Speculation that China will take more steps to cool its economy hit sentiment in Asia Monday, with Shanghai and Hong Kong lower as risk-averse investors stayed on the sidelines. Trade was relatively quiet ahead of meetings this week by eurozone finance ministers and the US and Japanese central banks. Investors were also awaiting a raft of data due from the ...

Asian stock markets sank Monday after mixed economic reports about the U.S. economy inspired caution among investors. European shares were also lower. Major Asian bourses were down as much as 1 percent after a lackluster session on Friday. Oil prices dropped below $81 a barrel and the ...

Whale researchers returned from Antarctic waters Monday after a six-week expedition that they said proved Japan's annual kill of whales for scientific purposes is unnecessary. During the voyage, Australian, French and New Zealand scientists used nonlethal techniques to study whales. It was a ...

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan Post Bank bought about 300 billion yen ($3.3 billion) in U.S. Treasuries in October-December, the first time it has purchased U.S. government debt since the start of its privatization process in October 2007, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday. Japan Post Bank, a unit of Japan Post Holdings Co, typically parks roughly 80 ...