JP/18/Money

Malaysia's trade surplus in September dropped 14.6 percent from a year earlier as the slowing global economy drove down exports by 21.1 percent, the government said Thursday. It was the 47th consecutive month since November 1997 that Malaysia had registered a surplus, but the figure was down to 5.3 billion ringgit (US$1.4 billion) from 6.2 billion ringgit in September 2000, the Statistics Department said. -- AFP

South Korea's trade surplus in October fell to US$742 million, down from an $886-million surplus a month earlier, with the ongoing downturn in exports intensifying, officials said Thursday. -- AFP

Cambodia said on Thursday it had pulled out of the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Qatar due to security concerns in the wake of U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan. "Qatar is close to Afghanistan and authorities there may not be able to ensure the delegates' security," Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said. -- Reuters

Vietnam plans to export 4 million tons of rice in 2002, 8.1 percent more than this year's target, official media reported Thursday. Overall, the country expects to produce 31.7 million tons of unpolished rice next year, up from 31.4 million tons this year, the Vietnam News Agency said. -- AP

Reclusive North Korea has taken a tiny step into the future with a trial subscription e-mail service linking its citizens with the outside world, it was revealed on Thursday. Silibank (www.silibank.com), a trial e-mail service with mail servers in Pyongyang and the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, began trial service on October 8, the site said. -- Reuters

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering the creation of a new financial watchdog to clamp down on money laundering and other illegal banking activity in Russia, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday. -- AFP

Thailand kicked off its inaugural rice convention Thursday, hosting some 200 importers from across the globe in a move to promote the industry which is on target to set a new export record this year. Thai Rice Exporters Association manager Somboon Phathaichan said the international conference in Bangkok, which runs till Wednesday, will bring rice importers together with local exporters. -- AFP