TOKYO, March 28- U.S. crude futures hovered above $96 a barrel early on Thursday as markets awaited the reopening of banks in Cyprus to an expected flood of depositors after a harsh rescue deal to avert financial collapse.
*Bank Negara Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz holds media conference on " Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for Asia" conference, Hall 1, Ground Floor, Sasana Kijang, Kuala Lumpur at 530 pm. *Bursa Malaysia Bhd convenes 36th annual general meeting, Tun Dr Ismail Hall, Level 2, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur at 2 pm.
March 27- Indonesia- based oil and gas shipping company, PT Berlian Laju Tanker, filed for Chapter 15 creditor protection in a U.S. bankruptcy court on Tuesday, days after it reached a deal with creditors to restructure its $1.9 billion debt.
SINGAPORE, March 27- Asia's fuel oil cash differentials were steady on Wednesday, as market fundamentals are balanced with higher Western inflows in a maintenance season in Asia and Middle East.
BANGKOK, March 27- The main Philippine index scaled a record high on Wednesday after Fitch Ratings upgraded the country's sovereign rating to investment grade and the Indonesian index closed at an all-time high after the appointment of a new central bank governor.
*Manila wins investment grade credit rating for first time. By Rosemarie Francisco and Karen Lema. MANILA, March 27- Fitch Ratings raised the Philippines' credit rating to investment grade on Wednesday, a first for the Southeast Asian nation, in a move expected to boost investment and lift the country's long-term growth potential.
Earlier this year, Garuda's low-cost unit Citilink ordered 25 Airbus A320 aircraft worth around $2.4 billion at list prices, as the competition heated up for Indonesia's budget airlines.
JAKARTA, March 27- Indonesia will miss its ambitious goal to be self-sufficient in soybeans by next year due to a shortage of convertible land, its agriculture minister said, signalling the nation will continue to rely heavily on imports of the meat substitute.
*Manila wins investment grade credit rating for first time. By Rosemarie Francisco and Karen Lema. MANILA, March 27- Fitch Ratings raised the Philippines' credit rating to investment grade on Wednesday, a first for the Southeast Asian nation, in a move expected to boost investment and lift the country's long-term growth potential.
CLSA Asia Pacific Markets slashed its recommendation on PT AKR Corporindo to' outperform' from' buy', saying the petrol logistics company's weaker fuel volumes led to soft 2012 results.
By Andjarsari Paramaditha and Randy Fabi. JAKARTA, March 27- The Indonesian share market hit a record high on Wednesday after parliament gave approval for Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo to move over to head the central bank, with attention turning to who might succeed him at the finance ministry.
JAKARTA, March 27- Indonesia's benchmark share index extended gains to hit an all time high at 4,907.3 by midday Wednesday after parliament approved Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo's proposed switch to become the next head of the central bank. Lenders Bank Mandiri and Bank Central Asia.
JAKARTA, March 27- Indonesia's benchmark share index extended gains to hit an all time high at 4,907.3 by midday Wednesday after parliament approved Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo's proposed switch to become the next head of the central bank. Lenders Bank Mandiri and Bank Central Asia.
WELLINGTON, March 27- New Zealand's Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, plans to sell its own branded infant milk formula in China by mid-year, playing catch-up with other global diary companies already operating in the booming, high-margin market.
*China dominates, but can BRICS coalesce as a group? DURBAN, South Africa, March 27- At a summit in South Africa on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin likened the BRICS nations- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa- to Africa's "Big Five" game beasts of trophy hunting lore- the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros.
WELLINGTON, March 27- New Zealand's Fonterra, the world's largest dairy exporter, plans to sell its own branded infant milk formula in China by mid-year, playing catch-up with other global diary companies already operating in the booming, high-margin market.
By Andjarsari Paramaditha and Adriana Nina Kusuma. JAKARTA, March 26- Indonesia's parliament approved Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo on Tuesday to become the next head of the central bank, taking over monetary policy in one of the world's fast growing economies.
SINGAPORE, March 27- BOC Aviation Pte Ltd, a Singapore- based aircraft leasing firm owned by Bank of China Ltd, said its net profit rose 12 percent to a record $225 million last year, boosted by new plane deliveries and a strong order pipeline. The bulk of the deliveries will be in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.