1. Duit (3 x 15)

1. Duit (3 x 15)

Asian monies up,
but intervention
fears linger

Asian monies up, but intervention fears linger

Asian currencies were stronger on Friday in the wake of the
dollar's overnight weakness against major rivals, especially the
yen, which provides broad direction to regional units.

Buoyant equity markets also helped support Asian currencies.

But gains were tempered by Japanese government warnings
against the yen's rise. Market players also kept a wary eye on
intervention by central banks in the region.

2. Soft (2 x 33)

Microsoft to pay $750m for
Netscape; makes deals with AOL

Microsoft to pay $750m for Netscape claim; makes deals with AOL

Microsoft will pay US$750 million to AOL Time Warner to settle a
suit claiming the software giant used its monopoly to crush
Netscape Communications, now a part of the AOL group, the firms
announced on Thursday.

The two companies, longtime rivals in the tech sector, also
announced plans to work together in several areas in an effort to
bury the hatchet.

Netscape, the onetime Internet star and the most visible
victim of Microsoft in the "browser wars," filed suit in January
2002 claiming its woes were the result of "anticompetitive
conduct."

3. Stock (2 x 20)

Asian stocks hit highs
on Nasdaq rally

Asian stocks hit multi-month highs on Nasdaq rally

Asian stocks clambered to multi-month peaks on Friday after hopes
for a U.S. economic recovery shoved the Nasdaq Composite Index to
a near-one-year high on Wall Street.

Tokyo's Nikkei stock average racked up its highest close since
March 24, firming 0.6 percent to 8,424.51, as technology shares
tracked gains in their U.S. peers.

4. Asia (1 x 44)

China, India lead in dominating urban landscape

China, India lead Asia's charge to dominate urban landscape

China and India are poised to stamp Asia's reputation as being
one of the most exciting and prosperous regions to live, an
industry monitor said on Thursday.

Of the 24 cities singled out as future rising urban stars,
eight are in China and three are in India, property consultant
Jones Lang LaSalle said.