Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's central bank is expected to keep its policy interest rate unchanged this week and to stay the course until late next year as it deals with persistent concerns over inflation, according to economists in a Reuters poll.

The central bank, in a surprise move at its last board meeting in March, hiked the benchmark discount rate to 2% from 1.875%, wary of continued inflationary pressures and ahead of a rise in electricity prices.

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - China's major state-owned banks were seen selling dollars for yuan in the onshore spot foreign exchange market on Tuesday to prevent the local currency from falling too rapidly, four people with knowledge of the matter said.

China's state banks usually act on behalf of the central bank in the country's foreign exchange market, but they could also trade on their own behalf.

The state banks' actions came as the... (continue reading...)

SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Tuesday it would send 41 more military personnel to the United Nations mission along the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea, as it looks to step up its role in international missions.

Defence Minister Judith Collins said the decision to increase New Zealand's military presence from 12 to as many as 53 at the UN Command Security Battalion reflected its commitment to support peace and... (continue reading...)

By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian stocks traded in a narrow range on Tuesday, as investors pondered fresh political uncertainty in European markets after right-wing gains in elections and a snap poll in France revived concerns about the cohesion of the bloc.

Moves were modest, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipping 0.4% in thin trade, with Chinese blue chips off 0.7%.

Going the other... (continue reading...)

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's leader John Lee said on Tuesday that Britain was weaponising its judicial influence against China and Hong Kong after two British judges resigned from the city's highest court.

A British judge who recently resigned from the top Hong Kong appeals court said on Monday the rule of law in Hong Kong is profoundly compromised in areas of the law where the government has strong opinions.

Jonathan Sumption is... (continue reading...)