SEOUL, South Korea South Korean stocks declined sharply Thursday, falling for an eighth straight session after a big drop on Wall Street. (More)

PARIS The Air France-KLM Group said Thursday its profit plunged in the second quarter as higher oil prices and financial charges weighed on the airlines' earnings. (More)

TAIPEI, Taiwan Taiwan shares tumbled Thursday, weighed by Wall Street hitting a five-year low overnight and weakness on neighboring Asian bourses. (More)

SYDNEY, Australia Australia is in a good position to defend itself against the global economic crisis despite a bleak report that forecasts a possible recession in 2009, according to the central bank chief. (More)

MANILA, Philippines Philippine shares slid Thursday in step with regional and U.S. markets as the country's central bank pondered whether to cut interest rates to boost the economy. (More)

HANOI, Vietnam Vietnam has opened a new oil field that will boost national crude oil output by 21 percent by the end of this year, officials said. (More)

TOKYO Japanese exports marked their biggest decline seven years in October, causing the country to post its second trade deficit in three months, adding to the grim outlook for the world's second-largest economy. (More)

TOKYO Isuzu Motors Ltd. will shed all temporary and part-time manufacturing workers, a spokeswoman said Thursday, the latest of Japan's automakers to scale back production as overseas demand fades. (More)

LIMA, Peru President Alan Garcia says Peru has completed negotiations on a free trade agreement with China. (More)

LIMA, Peru Peru's foreign minister says his country hopes that a bilateral investment accord to be signed this week with Japan can open the door to a free trade pact with the Asian nation. (More)