Jakarta - Trading on the Indonesia Stock Exchange was suspended for a second day Thursday although it might resume Friday if conditions allow, a cabinet minister said.

The Indonesian Stock Exchange halted trading Wednesday after the benchmark composite index fell by more than 10-per-cent to 1,451.669, its lowest level since September 2006.

Acting Finance Minister Sofyan Djalil told reporters after a cabinet meeting late Wednesday that Thursday's session also was cancelled and the suspension could be extended through Friday unless market conditions improved.

Singapore - The Singapore Exchange said it will soon explain to investors its decisions to allow listed companies certain exemptions under listing regulations, media reports said Thursday.

SGX will publish the exemptions or waivers given to listed companies every quarter, according to a report in The Straits Times today.

Though the companies must adhere to the listing rules, there are times when a waiver request is allowed to facilitate a transaction to the benefit of all shareholders.

Sydney - Australian stocks tumbled 1.5

Washington - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Wednesday warned that more banks would fail as the US financial system goes through a tough period of restructuring, and promised to use all powers at his disposal to ease the economic fallout.

Paulson asked for "patience" from the public and said it would take "several weeks" before the US Treasury began buying up troubled mortgage assets at the heart of the credit crisis.

Washington - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Wednesday warned that more banks would fail as the US financial system goes through a tough period of restructuring, and promised to use all powers at his disposal to ease the economic fallout.

Paulson asked for "patience" from the public and said it would take "several weeks" before the US Treasury began buying up troubled mortgage assets at the heart of the credit crisis.