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• Good Time for Asian Companies to Buy Into Europe: Pro

  

  The first half of this year may have ended on a somber note for global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and it was no different for Asia. Deal volumes were down almost 30 percent on year across the region. But according to one analyst that doesn't mean there aren't good investment options for companies out there.

• Asian Banks Better Positioned Than Western Ones: Pro

  

  The absence of an Asian name in the list of financial institutions, which saw their credit ratings cut by Moody’s on Thursday, highlights the strength of the region’s banking sector, says one analyst.

• Don't Tinker With Dollar Peg, Experts Warn Hong Kong

  

  The suggestion overnight by the former head of Hong Kong's central bank that the city state should review its peg to the U.S. dollar and instead think of linking it to the yuan, has not been applauded in the city's financial circles.

• Looking to Add European Assets: First Eastern Chairman

  

  Victor Chu, the Chairman of Hong Kong based private equity firm, First Eastern Investment Group said he’s looking to add more European assets that may be trading at fire-sale prices because of the region’s debt crisis.

• Apple Stock at $1,000? Analysts Say Within Two Years

  

  Apple's stock will top $1,000 within a two-year timeframe, driven by the possible launches of iPhone 5 and an Apple TV before Christmas, as well the tech giant's relationship with China Mobile to sell devices in the world's largest mobile-phone market, analysts tell CNBC.

• Why Investors Should Be Wary of Prada’s Surging Stock

  Italian fashion house Prada’s shares surged on Friday after profit doubled in the first quarter but one expert says investors should be cautious after a 40 percent jump in the stock this year.

• Japan Stocks Cheaper Than US, but Strategists Are Wary

  

  Japan stocks, which have over the past five years been more expensive than American stocks, are now trading at lower price-to-earnings (PE) ratio than the S&P 500. The country’s economy is also growing faster than the U.S., yet strategists are not suggesting investors snap up Japanese equities.

• Tap China Consumer Growth via Prada, Apple: Pro  

  

  Investors hoping to cash in on the growth in the Chinese consumer sector should look at China-focused companies that are not listed in the mainland, says one expert.

• Could Evernote Be Acquired? Founder & CEO Says No

  

  Evernote, a U.S. mobile startup whose shareholders include NTT DoCoMo and Sequoia Capital, has no intention of being acquired and its owners have "no exit strategy", according to founder and CEO Phil Libin.

• Alibaba Needs 'Cash Coffer' to Compete in China: Pro

  

  As Alibaba Group's buyback of half of Yahoo's stake paves the way for a possible public listing for the Chinese internet giant, one strategist tells CNBC if the company wants to stay competitive in the domestic market it needs to expand, for which it must raise a lot of capital.

• China Home Prices to Fall Another 15% in Two Years: Barclays

  

  China's home prices recorded their seventh consecutive monthly fall in April, with one expert expecting up to 15 percent more downside in the near-term, putting property stocks under pressure.

• Japan in a ‘Sweet Spot’ as Growth Beats US, Europe

  

  Japan, the country synonymous with debt and deflation in recent years, posted the best growth rate among major industrialized nations in the first quarter and some analysts are predicting more upside for the economy from domestic demand.  

• China Stimulus May Limit Oil's Losses This Week: Survey

  

  Benchmark crude oil prices will extend losses this week as risk aversion stoked by lingering political uncertainty in Europe continues to haunt markets, CNBC's weekly survey of market sentiment showed.

• Delivering on Surplus Promise Daunting Task for Australia

  

  The Australian government has promised to return the nation’s budget to a surplus of A$1.5 billion ($1.53 billion) as early as the next financial year, but a ratings agency, an analyst, and the opposition party told CNBC on Wednesday that it may not be easy for it to keep its word.

• Hang Seng Bank a Better Bet Than Parent HSBC: Pro

  

  Even as HSBC beat expectations with its first quarter results on Tuesday, one strategist says its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary Hang Seng Bank is a better bet for investors given its more attractive return on equity and lower cost base.

• Junk Rating for India a Done Deal

  

  The cut in India’s credit rating outlook to negative by ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has prompted market watchers to say that it is only a matter of time before India gets downgraded to junk status given its poor record in managing fiscal problems.

• US Fixation on Yuan 'Old', Let's Talk Market Access: Stephen Roach

  

  The U.S. fixation on China's currency is "old" and it is time the debate moved on to more important issues such as trade and market access, said Stephen Roach, the former Non-Executive Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia.

• US Treasurys Are ‘Junk,’ Dollar Headed for Collapse: Schiff

  

  The greenback and the U.S. bond market are headed for a collapse as the Federal Reserve loses the ability to service the nation’s debt with “artificially low” interest rates, Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital told CNBC on Wednesday.

• US Likely Added Only 125,000 Jobs in April: Goldman

  

  Goldman Sachs is turning increasingly bearish on the U.S. economy, expecting the nation to have added only 125,000 new jobs in April, as the effects of a warm winter, which buoyed employment late last year, wear off.

• IMF May Withhold Money to Ensure Europe Does More

  

  A potential change of government in France and the Netherlands is raising concerns that Europe may backtrack on the fiscal consolidation needed to deal with the region's debt crisis, but David Lipton, IMF's first deputy managing director told CNBC he's not that concerned, and said the organization won't lend money until it is sure governments are dedicated to policy changes.