DIME A DOZEN: 'Forbes' says a 'phenomenal global boom' is behind the emergence of more billionaires this year. Asia contributes 221 names, up from just 160 last year
The number of billionaires in Asia jumped more than 30 percent last year, with tycoons from India and China leading the charge, according to Forbes magazine's annual billionaires list.

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BARGAIN BASEMENT: The leading chipmaker has been surprised at the speed at which prices for NAND flash memory have fallen, Paul Otellini said
Chipmaker Intel Corp CEO Paul Otellini vowed to shore up the company's defenses against steep drops in memory chip prices that forced it to lower its profit forecast for the current quarter.

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China's central bank governor said yesterday there remained room for hiking interest rates despite the growing spread compared with US rates, amid deep concerns in Beijing over inflation.

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Japan's central bank began a two-day policy board meeting yesterday, the last under Governor Toshihiko Fukui, whose replacement the government will announce today.

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Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co will team up with several Japanese companies to produce animated features in Japan, a leading market for such films, a Disney official said yesterday.

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Prosecutors have arrested a former senior engineer with South Korea's LG Electronics for stealing and leaking flat-screen TV technology to China, officials said yesterday.

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■ COMMODITIES

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