Vol. 11 No. 6, July 2003

Index

• Bank of Japan: "trashcan" or Central Bank?
• Malaysian business confidence on the rise after SARS outbreak.
• Word of mouth.
• A panel set up to suggest changes in Singapore's social, cultural and political policies urged the Government to allow residents the use of retirement funds to tide over spells of unemployment.
• Growth spurt.
• Hong Kong workers may lose more than 20,000 manufacturing jobs in southern China in the next five years, according to a Hong Kong survey.
• Japan's 12 automakers cut domestic production and exports in May, as companies such as Toyota Motor built more cars nearer their overseas markets such as the US and Asia outside Japan.
• Proposed foreign direct investments in Thailand rose 55 per cent in the first five months of the year to 122 billion baht ($4.4 billion), led by Japanese automakers that want to expand production in South-East Asia's second biggest economy.
• Taiwan's jobless rate was unchanged in May, with additional jobs created by the Government helping to provide employment for workers fired as a result of the SARS epidemic, which curbed spending around Asia.
• The Philippines plans to cut the number of Government workers by about one per cent, starting this year, to reduce costs and help narrow the Budget deficit, says Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin.
• Asia's ally? How pro-Asia is US President George W Bush?
• Hotels expand as industry recovers.
• Singapore to revise tourism figures.
• Vietnam ideal for "leaf of faith".
• Council needs continuity: ABAC chair Roengpithya.
• New plans to combat future outbreaks.
• Business going virtual.
• Litigation is not the way to go in China.
• Global pick up needed to boost Australian manufacturing.
• Sweet success for short bread exports.