March 11 (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines reported a ninth monthly budget deficit in January as the government increased spending to support an economic recovery. President Gloria Arroyo , whose term ends in June, has increased spending on airports, bridges and state programs to a record 1.54

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed at 122.50 at 1:15 p.m. in Tokyo. Standard & Poor’s 500 futures lost 0.5 percent. Copper for three-month delivery fell 0.4 percent to $7,407 a metric ton. Aluminum declined 0.5 percent to $2,220 a ton. Oil for April delivery dropped as much as 37

March 11 (Bloomberg) -- The yen rose against the euro and the dollar after Chinese reports showed inflation quickened, fueling concern the government will introduce further measures to temper growth. Japan’s currency strengthened against all 16 of its major counterparts amid speculation

Gross domestic product rose at an annual 3.8 percent pace, slower than the 4.6 percent reported in preliminary figures last month, the Cabinet Office said today in Tokyo. The median estimate of 29 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for 4 percent growth. The report suggests business