Singapore managements are increasingly being forced to pay up for taking their companies private as minority investors demand bigger premiums to the depressed market valuations of targets, underscoring a growing trend of shareholder activism in Asia.

A laggard in embracing the 'fintech', or financial technology, revolution, Japan is set to ease investment restrictions that could free up the flow of capital in an economy sitting on an estimated $9 trillion in individuals' cash deposits.

Taiwan's Foxconn agreed to acquire a two-thirds stake in Japan's Sharp Corp for $3.5 billion (2.4 billion pounds), securing a big discount to its original offer after a month of wrangling over the ailing Japanese electronic maker's potential liabilities.

Qatari lenders Al Khalij Commercial Bank KCBK.QA, Ahli Bank AABQ.QA and International Bank of Qatar are in early-stage talks on a merger that could pool assets worth more than $30 billion, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The Saudi Stock Exchange has asked banks to pitch for roles advising on its initial share sale, sources familiar with the matter said, kicking off one of the region's most eagerly-anticipated flotations.

More than two months after international nuclear sanctions on Iran were supposed to have ended, frustration is deepening that few trade deals are going through as foreign banks shy away from processing transactions with the country.

Kuwaiti financial firm Investment Dar has begun talks with creditors about a new 813 million dinar ($2.7 billion) debt restructuring plan after a court threw out an earlier attempt.

Thailand's constitution drafters said they had accepted proposals from the ruling junta that critics say are designed to prolong the military's hold on power.

Major easing of foreign investment restrictions that Indonesia announced last month as a "big bang" liberalisation should become effective by the end of March, a senior official said.

A major liquefied natural gas export project in Canada ran into another delay when the federal environmental assessment agency was granted an extra three months to finish an impact study.