UPDATE 2-Japan cuts in Iran crude imports could be over 20 pct-media

TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Japan is in final talks with
Washington on an agreement on cuts in Iranian crude oil imports
that could amount to a higher-than-expected 20 percent or more a
year, a newspaper reported on Thursday, as Tokyo seeks to win
waiver…

Australia’s Fairfax says delighted with Rinehart stake

MELBOURNE, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Australia’s Fairfax
Media Ltd said it is delighted billionaire Gina
Rinehart has joined its share registry and has no concerns over
the change.

Nikkei eases from six-mth high but still above 9,500

* Nikkei down 0.2 pct, eases from 6-month high
* Mazda shed 8 pct on 162 bln yen share offering plans
* Banks drop in line with decline in U.S. financials
* Euro zone economic contraction worries market

By Mari Saito
TOKYO, Feb 23…

Shui On Land plans commercial property asset spin-off -paper

HONG KONG, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Chinese property
developer Shui On Land Ltd plans to seek a separate
listing of its commercial property asset on the Hong Kong stock
exchange, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported on Thursday,
citing a senior executive….

Malaysia’s Bank Islam may assume listing status of parent-paper

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s oldest
Islamic lender Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd may assume the listing
status of its parent company BIMB Holdings Bhd, the
Business Times said on Thursday, citing unidentified sources.

UPDATE 4-Argentine commuter train crashes, killing 49 people

* More than 600 hurt, most still being treated in hospital

SGX says will review Ex-China Sky director reprimand

SINGAPORE, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Singapore Exchange Ltd
(SGX) has said it will consider withdrawing its public
reprimand of a former director of under-fire China Sky Chemical
Fibre Co Ltd after he sued the bourse in the
city-state’s High Court.

TEXT: Fitch Affirms Maxis Loan Securitisation Fund 2009-1

SYDNEY, February 22 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has today affirmed
one class of bonds issued through Maxis Loan Securitisation Fund
2009-1 (Maxis 2009-1), as detailed below. The transaction is a
securitisation of Australian conforming residential mortgages
o…

REFILE-UPDATE 4-Obama urges US corporate tax cut, closing loopholes

* President seeks 28 pct corporate rate, down from 35 pct
* Proposal is Obama’s first tax overhaul package
* Analysts see remote chance of election-year action
* Romney proposes 25 pct corporate rate

By Kim Dixon and Rachelle Younglai…

Hong Kong shares to open down 0.9 pct, financials weak

HONG KONG, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Hong Kong shares were
set to open lower on Thursday, dragged by weakness in financial
stocks on renewed fears about slowing global growth after data
from the euro zone and China and oil prices hit a 9-month high.

Struggling Floridians line up for a chance to keep homes

* One woman collapses in tears at mortgage-mending session

TEXT: S&PBulletin: Ratings On Suncorp Cos. Unchanged After 1H Result

MELBOURNE (Standard & Poor’s) Feb. 23, 2012–Standard &
Poor’s Ratings Services said today that its ‘A+/Stable/–’
issuer credit and financial strength ratings on the core
operating companies of Suncorp Group Ltd. (Suncorp, A/Stable/–)
are unchanged f…

Hong Kong shares seen lower on global growth worries

HONG KONG, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Hong Kong shares were
set to start lower on Thursday, with sectors most sensitive to
global growth expected to face pressure from data from the euro
zone and China and oil prices hitting a 9-month high.
On Wednesd…

UPDATE 1-HSBC stops providing another private banking service in Japan

TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – HSBC on Thursday
started withdrawing from its private banking service in Japan
for clients who hold more than 10 million yen ($124,500) in
financial assets.

U.S. SEC chief backs bill on lawmaker insider trading

* SEC’s Schapiro endorses insider-trading curb for lawmakers

JPMorgan eyes mobile payments, invests in GoPago

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) – JPMorgan Chase & Co
plans to start testing a mobile payments service in
April using an application from GoPago Inc, a start-up in which
the bank is making a cash investment.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Markets ease, focus moves to growth, oil

* MSCI Asia ex-Japan down 0.2 pct, Nikkei opens down 0.04
pct

UK regulator admits errors in Tchenguiz probe -FT

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Britain’s Serious Fraud
Office has admitted to “very regrettable errors” in its handling
of the investigation of property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz, the
Financial Times reported on Wednesday, clearing Tchenguiz of any
potentia…

UK’s Cameron pleads for end to business bashing

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister
David Cameron will leap to the defence of big business on
Thursday in the government’s latest attempt to calm a public and
political backlash against bankers and highly-paid executives at
large companie…

WRAPUP 1-Oil cos see higher 2012 output, gas-focused cos cut view

Feb 22 (Reuters) – Oil and gas producers including
Concho Resources and Whiting Petroleum Corp
forecast higher production in 2012, but others such as Penn
Virginia Corp expect lower output as they cut natural
gas production amid low prices.