RPT-GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks, dollar gain; Sony jumps 9 pct - at Reuters - 36 minutes ago
Asian shares and the dollar rose on Thursday after investors welcomed benign U.S. inflation data as a sign the Federal Reserve will have more wiggle room to deal with the downturn in the world's biggest economy.

UPDATE - Mexico group warns tortilla prices to jump - at Reuters - 49 minutes ago
The price of tortillas, a politically sensitive issue in Mexico where the corn pancakes are eaten more often than bread, is expected to jump about 18 percent by June on rising costs for fuel and corn, a major industry group said on Wednesday.

UPDATE - Samsung, LG Elec hit records on outlook, won - at Reuters - 54 minutes ago
Shares in South Korea's top electronics makers Samsung and LG jumped to fresh records on Thursday powered by strong earnings outlooks and the deepening weakness of the local currency.

UPDATE - Japan machinery orders slide, clouding outlook - at Reuters - 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
Japan's core private-sector machinery orders, a key gauge of corporate capital spending, slid to their lowest in almost three years in March, with manufacturers predicting more declines ahead, adding to worries that flagging capital spending will stymie growth.

Nikkei rises 1 pct to 4-month high as Sony jumps - at Reuters - 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
Japan's Nikkei share average rose 1 percent to a four-month high on Thursday, with Sony Corp jumping 9 percent on its bigger-than-expected outlook.

Brazil cuts wheat sector taxes to ease inflation - at Reuters - Wed 8:11 pm ET
Brazil temporarily slashed taxes charged on the local wheat sector in a bid to ease inflation pressures from food prices, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Wednesday.

US eyes $25 mln Raytheon missile sale to S. Korea - at Reuters - Wed 7:30 pm ET
The Bush administration has told Congress it tentatively plans to sell South Korea some 50 Raytheon Co AIM-9X "Sidewinder" missiles valued at up to $25 million.