Asian shares fall as global economy fears return

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in May, gained 33 cents to $105.68 per barrel in the morning while Brent North Sea crude for May was up 41 cents at $123.55 ------------------------------------------------------- HONG KONG: Asian markets tumbled on Friday after worse-than-expected economic data from China and Europe stoked fresh concerns over global growth, bringing an end to a recent spell of optimism. Tokyo fell 0.98 percent by the break, Hong Kong slipped 1.00 percent, Sydney shed 0.20 percent, Shanghai lost 0.40 percent and Seoul was 0.24 percent lower. News on Thursday that manufacturing activity in China, the world’s number two economy, had hit a four-month low was compounded later in the day...

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No faith in trial of US massacre suspect: Afghan Taliban

KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban said on Friday that the militant group had no faith in any trial for the US soldier suspected of gunning down 17 civilians in a volatile southern province, and vowed revenge. “This was a planned activity and we will certainly take revenge on all American forces in Afghanistan and don’t trust such trials,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location. US Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killing Afghan civilians in a shooting rampage in Kandahar province last week, will be charged with 17 counts of murder, a US official said on Thursd...

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Oil prices higher in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asian trade Thursday on data showing an improvement in US employment numbers as concerns over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East lingered. New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in May, gained 33 cents to $105.68 per barrel while Brent North Sea crude for May settlement was up 12 cents at $123.26. “Oil has gone higher, supported by economic optimism in the United States and also concern about supply from Iran,” said Ken Hasegawa, energy desk manager at Newedge brokerage in Japan. US government data released on Thursday showed that claims for unemployment benefits fell to a fresh four-year low last week, pointing towards a recovery in the country’s depressed labour market. The...

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