Singapore Petroleum Enters Oil, Gas Exploring Venture With China National

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore Petroleum Co., the only oil
refiner traded on the city state's stock exchange, will explore
for oil and gas with China National Offshore Oil Corp. in its
first venture off the Chinese coast.

Singapore Petroleum will operate and own 100 percent of
Block 26/18 in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea,
while China National has the right to take a stake of as much as
51 percent should a discovery be made, the Singapore company said
today in a statement.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Japan's Stocks Drop on U.S. Economy Concern, Stronger Yen; Sony Leads Fall

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks declined, led by Canon
Inc. and Sony Corp., on concern losses in the U.S. mortgage
market may slow the world's biggest economy.

Exporters also fell after the yen strengthened to a four-
month high against the dollar, eroding the value of their dollar-
denominated sales.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Samsung Electronics, Exporters, Oil-Dependents: South Korea Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or fall
in South Korea. Prices refer to the previous close. This preview
includes news announced after markets shut yesterday. Stock
symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index rose 1.3 percent to 1,876.80. The Kosdaq rose
1.6 percent to 798.86. Kospi 200 futures expiring in September
increased 1 percent to 236.00, while the underlying index rose 1.3
percent to 236.91.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

New Zealand Dollar Falls a Second Day; Housing Woes Spur Carry Trade Exit

(Bloomberg) -- The New Zealand dollar declined for a
second day as concerns U.S. subprime mortgage losses will slow
global growth deterred traders from buying riskier investments.

So called carry trades, where investors borrow cheaply in
yen to buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere, have seen New
Zealand's dollar gain 25 percent against Japan's currency in the
past year. U.S. stocks dropped Aug. 3 after Samuel Molinaro,
chief financial officer at Bear Stearns Cos. called the current
crisis in fixed-income the worst ever.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Philippine Inflation Probably Stayed Close to Seven-Year Low on Currency

(Bloomberg) -- Philippine inflation probably rose in
July. Still, the pace was close to the slowest in 7 1/2 years as
gains in the peso against the dollar lowered the price of
imports, including oil.

Consumer prices increased 2.4 percent from a year earlier,
according to the median estimate of 14 economists surveyed by
Bloomberg News. Inflation was 2.3 percent in June after rising
in the previous two months from 2.2 percent, the lowest level
since January 2000. The National Statistics Office report is due
tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Manila.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

2008 sports events could benefit Adidas: Barron's

(Reuters) - Adidas should also benefit from British soccer star David Beckham's move to the United States. If Beckham does well for his new team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Adidas sales in the United States could climb, Barron's said.







Read more at Reuters.com Business News

New Zealand Dollar May Fall as Housing Woes Spur Exit From Risky Bets

(Bloomberg) -- The New Zealand dollar may decline
today as concerns return about the U.S. subprime mortgage market,
deterring traders from riskier investments such as the carry
trade.

The trade, where investors borrow cheaply in yen to invest
in higher-yielding assets elsewhere, has seen the currency gain
25 percent against the yen in the past year, with investors
lured to the nation's record 8.25 percent benchmark rate. U.S.
stocks dropped Aug. 4 after Samuel Molinaro, chief financial
officer at Bear Stearns Cos. called the current crisis in fixed-
income the worst ever.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News