1. GM and union reach deal to end nationwide strike
The American car manufacturer General Motors and the United Auto Workers union say they’ve reached a tentative deal to end a nationwide strike which began several days ago. General Motors said a new national contract would include a historic agreement to cover the cost of workers’ health care after they retire.:

2. Japanese share prices close slightly higher
Japanese share prices closed higher as some buyers emerged hoping for an end to weeks of political uncertainty with a new government in place. With Wall Street offering no clear lead overnight the stock market cautiously welcomed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s new government despite some doubts about his appetite for economic reform. The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Nikkei index edged up 34 points to 16435.

3. Singapore tops World Bank ratings for best place to do business
Singapore once again topped the World Bank’s ranks for the best place in the world to do business. Singapore unseated New Zealand in the annual rankings last year. In the latest report New Zealand held on to the number-two spot ahead of the United States in third place. Hong Kong Denmark Britain Canada Ireland Australia and Iceland rounded out the top 10 places for ease of doing business in the survey of 178 economies. China stood out for implementing far-reaching new private property rights and a new bankruptcy law.

4. Hang Seng closes 121 lower
The Hang Seng Index ended the day at 26430 - that’s down 121 points on the previous close. In currenciesthe American dollar’s trading at 114.64 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 65 cents.

5. Hang Seng lower
A short time ago the Hang Seng index was 26448 - that’s down 103 points on the previous close. In currencies the American dollar’s trading at 114.71 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 63 cents.

6. Hang Seng 29 higher in morning trading
The Hang Seng Index ended the morning at 26580 - that’s up 29 points on the last close. Turnover was just under 75 billion dollars.

7. Hang Seng lower
A short time ago the Hang Seng index was 26509 - that’s down 42 points on the previous close. In currencies the American dollar’s trading at 114.69 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 66 cents.

8. Hong Kong share prices open lower
Hong Kong share prices opened lower as falls on Wall Street helped pushed down the main index. The Hang Seng Index opened down 163 points at 26388. Cathay and Air China shares fell sharply after resuming trade following Cathay’s announcement it had dropped plans to buy a stake in China Eastern Airlines. Trade was also cautious ahead of a public holiday Wednesday. Comments by the International Monetary Fund also prompted investors to lock in profits. It’s has warned that the credit upheaval hurting financial markets would likely be protracted.

9. Wall Street shifts to reverse after GM workers strike
Wall Street shares made a U-turn and closed lower as a strike at auto giant General Motors prompted investors to lock in profits from last week’s sizzling performance. At the closing bell the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 61.05 points (0.44 percent) at 13759.14 after giving back gains of more than 50 points in early trade. The tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 3.27 points (0.12 percent) to 2667.95 and the broad-market Standard & Poor’s 500 index retreated 8.02 points (0.33 percent) to a preliminary close of 1517.93.

10. GM workers strike to protest failed contract talks
Some 73000 workers at General Motors plants across the United States have walked out on strike after contract talks broke down over the issue of health-care costs. Holding signs that said “UAW on strike” thousands of United Auto Workers members streamed out of plants 10 days after their contract expired. GM said it was disappointed in the UAW’s decision to call a national strike and pledged to continue focusing efforts on reaching an agreement as soon as possible. It is the first strike at the struggling automaker’s plants since 1998 when plants across North America were shuttered for 53 days costing GM some two billion dollars.

11. GM and union reach deal to end nationwide strike
The American car manufacturer General Motors and the United Auto Workers union say they’ve reached a tentative deal to end a nationwide strike which began several days ago. General Motors said a new national contract would include a historic agreement to cover the cost of workers’ health care after they retire.:

12. Japanese share prices close slightly higher
Japanese share prices closed higher as some buyers emerged hoping for an end to weeks of political uncertainty with a new government in place. With Wall Street offering no clear lead overnight the stock market cautiously welcomed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s new government despite some doubts about his appetite for economic reform. The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Nikkei index edged up 34 points to 16435.

13. Singapore tops World Bank ratings for best place to do business
Singapore once again topped the World Bank’s ranks for the best place in the world to do business. Singapore unseated New Zealand in the annual rankings last year. In the latest report New Zealand held on to the number-two spot ahead of the United States in third place. Hong Kong Denmark Britain Canada Ireland Australia and Iceland rounded out the top 10 places for ease of doing business in the survey of 178 economies. China stood out for implementing far-reaching new private property rights and a new bankruptcy law.

14. Hang Seng closes 121 lower
The Hang Seng Index ended the day at 26430 - that’s down 121 points on the previous close. In currenciesthe American dollar’s trading at 114.64 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 65 cents.

15. Hang Seng lower
A short time ago the Hang Seng index was 26448 - that’s down 103 points on the previous close. In currencies the American dollar’s trading at 114.71 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 63 cents.

16. Hang Seng 29 higher in morning trading
The Hang Seng Index ended the morning at 26580 - that’s up 29 points on the last close. Turnover was just under 75 billion dollars.

17. Hang Seng lower
A short time ago the Hang Seng index was 26509 - that’s down 42 points on the previous close. In currencies the American dollar’s trading at 114.69 yen. The euro is standing at 1 American dollar 40 cents. And the pound is worth 15 Hong Kong dollars 66 cents.

18. Hong Kong share prices open lower
Hong Kong share prices opened lower as falls on Wall Street helped pushed down the main index. The Hang Seng Index opened down 163 points at 26388. Cathay and Air China shares fell sharply after resuming trade following Cathay’s announcement it had dropped plans to buy a stake in China Eastern Airlines. Trade was also cautious ahead of a public holiday Wednesday. Comments by the International Monetary Fund also prompted investors to lock in profits. It’s has warned that the credit upheaval hurting financial markets would likely be protracted.

19. Wall Street shifts to reverse after GM workers strike
Wall Street shares made a U-turn and closed lower as a strike at auto giant General Motors prompted investors to lock in profits from last week’s sizzling performance. At the closing bell the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 61.05 points (0.44 percent) at 13759.14 after giving back gains of more than 50 points in early trade. The tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 3.27 points (0.12 percent) to 2667.95 and the broad-market Standard & Poor’s 500 index retreated 8.02 points (0.33 percent) to a preliminary close of 1517.93.

20. GM workers strike to protest failed contract talks
Some 73000 workers at General Motors plants across the United States have walked out on strike after contract talks broke down over the issue of health-care costs. Holding signs that said “UAW on strike” thousands of United Auto Workers members streamed out of plants 10 days after their contract expired. GM said it was disappointed in the UAW’s decision to call a national strike and pledged to continue focusing efforts on reaching an agreement as soon as possible. It is the first strike at the struggling automaker’s plants since 1998 when plants across North America were shuttered for 53 days costing GM some two billion dollars.