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• INTERVIEW-China's Wanda aims to launch $1 bln NY hotel project this year -chairman Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 6:52 AM ET

  BEIJING, June 19- Wanda Group, China's largest commercial real estate developer, aims to invest about $1 billion to build a five-star hotel in New York as its third major investment outside its home market, Chairman Wang Jianlin said on Tuesday.

• METALS-Copper edges up in cautious trade ahead of Fed statement Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 6:19 AM ET

  *Copper, other markets, trade in recent ranges. LONDON, June 19- Copper edged up on Wednesday, but remained within a tight range near six-week lows, as investors held fire ahead of the conclusion of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting.

• EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks broadly weaker before Fed decision; rand firms Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 5:53 AM ET

  LONDON, June 19- The rand firmed to five-day highs on Wednesday after better-than-expected South African current account data but most other emerging assets were broadly weaker as investors awaited clarity on the U.S.

• PRECIOUS-Gold holds steady ahead of Fed policy statement Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 5:46 AM ET

  LONDON, June 19- Gold held steady on Wednesday ahead of the outcome of the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting, as traders awaited further guidance on the future of the U.S. central bank's quantitative easing programme. Gold broke below its recent trading range on Tuesday to slide 1.2 percent, its biggest one-day loss in nearly two weeks.

• Yuan ends slightly up, demand for it seen resilient Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 5:05 AM ET

  *Yuan gains slightly to close 6.1269/ dlr. SHANGHAI, June 19- China's yuan ended slightly stronger on Wednesday, despite data showing declining capital inflows, as dealers reported continued strong demand for the currency.

• Shanghai shares hit 6-mth low as easing hopes dashed, Hong Kong suffers too Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 4:53 AM ET

  *Mengniu spikes after $1.6 bln Yashili takeover offer. HONG KONG, June 19- Shanghai shares closed at their lowest since mid-December, exerting pressure on Hong Kong markets on Wednesday, as a cash squeeze in the mainland worsened and official news reports further dampened hopes for policy easing.

• UPDATE 2-GM revs up plans for Cadillac in China luxury market Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 4:49 AM ET

  SHANGHAI, June 19- General Motors Co's strategy to make its 110- year-old Cadillac brand one of China's top-selling luxury rides went up a gear on Wednesday as the U.S. automaker unveiled plans to expand its retail network in the world's largest car market.

• UPDATE 2-New CEO begins Alcatel make-over Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 4:24 AM ET

  *Plans 1 bln euro cost cuts, 1 bln euro asset sales. PARIS, June 19- Telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent plans to focus on networking products and high-speed broadband and will slim down with a billion euros in cost cuts by 2015 in a bid to reverse years of losses.

• Hong Kong shares end down 1.1 pct in 1st loss in 4 days Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 4:07 AM ET

  HONG KONG, June 19- Hong Kong shares had their first loss in four days, with cyclical counters hurt by dashed hopes for monetary easing in China and pressure on defensive plays ahead of policy statements by the U.S.

• Shanghai shares at new 6-mth closing low as easing hopes dashed Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 3:08 AM ET

  HONG KONG, June 19- Shanghai shares closed at a new six-month low on Wednesday, as a cash squeeze in mainland money markets worsened and official news reports dampened hopes for policy easing. The CSI300 of the leading Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings also shed 0.7 percent.

• PRECIOUS-Gold slips for 3rd day on rally in stocks, Fed caution Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:58 AM ET

  *Gold down 1.7 percent so far this week. SINGAPORE, June 19- Gold fell for a third straight session on Wednesday, hovering near the lowest level in four weeks, as a rally in stocks and investor caution over the Federal Reserve curbing its stimulus programme sapped support for bullion.

• Nikkei climbs to 1-week high on SoftBank, investment trust Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:49 AM ET

  *SoftBank gains after Dish says abandons Sprint bid. TOKYO, June 19- Japan's Nikkei average hit a one-week high on Wednesday, with traders citing the launch of a near $780 million investment trust as a driving factor, while SoftBank Corp rose as it looked likely to win the battle for Sprint Nextel.

• Yuan little changed, demand for it seen staying resilient Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:28 AM ET

  *Yuan at 6.1299/ dlr in early afternoon. SHANGHAI, June 19- China's yuan was little changed on Wednesday, despite data showing declining capital inflows, as dealers reported continued strong demand for the currency.

• UPDATE 2-Japan's exports pick up pace, give economy momentum in rough markets Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 1:26 AM ET

  *Japan logs trade deficit for 11th straight month. TOKYO, June 19- Japan's exports rose in May at the fastest annual rate in more than two years with the help of a weak yen and a moderate pick-up in global demand, boding well for the government's efforts to steer the economy through market turbulence.

• China shares test fresh 6-mth lows on dashed easing hopes, Hong Kong sinks Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 AM ET

  *Mengniu spikes after $1.6 bln Yashili takeover offer. HONG KONG, June 19- China shares tested six-month lows, sinking Hong Kong markets, as a cash squeeze in the mainland lingered and official news reports on Wednesday dampened hopes for policy easing.

• HIGHLIGHTS-Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by economy Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:19 PM ET

  SYDNEY, June 19- Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey published on Wednesday showed.

• UPDATE 1-Asia business sentiment rises in Q2, global growth risk still dominates Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:06 PM ET

  *Sentiment in China continues at record low. SEOUL, June 19- Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows.

• Nikkei rises 1.3 pct on weak yen, Fed hopes; Softbank soars Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 10:50 PM ET

  *Softbank soars after Dish abandons Sprint bid. The market also got a boost from Softbank Corp, which soared after Dish Network Corp said it would abandon a bid for Sprint Nextel.

• Nikkei rises to one-week high on Fed hopes; Softbank soars Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:49 PM ET

  *Softbank soars after Dish abandons Sprint bid. The market also got a boost from Softbank Corp, which soared after Dish Network Corp said it would abandon a bid for Sprint Nextel.

• METALS-London copper languishes near 1-1/2 mth low, Fed in focus Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:46 PM ET

  *Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was almost flat at $7,005 a tonne by 0113 GMT, after falling on Tuesday to its lowest since May 3 at $6,965.