Asian consumer growth index bullish for Thailand, China and India: Asia Market Research dot com's August update to the Asian Consumer Growth Prospects Index is marked by the first tentative upturn for the long suffering Japanese consumer market, more confidence in the Chinese consumer market with the containment of SARS, and a quite substantive uptick for India (and to a lesser extent Pakistan), where decreased tensions with each other has reduced country risk significantly.

Consumer growth prospects fall in the wake of SARS: April's Asian Consumer Growth Index, AMR's index of consumer growth prospects for the next 12 months, shows almost all of the 12 economies surveyed on the decline, in particular Hong Kong, Singapore and China.

SARS strikes market research in Asia: SARS is already perceived as a greater threat to the sustainability of the market research and advertising business in Asia than the war on Iraq according to a quick survey of major market research and advertising agency executives based in Asia yesterday. Postponements and cancellations of projects due to inability to attend briefings and observe focus groups by clients are the major cause

Prospects of War affect Asian consumer demand growth for the next 12 months: War is on the minds of many consumers in Asia, possibly causing many to delay purchases due to increased unknowns from an anticipated war in Iraq. Both foreign and domestic investment has also slowed in most Asian equity markets this month.

Asia Pacific IT professionals to outnumber other regions by 2006: It was only a matter of time before the center of the IT and computer programming world moved towards Asia. A new IDC report estimates that the Asia Pacific will house more computer programmers than any other region including North America and Europe by 2006.

Health and Fitness Club market in South East Asia receives boost from new USA entrant: The health and fitness club craze which hit the West a couple of decades back has been slowly building in South East Asia over the past decade with trendy up-market shrines to narcissism, pop music and physical health taking over from the liniment-scented jock-joints in low rental neighbourhoods of yesterday.

What Asians think of a US dominated world - PEW Global Attitudes Survey: Today, Americans and their media are doing a bit of naval gazing with the release of 'What the World Thinks in 2002', the first major report of the US based 'Pew Global Attitudes Project' by the 'Pew Research Center for The People & The Press'. It presents a profile of a world increasingly uncomfortable with US policy and their dominant economic and political position.

Soft drinks market expanding in Asia: The soft drink industry is sporting smiles in Asia at present, defying downturns in other industries, especially in the hotter climates of South and South East Asia, in developing countries where increasing disposable incomes mean mass markets can now indulge in ego-gratifying brand consumption even if underneath it's really just plain old H2O, and where increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages has seen consumers turn soft.

How shifting Asian consumer media habits are forcing new advertising strategies: Results of a Research International study commissioned by 'AdVantage Channel' in Asia demonstrate the changing ad viewing habits of Hong Kong consumers and the effectiveness of combining traditonal TV branding with Point of Sale (POS)

The wearable computer trend in Asia: US based research firm Venture Development Corporation (VDC) published a report on the "Global Market for Wearable Computers" this week, predicting growth of more than 50% annually to 2006.

World Cup Soccer an un-even draw for Asian advertisers: World Cup Soccer has not been the advertising draw throughout Asia that many expected. Despite conducting the World Cup for the first time in Asia, interest in the international game has varied widely by region, even within countries, making targeting difficult.

Ads.com features US TV commercial information: It's 100% American but a new web site may provide useful information and ideas for advertising and market researchers working in Asian markets.

US Cable Networks Reject Saudi Ad Campaign: Do these ad execs think that the American public really think there is a "War Against Terror" or do they still think it is a war against Arabs or Muslims, or a war to regain lost pride?

Pepsi targets Asian markets: US beverage giant PepsiCo has targeted 6 countries in Asia out of 29 world wide that it says it needs to be among the top-selling brands in 2002

HSBC brands as 'The World's Local Bank': Consumers want to be treated as individuals and know that companies understand what makes their community unique

Cultural Associations for Color: An introduction to national cultures and their differing perceptions of color, as well as an operationalization of Hofstede's five dimensions of world culture...

Asian Airlines commence media advertising campaign in Asia: Asian airlines are betting on 'pent-up' demand with a new US$ 1.4 billion advertising campaign run by the 18-member Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

Ad pulling and press independence in UAE: The hoary old issue of editorial independence and advertising arises in the UAE

Product placements in video games: American actor Danny Divito chomped his way through masses of Dunkin Donuts in one flick and Coke appears magically in the hands of stars on other popular celluloid offerings. But Nintendo is now also getting hip to product placements in their video games.

Inter-Asian trade under-estimated in recovery: Export demand is increasing in Asia, as well as in the West...

Asian markets first to recover in global recovery?: The popular Western analysis spin of the Asian crisis - that Asian economies were badly managed internally, and beset by sweetheart relationships, corruption and political favours - has been dealt a blow by the travails of Enron, Global Crossing and Anderson et al...

Steel export hit for Korea, China and Taiwan: Japanese economic crisis affects key steel exporters

Pirates in Vietnam: Pirating in Asia has been a problem for over a decade. In developing markets however, software makers in particular are happy to turn a blind eye to piracy in order to build brand recognition and market share.

Asian economies on the mend says BBC: The BBC today published an article hailing an Asian economic recovery.

al-Jazeera loses ad revenue: Business magazine Forbes today reported that al-Jazeera, the Arab satellite TV network that received international exposure following September 11th expects to lose 25% of ad revenue due to advertising boycotts

An optimistic view on South East Asian economies: Increasing competition from China is forcing South East Asia to re-evaluate their competitive strategies. Now is the time to re-focus on competitive strengths.