1 Japanese equities have soared on hopes of a fiscal stimulus package, while the yen has fallen 5.4 per cent. The Nikkei 225 saw the biggest rally in 20 months last week, soaring 9.2 per cent in five days.

2 Pacific Andes Resources said an independent committee has engaged RSM Corporate Advisory (Hong Kong) to undertake a forensic review.

3 Coal mining group Geo Energy Resources is buying a 98.73 per cent stake in a mining concession in South Kalimantan for US$90 million (S$121.3 million).

4 Skincare and wellness product maker Best World has been queried by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) over its trading activity, the fourth time in three months that it has received such a query.

5 Innovalues, a maker of customised precision machine parts and components, was also queried by the SGX over trading activity in its shares, the second such demand in the past month.