Equities across the region fell into the red on Wednesday as investors held back ahead of the release of key US jobs data

Threat to glaciers revealed amid news of heat records in 15 nations this year, while the UN accuses fossil fuel firms of trying to slow the transition to clean energy

Increased hopes that the US will dodge a recession and shortening odds on a Fed rate cut soon encouraged risk-taking

A wave of positivity over the US economy and possible rate cuts lifted equities across the region but also fired Japan’s currency higher

China’s decision to restrict exports of antimony from mid-September could push the metal's price to $30,000 a ton, traders say

Antimony is used as a hardener in lead for storage batteries, plus alloys with lead and tin to improve solders and bullets, and in semiconductor devices

Fresh inflation data reassured investors the US Federal Reserve could finally start cutting rates next month

Clouds over the political outlook could hit policies like the 'digital wallet' and plans for legalized casinos, but the caretaker government claims the budget will not be delayed

Some 73 companies are now on the US blacklist. New additions include Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group in Hong Kong and Century Sunshine Group, which make magnesium fertilizer and alloy products.

Russia and China are looking at bilateral barter deals, as a way to avoid use of international banking systems, which can be monitored, trade sources say

Indexes across the region recovered more of their Monday losses as an air of calm returned to trading floors

The Nikkei in Japan suffers its biggest ever one-day loss, plummeting by a whopping 13%, while Taiwanese and Korean shares both sank by more than 8%.