US and Japan boost Asia's hopes.

• Position: Update

Asia's economies may rebound this year as the US and Japan recover from their doldrums, latest figures show.

The US economy grew at a 3.3 per cent annual rate from April through June, the most since last year's third quarter and more than the Government's initial estimate of 3.1 per cent growth. Japan's economy, the world's second largest, expanded at an annual rate of 3.9 per cent in the second quarter, the most in 2 1/2 years.

The 41 countries in Asia outside of Japan, Australia and New Zealand will grow an average of 5.3 per cent this year, faster than any other region in the...