Sing dlr hits 9-1/2-yr high, other Asians firm

(Reuters) - The Singapore dollar extended its rally to a fresh 9-1/2-year high on Monday and most other Asian currencies edged up too, shrugging off strength in the U.S. dollar as regional equity markets racked up firm gains.

The dollar held near a six-week high hit against the yen on Friday after data showed U.S. employers added a stronger-than-expected 180,000 new jobs in March and the unemployment rate fell to a five-month low.


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Oil below $64; gasoline worry offsets Iran relief

(Reuters) - Oil fell below $64 a barrel on Monday, extending a decline after Iran released 15 British sailors and marines last week, although concerns over the state of pre-summer U.S. gasoline supplies tempered selling.

U.S. crude fell 43 cents to $63.85 a barrel by 0651 GMT, adding to Thursday's 10-cent drop after markets were closed on Friday for the Easter holiday. London Brent crude was down 33 cents at $67.91, although trading was expected to remain light as many European market remain shut for Easter Monday.


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Dollar pauses near 6-week high after U.S. jobs

(Reuters) - The strong March jobs report on Friday eased concern about the weakening U.S. housing market and signs of softness in U.S. manufacturing.

"The mood of the market is to try further yen weakness against the dollar after the jobs report," said Koji Fukaya, senior currency strategist at Deutsche Bank in Tokyo.


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CORRECTED: Dollar pauses near 6-week high after U.S. jobs

(Reuters) - TOKYO - The dollar paused near a six-week high against the yen on Monday after robust U.S. jobs data reinforced the view that the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates in the near term.

The strong March jobs report on Friday eased concern about the weakening U.S. housing market and signs of softness in U.S. manufacturing.


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UPDATE 1-Coles shareholder backs Wesfarmers bid

(Reuters) - Hedley Group said late on Sunday it agreed to vote its 17.9 million Coles shares -- around 1.5 percent of Coles' stock -- in support of Perth-based Wesfarmers' proposed deal, increasing the building supplies-to-power conglomerate's voting control to 12.8 percent.

Hedley, a property developer, said in a statement it agreed not to support any rival proposal.


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JGB futures fall to 3-mth low, BOJ meeting in focus

(Reuters) - The benchmark 10-year yield climbed to a seven-week peak as the U.S. employment report on Friday boosted Treasury yields to their highest in over seven weeks.

U.S. government data showed 180,000 non-farm jobs were added in March, topping the consensus forecast of 120,000 and suggesting that economic growth may not be slowing as much as originally thought.


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SABMiller considers $12.8bln bid for brewer S&N-paper

(Reuters) - The maker of Miller Lite and Peroni could make a bid of around 712 pence a share for S&N within days, the Sunday Express quoted sources close to the company as saying.

It would also seek to sell on -- to spirits group Diageo -- the UK arm that makes Britain's biggest selling lager Foster's, John Smith's bitter and Strongbow cider as well as its French business to satisfy industry watchdogs, the report said.


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