SYDNEY/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Asian shares rose to new 19-month highs on Monday ahead of the expected signing on a Phase 1 China-U.S. trade deal, although markets have yet to see the details of the agreement.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The world’s shares hit a record high on Friday as a relief over de-escalation of U.S.-Iranian tensions quickly prompted investors to bet on faster global growth, especially in the technology sector.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The dollar looked set to post its best week in two months on Friday, buoyed by easing Middle East tensions and upbeat U.S. economic data.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped on Friday extending days of losses as the threat of war in the Middle East receded and investors switched attention to economic growth prospects and the rise in U.S. crude oil and product inventories.

Kochi: The rubber industry expects the rally in international natural rubber prices and depreciation of the rupee to further reduce imports of the commodity into the country.

A North Korean trading company wants foreign investors to chip in to a rubber factory on the country’s east coast, according to a posting on an official government foreign trade website.