TOKYO, July 26 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity expanded at the slowest pace in five months in July, a private sector survey showed on Monday, underscoring the world's third-largest economy's struggle to stage a convincing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR (July 22): The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has trimmed its 2021 total industry volume (TIV) forecast to 500,000 units from 570,000 units earlier, as the sales of vehicles in June this year dropped by almost 100% following the nationwide total lockdown imposed by the government.

SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) - Asian share markets were in a mixed mood on Friday after a volatile week in which sentiment over global growth waxed and waned with every new headline on the Delta variant.

MELBOURNE, July 23 (Reuters) - Oil prices trimmed overnight gains on Friday but were poised to end the week largely steady after rebounding from a sharp drop, underpinned by expectations supply will remain tight as demand recovers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board on Thursday said the U.S. Federal Reserve has been “highly effective” at managing the COVID-19 crisis and supporting recovery with its commitment to overshoot a 2% inflation target in the near term.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was set to end the week close to where it started following a roller-coaster week in which currencies were tossed around by shifting risk appetite, with the market’s focus now shifting to next week’s U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.