LOFTY GOALS: Goods, services, investment and skilled labor will be allowed free movement. But protectionism, politics and poverty will make implementation difficult
Southeast Asian leaders adopted yesterday a blueprint to transform the region into a EU-style economic bloc that can counter China and India -- though analysts warn of a tough road ahead.

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E-BOOK CONNECTION: Aside from supplying flexible displays for Sony Readers, the local flat-panel maker recently added Amazon to its customer list for e-book devices
By Lisa Wang
Prime View International Co's (元太科技) stock jumped close to its 7 percent daily limit after the flat-panel maker said it was supplying flat-panel displays for the world's top Internet retailer's newly launched electronic book reader.

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HEALTHY: The ratings firm said that the life insurance sector posted earnings of NT$50 billion and losses from US loan exposure remained under control
By Kevin Chen
Despite rising concerns worldwide over fallout from the US credit crisis, Taiwanese life insurers face limited impact from their exposure to collateralized debt obligation (CDO) investments, Fitch Ratings said yesterday.

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By Lisa Wang
Backed by the fast-growing demand for slim-screen displays, the nation's flat panel and component makers are expected to see 18 percent compounded annual growth rate in revenues to NT$2.93 trillion (US$90.67 billion) in 2011, a local market researcher said yesterday.

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Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵) said yesterday that passengers may book train tickets online for same-day travel starting today.

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By Joyce Huang
The Ohio-based Registered Financial Planners Institute (RFPI) expects to grant its first license to Taiwanese financial talent in April after launching its local certification program and office yesterday.

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Shinsei Bank said yesterday a group of overseas investors led by New York-based fund J.C. Flowers & Co LLC will spend up to ?202.3 billion (US$1.8 billion) to take a stake of up to 32.6 percent in the mid-sized Japanese bank.

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The European single currency struck a record high US$1.4766 in trading in London yesterday after more bad news from the banking sector hit investor confidence over the US economy, traders said.

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Shares close flat

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