Reuters

By Stella Qiu

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares held a mixed tone on Tuesday after rallying the previous session, as rising bets of an imminent European rate cut helped risk appetite ahead of some key inflation data.

A slew of European Central Bank officials said overnight the ECB has room to cut interest rates as inflation slows, underscoring expectations for a rate cut on June 6. With debate now shifting to subsequent moves, markets have... (continue reading...)

SEOUL (Reuters) - The nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan during a phone call on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest attempt by North Korea to launch a satellite, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The failed launch was a direct violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the North's use of ballistic missile technology and posed a serious threat to regional peace and security, it said.

... (continue reading...)

By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian retail sales crept higher in April as shoppers stayed frugal in the face of high borrowing costs and rising rents, another sign household spending will add little to economic growth this quarter.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Tuesday showed retail sales rose 0.1% in April from March, when they fell 0.4%. Analysts had looked for a rise of 0.2%.

"Since the... (continue reading...)

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine authorities said at least seven people had been killed by tropical storm Ewiniar, which hit the country on the weekend, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Tuesday that search and rescue efforts would continue.

Ewiniar brought strong winds and heavy rain in provinces south of the capital, shutting down airports and seaports and disrupting power supply.

The storm was heading towards east coast of Japan... (continue reading...)

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister said authorities would put forward detailed tax incentives under corporate reforms aimed at boosting the value of listed companies after seeking more feedback from market participants in coming months.

Minister Choi Sang-mok also pledged in a media pool report released on Tuesday that the government would continue efforts to support the country's crucial chip industry.

"It is time to... (continue reading...)