interest rates may not be enough to prevent a recession

ASIAN stocks have risen for a second week after the United States government announced a plan to limit defaults on subprime mortgages, easing concern the region's largest export market will suffer a recession. Mizuho Financial Group Inc, Japan's second-largest publicly traded bank, and Bank of East Asia, Hong Kong's third largest, jumped after President George W. Bush said some borrowers will be able to refinance or freeze interest rates on adjustable-rate loans, according to Bloomberg News. Samsung Electronics Co led exporters higher following stronger-than-expected US data on productivity and jobs. The US government's measures "will stop their poor people from becoming homeless, halt the drop in property prices, and help prop up spending," said Yang Jeung Won, who oversees the equivalent of US$7.6 billion at Samsung Investment Trust Management Co in Seoul. "There are expectations that the US economy will be able to ease itself into a soft landing." The MSCI

ASIAN stocks rose for a third day, led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and National Australia Bank Ltd, on speculation the Federal Reserve will cut United States interest rates to bolster growth in the world's largest economy. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd led gains by developers in Hong Kong as lower borrowing costs would spur demand for real estate. Hong Kong's interest rates typically move in step with those in the US because the currency is pegged to the greenback. Banks also climbed on speculation US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will reach a deal to stem further credit-market losses, Bloomberg News said. "There's a perception the Fed is getting ahead of the curve and as a result the US economy won't fall into recession," said Troy Angus, who helps manage the equivalent of US$3.5 billion at Paradice Investment Management Ltd in Sydney. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.2 percent to 162.21 at 6:33pm in Tokyo. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.3

ASIAN stocks rose, reversing earlier declines, on speculation minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting will show the United States economy, the region's biggest overseas market, can weather a slump in values of homes and subprime mortgages. Some shares also climbed on expectations declines this month didn't reflect regional companies' earnings prospects. Mitsui & Co, which lost a fifth of its value in November, advanced. CNOOC Ltd led gains among energy stocks as oil prices rose. "Is subprime going to drag the US economy into recession? I don't think so," said Mona Chung, who helps manage US$2.5 billion at Daiwa Asset Management Ltd in Hong Kong. "Some shares have already dropped to very attractive levels." The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia Pacific Index added 0.3 percent to 158.05 at 6:47pm in Tokyo, rallying from an earlier decline of as much as 2.6 percent. The index is still down 7.8 percent this month. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average

Shares fell across the Asia-Pacific region on the possibility of higher interest rates in China, the stronger yen and worries about the effect of a US housing recession and financial market turmoil

ASIAN markets fell sharply today as traders took their cues from Wall Street, where shares fell Friday amid renewed concerns about US mortgage problems. Hong Kong's benchmark index dropped as much as 4.6 percent, while Japan's main index lost as much as 3.8 percent and South Korea's Kospi fell as much as 4.5 percent. "Basically, the supbrime loan issue still drags on, and there is no prospect of what can end the problem," said Shinichi Ichikawa, chief strategist at Credit Suisse. "As for the US economy, the risk of recession is increasing toward the next year," which, combined with higher oil prices, prompts players to sell the dollar, he said. Japanese traders sold exporter issues on a strengthening yen, which is at its highest levels against the dollar since May 2006. Automaker Honda fell 3.58 percent and rival Toyota shed 2.76 percent. Sony dropped 2.61 percent. At the close, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was at 15,197.09 points, down 2.48

ASIAN stocks rose to a record yesterday after a pickup in US hiring stoked optimism that the world's biggest economy will avoid a recession. BHP Billiton Ltd, the world's largest resources company, led raw materials producers higher. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, which produces iPhone handsets and PlayStation 3 game consoles, gained on speculation that US consumer spending will strengthen. The data point "to a soft landing in the US, which is the best scenario that investors could hope for," said Leslie Phang, who helps manage US$1 billion at Commonwealth Private Bank in Singapore. "We're seeing a very favorable market outlook. If global economies continue to perform all right, Asian companies will do very well." The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific excluding Japan Index added 0.4 percent to 550.19 yesterday in Hong Kong, exceeding its October 2 record close of 549.66. Japan's market was closed for a holiday. Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index climbed to a new high after President Pervez Musharraf won an election, and benchmarks in Australia and the Philippines also set records. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed 0.2 percent lower, after earlier surging 2.3 percent to an intraday high. Stocks in the United States rallied on Friday, lifting the Standard & Poor's 500 Index to a record, after the Labor Department said the number of jobs in the country increased by 110,000 in September, more than the 100,000 additions forecast by economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The August figure was revised to an increase of 89,000 from a drop of 4,000. Last week's jobs data contributed to confidence that the US economy will be able to weather losses from subprime, or higher risk, mortgage losses. "The US jobs market is holding up despite the market's fears, and that means the consumer is more likely to survive the recent turmoil," said Hans Kunnen at Colonial First State Global Asset Management in Sydney. "The stars are aligned for the resources sector." BHP Billiton rose 1.3 percent yesterday to A$44.69 (US$40.15). PT International Nickel Indonesia, the nation's biggest nickel producer, climbed 2.2 percent to 69,000 rupiah (US$7.59). Korea Zinc Co, the world's second-largest zinc smelter, gained 1.1 percent to 188,000 won (US$205.58). A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, including copper and nickel, rose 0.6 percent. Copper added 0.1 percent, nickel increased

Asian markets took a battering on growing fears the US may be heading for recession. By Fiona Walsh.