Tokyo - Stocks ended lower Tuesday in Tokyo amid a wait-and-see mood among investors ahead of corporate earnings reports and forecasts.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged down 48.47 points, or 0.62 per cent, to close at 7,825.51.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 4.06 points, or 0.52 per cent, at 773.79.

Sydney  - The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut interest rates by 1 per cent to 3.25 per cent in hopes of lifting consumer confidence and helping the economy skirt the global recession.

It was the RBA's fifth monthly cut and brings the rate it charges banks for borrowing to a level not seen since the 1960s.

The further easing of monetary policy comes after figures were released showing inflation falling sharply towards the RBA's 3-per-cent upper-range target.

Tokyo  - Stocks opened slightly higher Tuesday in Tokyo amid a wait-and-see mood among investors ahead of corporate earnings reports and forecasts.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched up 7.62 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,881.6.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also up 0.87 points, or 0.11 per cent, at 778.72.

Tokyo players moved to buy some shares battered during the previous day, but gains were limited because of pessimistic earnings outlooks of Japanese firms.

The Sensex continued to trade weak due to sustained selling action witnessed in index pivotals.
 
In addition to weak worldwide markets, weak earnings from India Inc and lower economic data have also contributed to today’s downfall.

Realty stocks were severely hit followed by metal and banking stocks.

Merchandise exports from India shrunk 1% in December, 2008 and stood at $12.7 billion, as against $ 12.82 billion during the corresponding period of the last year.

Bangkok  - Southeast Asia Energy Ltd, a Thai-owned hydropower project in Laos, is preparing to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand later this year, media reports said Monday.

Ch Karnchang, a Thai construction firm that owns the plant, is seeking a financial adviser for helping with the listing, which would become the first such cross-border listing of a company from Indochina on the Thai bourse, The Nation newspaper reported.

The company needs funding to complete the Nam Ngum II hydropower plant. The plant on the Nam Ngum River, a major tributary of the Mekong, is to generate 615 megawatts of electricity to be sold to Thailand.

The Bangkok bourse has a target to attract at least 40 firms from Indochina - Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Monday morning trading lower as Japanese companies reported gloomy earnings results and downward revisions of full-year earnings projections.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged down 38.3 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 7,955.75.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was down 8.63 points, or 1.09 per cent, to 785.4.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 89.67-72 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 89.49-52 yen.