Asian Stocks Rise the Most in Three Months on Takeovers; Posco, BHP Climb

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose the most in three
months, spurred by Rio Tinto Group's $38 billion bid for Alcan
Inc. and higher sales at U.S. retailers.

Posco surged by the most in four years and BHP Billiton Ltd.
climbed following Rio's offer. Samsung Electronics Co. jumped
after reporting better-than-expected earnings and a newspaper
said billionaire investor Carl Icahn may be planning a hostile
bid. South Korea's Kospi index, the region's best performer in
the past three months, advanced 2.8 percent to a new high.


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South Korea's Brokerage Shares Fall on Commission Cut Plan; Samsung Gains

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's Kospi index swung
between gains and losses. Daewoo Securities Co. dropped on
concern the government's plan to lower commissions on fund sales
will dent brokerages' profits.

Samsung Electronics Co. and Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
advanced on speculation flash-memory chip prices will rise.


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South Korean Stocks Gain More Than 1 Percent for Fourth Day; Samsung Gains

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced more than
1 percent for a fourth day. Samsung Electronics Co. gained on
speculation prices for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM,
will rise, helping improve earnings.

LG.Philips LCD Co. advanced after brokerages including
Citigroup Inc. said the company will turn to profit in the second
quarter.


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Asian Stocks Rise on Higher Chip Prices, Japan Exports; Samsung Leads Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks advanced for a sixth day,
the longest winning streak in almost eight months, after prices of
computer-memory chips jumped and a report today showed Japan's
export growth almost doubled in May.

Samsung Electronics Co. and Toshiba Corp. paced technology
shares higher, helping the Morgan Stanley Capital International
Asia Pacific Index to a record. China Mobile Ltd. led Hong Kong's
Hang Seng Index to a new high after the Chinese government gave
its approval for mainland brokerages to buy shares overseas.


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South Korean Exporter Shares Drop, Led by LG Electronics; Chipmakers Gain

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean exporter stocks fell
after higher U.S. bond yields fueled concern borrowing costs
will rise, slowing down the world's biggest economy. LG
Electronics Inc. led declines.

Samsung Electronics Co. advanced after prices of dynamic
random access memory, or DRAM, jumped to a six-week high,
raising speculation chipmakers' profits will improve.


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Asian Stocks Snap Five-Day Rally; Toyota and Samsung Electronics Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks fell for the first time in
six days after a higher-than-forecast increase in U.S. labor costs
fueled concern inflation will accelerate, prompting an increase in
interest rates.

The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific Index
retreated from a record high, following declines in the U.S. and
Europe. Toyota Motor Corp., which made more than one third of its
sales in North America last year, and Samsung Electronics Co.,
Asia's largest maker of chips, flat screens and mobile phones, led
declines.


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South Korea's Kospi Rises to Record; Posco, Steelmakers Lead the Advance

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced to a
record. Posco gained after Meritz Securities Co. raised its
price estimate for some steelmakers, saying regional prices for
the alloy are expected to climb following increases in China.

Samsung Electronics Co. fell after U.S. existing-home sales
unexpectedly dropped, heightening concern a housing slump will
damp consumer spending in the world's biggest economy.


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