The Bank of Japan decided Thursday to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 0.5% for the sixth month in a row.
While Wall Street closed Thursday trading down 0.4% and the Federal Reserve pumped an additional 17 billion US dollars in China the stock market capped a bull run, with the Shanghai Composite Index hitting 5,000 points for the first time while Hong Kong shares rallied to a three- week high.
China accused the United States on Thursday of becoming increasingly protectionist, as it hit back following a wave of high-profile trade disputes and export safety scandals.
Headlnes:
Cherie takes first Status pledge; Smiles abound as kids make the college grade; West ferry terminal uncertainty remains; 'Jail break' investigation.
The protection zones around two farms at the centre of the foot-and-mouth outbreak will be lifted at noon.
Wheat prices hit record highs this week. Bad weather in key grain growing areas such as Canada and parts of Europe has limited supplies as demand has risen, sparking fears of a supply shortfall and threats of rising bread prices.
Argentina's July industrial production grew 2.7% over the same month a year ago and actually declined 2.1% compared to June 2007 because of the energy crisis which forced many factories to reduce production, according to the latest release from the country's Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Argentina's cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez promised union leaders on Friday that the controversial Consumer Prices Index, CPI, will be transparent as of next October because the government is intent on ensuring the chances of presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, reports La Nacion.
British Airways Plc and Korean Air Lines Co pleaded guilty in US court this week to a global price-fixing conspiracy and were each fined 300 million US dollars.
United States President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderón pledged closer economic and security relationships but disagreements were also present as was a lame duck atmosphere.