Stock Markets

AFP - China has decided to cut the stamp duty on stock market transactions to 0.1 percent from 0.3 percent with effect from Thursday, state media said, following deep plunges in share prices.

Reuters - Regulatory officials turned down a congressional request to reveal why they aborted an inquiry into whether Bear Stearns Cos improperly valued complex debt securities, hurting investors in the process, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.