* MoF flow data for week-ended Feb 24 - Tentative Japan moves intofor-bonds. * Bargain-hunting by some as JPY strengthened, offshore bond prices fell. * Net Y201.3 bln foreign bonds bought against Y512.6 bln sales previousweek. * January saw Japanese buy a net Y1.3887 trln in foreign bonds. * Volume as of late in foreign bonds off, some await stronger JPY, @105.00. * Japanese also bought net Y45 b...Read More

By Wayne ColeSYDNEY, March 1 27 (Reuters) - Australian businessinvestment suffered a surprising slip last quarter as minersspent less on buildings, yet other sectors splashed out more onplant and machinery in a positive sign for economic growth.Investment dipped a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent in theDecember quarter to A$29.6 billion ($22.91 billion), data fromthe Australian Bureau of Statistics...Read More

(Adds detail on revised GDP)* Q4 capex +4.3 pct yr/yr, seasonally-adjusted 3.1 pctqtr/qtr* Suggests upward revision to revised Q4 GDP data out March8* Recurring profits +0.9 pct yr/yrBy Stanley WhiteTOKYO, March 1 (Reuters) - Japanese companies raised theirpace of investment in plant and equipment in October-December,suggesting the government will revise up its initial estimate ofeconomic growth f...Read More

** Japan Airlines Co rises 2.9 pct to one-monthhigh of 4,209 yen** Co says to buy back up to 2 pct of own shares worth 20bln yen($187.48 mln) ** Co reveals mid-term business plan ** As of the previous close, the stock had fallen 7.24percent so far this year.** As of 00:24 GMT, about 1.02 million shares of theTokyo-based company have been traded, about 56.7 percent oftheir 30-day moving average of...Read More

March 01 (BOJ Financial Markets Department) - The Bank of Japan announced the following interest rates for Japan's benchmark overnight call money. weighted average rate-0.053 percent highest rate 0.001 percent lowest rate-0.080 percent Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure ac...Read More

BOJ money market operations and current account deposit (2/28)March 01 (BOJ Financial Markets Department)in billion yen 2/28 Projected Preliminary RevisedBank notes -50 -60 -60Treasury funds and others570 520 520------------------------------------------------------------------------------Market balance 520 460 460------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subtot...Read More

** Miner Mustang Resources Ltd rises as much as12.5 pct to A$0.027, its highest since Feb. 22** Co says Mozambique government has issued miningconcession ** Stock posts its biggest intra-day pct gain since Feb. 14** Up to Wednesday's close, stock had fallen 21.9 pct thisyear Messaging: Aaron.Saldanha@thomsonreuters.com @reuters.net)) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the...Read More

* -0.1% fresh 1.3746 low - opened -1.1% as Brexit uncertainty resurfaced* Soft Brexit essential for UK's resurgent car industry * Fall leaves momentum studies, 5, 10 & 20 DMAs heading lower* Bearish trending setup - 1.3764 Feb low & range base broken* Next stop 1.3693, 50% Nov/Jan rise, then 1.3614 early Jan high* Close above 1.3925/36, falling 10 & 20DMAs needed to undermine bias<^...Read More

(Adds detail, analyst comment)* Feb exports up 4.0 pct y/y, imports up 14.8 pct y/y* Fewer working days due to Lunar New Yr crimps exportsgrowth By Cynthia KimSEOUL, March 1 (Reuters) - South Korea's export growthslowed in February to its weakest in more than a year,government data showed on Thursday, showing the effects of along Lunar New year holiday and a potential slip in overseasdemand for Ko...Read More

HANOI, March 1 (Reuters) - Data from the Nikkei Vietnam Purchasing Managers' Index forFebruary.Readings above 50.0 indicate an improvement in businessconditions and readings below 50.0 indicate a deterioration. DATAFEBJANDECNOV53.5 53.4 52.5 51.4 CONTEXT* Vietnam's PMI rose to 53.5 in February, the highest sinceApril 2017, with new orders posting solid increase backed byimproved demand. Business c...Read More

TOKYO, March 1 (Reuters) - Japanese manufacturing activityexpanded at a slightly slower but still solid pace inFebruary, revised data showed on Thursday, as the stronger yenweighed on new export orders.However, hiring rose at the fastest pace in 11 years ascompanies remain optimistic about future demand.The final Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing PurchasingManagers Index (PMI) was a seasonally adj...Read More

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Reuters) -Data from the Markit Malaysia Purchasing Managers' Index forFebruary.?EUREURReadings above 50.0 signal an improvement in businessconditions while ones below indicate deterioration. DATAFEBJANDEC49.9 50.5 49.9 CONTEXT* A decline in new orders, reflecting weak demand, led theheadline PMI index to show contraction, though at a marginalrate. The index was swung between...Read More

** Rio Tinto shares fall as much as 4.8 pct toA$77.25, its lowest level in two weeks** Stock trading ex-dividend** Posts biggest intra-day pct decline since April, 2017** About 3.1 mln shares change hands, compared with the30-day average trading volume of about 2.3 million shares** Rio shares biggest drag on the Australian main board (Reuters Messaging:rushil.dutta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)...Read More

Sydney-based Lake Resources (ASX:LKE) announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Argentinian province of Jujuy to confirm the company's tenure of ~45,000 hectares of mining leases that cover the Olaroz - Cauchari Lithium Brine Project and the Paso Lithium Brine Project."The applications adjoin the production leases owned by Orocobre and SQM/Lithium Americas and have the potential to...Read More

** Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Ltd fallsas much as 7.1 pct to A$2.34, its lowest since May 2016** Australia's biggest mortgage insurer's stock tradesex-dividend** Stock posts biggest intra-day pct fall since Dec. 15** Stock top pct loser on the Australian main index ** Co on Wednesday posted a 26.6 pct fall in FY net profitattributable to A$149.2 mln ($115.50 mln) ($1 = 1.2918 Australian...Read More

The politically correct answer is no, but the question muststill be considered. Will China flex its iron-fisted control ofthe CNY as trade tensions with the US intensify? Officials havevoiced strong dissatisfaction at newly imposed tariffs onaluminium foil , ahead of trade talks with the US . Even before the brunt of duties on exports to theUS can be felt, Chinese economic data is starting to falt...Read More

TAIPEI, March 1 (Reuters) -Data from the Nikkei/Markit Taiwan Purchasing Managers'Index for February. Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in businessconditions while readings below indicate deterioration.FEBRUARYJANUARYDECEMBER 56.056.9 56.6 *The headline PMI of 56.0 in February, down from 56.9 inJanuary, showed that the rate of improvement in themanufacturing sector moderated slightly.*Alth...Read More

** Oil and gas explorer Central Petroleum Ltd risesas much as 21.05 pct to A$0.115, its highest since Sept. 1, 2017** Co's unit wins Queensland Government's tender acreage; Coand Australia-based explosives manufacturer Incitec Pivot to set up a 50:50 joint venture to operate on acreageland ** Incitec to also provide A$20 mln ($15.51 mln) of fundingto JV for exploration and appraisal of the acreage...Read More

** Australia's energy index falls as much as 2.2 pctto over two-week low** Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after official data showeda larger-than-expected increase in U.S. crude inventories and asurprise build in gasoline stocks ** Brent crude futures fell for a second day after risingfor six straight sessions** Oil Search drops as much as 5.2 pct to lowestsince early Dec. 2017; marks sharpest intr...Read More

* CAPEX in Q4 '17 was good, +4.3% y/y, excluding software +3.1% q/q.* Data good but may represent near-term peak, data into '18 on weak side.* Growth and CAPEX likely to fall back, stronger JPY to weigh.* Separately, Q4 recurring profits +0.9% y/y on sales of +5.9% y/y.* Profits and sales may have peaked in Q4 for now as well.* Japan Inc is sitting on massive cash however, still skimping on wages....Read More