as Hong Kong stocks rose but Tokyo shares fell after a four-day rally as traders sold off recent gainers such as precision equipment and electronics makers. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 105.15 points, or 0.4 percent, to 25,618.
TOKYO -- Japan's economy grew at a faster than expected 3.3 percent annualized pace in the first quarter of 2008 despite a global credit crunch and U.S. economic slowdown, official figures showed Friday.
Permalink: by Peter Charalambous It is highly probable that the Bank of Japan will keep interest rates on hold next week after growth estimates had been cut back, as well as a u-turn on their two year policy of increasing borrowing costs.
Permalink: by Elaine Frei The US dollar was weaker versus the euro and the yen on Friday on a decline in US consumer confidence and on a spike to a new record high of $127.82 per barrel for crude oil prices in New York.
): The yen rose across the board on Thursday as investors reduced demand for riskier assets such as stocks after a series of weak US economic data added to anxiety over the country's growth picture.
Japan 
