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Focuses on the efforts of credit-rating companies to accurately assess the credit risks of Chinese corporations. Increase in demand for credit ratings -- an assessment of how willing and able a borrower is to repay debts -- resulting from Chinese companies demand for international investors; Discussion of accounting standards and corporate governance of Chinese companies, suggesting credit-rating research may be based on misleading financial statements; Comments from Brian Colton of Fimalac SA's Fitch Ratings, regarding the conflicting economic data issued by the government of China; Potential of the Chinese market, suggesting the accurate assessment of its corporations is key to investors.

Focuses on the initial public offering (IPO) of China Netcom Corp., one of China's big four telephone companies. Comments from Frank Au, managing director of Latitude Capital Group, regarding the diminishing appeal of China for foreign investors; Details of China Netcom's IPO announcement, the size of which has been downgraded; Discussion of the China's National Audit Office performing an audit of China Netcom's financial condition; Factors leading to the lack of investor interest in Chinese IPOs.

Reports on the competition between Anheuser-Busch and SABMiller regarding the acquisition of Harbin Brewery Group.

Reports on the acquisition of Harbin Brewery Group Ltd. by Anheuser-Busch Cos. as of June 4, 2004.

Reports on the increase in stake offered by Anheuser-Busch Cos. for the takeover of Harbin Brewery Group which tops a hostile offer by rival brewer SABMiller PLC.

Deals with the advertising strategy of Bank Mandiri in Indonesia to free itself from the old way of doing business.

Reports on a decline in the stock performance of some property developers in Hong Kong, China for the first-half of 2004.

Provides information on the value of shares sold by several Chinese companies to international investors as of April 26, 2005.

Focuses on the lax regulations at Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, where Chinese companies with dubious business practices are looking to raise cash. How oversight of new stock listings are handled on the stock exchange, suggesting their is little incentive to bar companies from being listed; Belief among American investors about Chinese companies trading on Hong Kong's stock exchange; Impact of competition among Asian stock exchanges; Comments from Jamie Allen, secretary general of the Asian Corporate Governance Association, regarding the Hong Kong government's lack of regulatory action.

Reports on the performance of several Chinese initial public offerings in 2004 which affect the interest of investors.

Assesses the risk of Citigroup Inc. to offer credit cards in China that can be settled in either American dollars are Chinese yuan, allowing the bank to extend credit to Chinese consumers. Potential benefits to be accrued by Citigroup related to retail-banking and brand loyalty; Number Chinese citizens holding credit cards, indicating a large untapped market, according to management consultants McKinsey & Co.; Assessment of China's financial system, indicating the risks associated with market entry in an immature consumer-credit culture; Potential problems in China, including bank fraud, limited market-research and counterfeiting; Discussion of consumer-credit bubbles in South Korea and Hong Kong, resulting in unrecoverable loans.

Reports on the increase in the profits posted by HSBC Holdings PLC in 2003 due to its acquisitions outside Great Britain.

Examines the stock valuation of Chinese companies and the similarities between those and the technology stocks in the U.S. during the 1990s before the technology-bubble burst. Comments from Mark Madden, manager of Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund, who has been selling shares in Chinese companies, regarding Chinese stocks; Comparison of the Chinese market as measured by the Morgan Stanley Capital International China Index in 2003 and the Nasdaq of 1999, indicating similar growth; Comments from Qu Hongbin, an analyst at HSBC Bank in Hong Kong, regarding the potential for investors to get burned by Chinese stocks; Examples of stock prices, illustrating how off-kilter the valuation is in China.

Reports on the investment of China into its four large state-owned banks to prepare them for initial public offerings overseas in 2004.

Presents news briefs in the Asia Pacific as of January 2, 2004 such as a protest staged by demonstrators in Hong Kong, China to demand greater freedom and full elections.

Reports on the plan of the government of Hong Kong, China to sell partial stakes or securitize revenues from assets to help reduce a budget deficit as of October 17, 2003.

Presents an update on economic and political issues in the Asia Pacific Region as of October 13, 2003, including the arrest of suspected terrorists by Pakistani authorities.

Reports on the steps taken by China to allow privately-owned banks to compete against state banks.

Presents news briefs in Asia as of September 8, 2003, including the efforts of Bank of China Hong Kong Ltd. to tighten its lending practices.

Reports on the announcement of Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge that economic growth in Canada will be very weak in both the second and third quarters of 2003 due to outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome and mad cow disease.

Reports on the potential decriminalization of the personal use of small amounts of marijuana in Canada, as of May 28, 2003.

Reports on the decision of economists to revise their growth forecast for Canada in 2003, including information on the economic condition of the country.

Presents an update on the trading of Canadian dollar as of May 2, 2003.

Reports on the actions being taken by the Canadian government to increase security at its seaports as of April 21, 2003.

Reports on the reason of the Bank of Canada for raising the target for overnight interest rate to 3.25 percent from three percent.

Discusses the proposal that diamonds be judged and valued as a result of their country of origin. Plight of Canadians to distinguish their precious stones from the stones mined under armed force in poor conditions in Africa; Views from Oren Sofer, the chief executive of Beny Sofer & Sons LLC; How certain companies engrave Canadian symbols on their diamonds; Use of certificates for each diamond mined in Canada.

Reports on the negotiations conducted by Air Canada with potential investors interested in acquiring an equity stake in the carrier as of April 2003.

Reports on the decision of airline company Air Canada to file for bankruptcy protection in Canadian and U.S. courts on April 1, 2003.

Reports on the plan of the Canadian city of Vancouver in British Columbia to open safe-injection sites for heroin users.

Deals with the strain caused by the shortage of drug supply in Canada due to the growth of Canadian Internet pharmacies serving U.S. consumers as of March 31, 2003.

Deals with the concerns of Canadian business enterprises and executives over the impact of their government's handling of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Reports on the reaction of pharmacies to the move of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to crack down on shipments of pharmaceuticals from Canada into the U.S. in 2003.

Reports the imposition of a preliminary countervailing duties by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Canadian hard red spring and durum wheat in March 2003.

Reports the increase in the interest rate of the Bank of Canada in March 2003.

Reports on the decline in Canada's exports for the fourth quarter of 2002.

Reports on an improvement in the ailing dollar and money market of Canada as of February 26, 2003.

Presents business related news briefs in Canada as of February 26, 2003, including its revised transportation regulations.

Profiles Walter Ostanek, a professional accordionist who has been nominated for a Grammy award for "Best Polka Album." Grammy awards which have been won by Ostanek in polka music; Performances of Ostanek in Canada at community centers and union halls; Celebrities whom Ostanek has met at the Grammy Awards, including B.B. King and Tony Bennett; Stay of Ostanek in Manhattan, N.Y., where the Grammy Awards show is held at Madison Square Garden.

Presents news briefs on Venezuelan oil exports and Canadian budget as of February 19, 2003.

Reports on the plan of Canadian and U.S. regulators to impose order on the sale of cheap online drugs.

Reports on the losses posted by Air Canada for the fourth quarter of 2002 and its plans to cut labor costs as of February 7, 2003.

Provides information on the outlook of Bank of Canada on the Canadian economic growth.

Presents updates on business in the Americas as of January 23, 2002 that include the move of Brazil's central bank to increase interest rates.

Deals with the decision of GlaxoSmithKline to prohibit Canadian pharmacies from selling Glaxo products outside Canada as of January 2003.

Deals with the warning issued by GlaxoSmithKline PLC to Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers that are exporting Glaxo products to the U.S.

Focuses on a conflict between the U.S. and Canadian governments in relation to the anti-terrorism efforts of the U.S. government.

Deals with the efforts of high technology firms to seek government tenants to fill empty office spaces in Ottawa, Ontario.

Reports on the decision of Canada's Supreme Court that United States' Harvard University cannot patent in Canada a mouse genetically altered to develop cancer.

Presents business updates in Latin America as of December 4, 2002, such as a strike led by several organizations in Venezuela demanding the resignation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Reports on the economic growth in Canada for the third quarter of 2002.