LONDON - BARCLAYS' sale of its investment arm to US asset manager BlackRock for US$13.5 billion (S$19.6 billion) marks the British bank's latest bid to shore up its finances without government help.

FIRMS looking to issue shares or plain debt securities in the Asean region will have to comply with a new set of rules.

The regulations centre mainly on disclosure and will make it easier for firms undertaking share offerings in different nations.

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are the first three Asean jurisdictions to implement the scheme.

LECCE (Italy) - WORRIES about the health of Europe's banks are to take centre stage at a meeting of finance ministers of the G8 top world powers on Friday even as signs emerge of a tentative economic recovery.