HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asian stocks started the new quarter with more gains after an impressive performance in March on expectations the frail global economy is about to bottom out and hopes the financial system was on the mend.

financials
(Refiles to correct spelling of “brands” in paragraph

financials
MUMBAI, April 1 (Reuters) – About 250-300 employees at
fraud-hit Indian outsourcer Satyam Computer Services
are joining Bank of America , the Business Standard
newspaper said on Wednesday.

financials
* Elpida soars 15 percent, Taiwan DRAM shares up 7 pct
(Recasts with details, analyst comments)

financials
HONG KONG, April 1 (Reuters) – South Korean retail giant
Lotte Group has returned to the auction of beer maker Oriental
Brewery, sources said on Wednesday, and is preparing to raise its
initial offer in the next round of bids for a company the sellers
say is worth more than $2 billion.

financials
April 1 (Reuters) – The following bids, mergers,
acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian
companies were reported by 0400 GMT on Wednesday.

financials
HONG KONG, April 1 (Reuters) – South Korean retail giant
Lotte Group has returned to the auction of beer maker Oriental
Brewery, sources said on Wednesday, and is preparing to raise its
initial offer in the next round of bids for a company the sellers
say is worth more than $2 billion.

financials
* GM shares drop 28 pct; bonds lower on bankruptcy risk

financials
* Obama’s thinking on GM, Chrysler unchanged – admin
official

financials
NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) – A possible bankruptcy plan
being discussed for General Motors Corp includes quickly
forming a new company of the automaker’s most profitable parts,
while a group of other units would remain under bankruptcy
protection for a longer period, a source familiar with the
plans told Reuters on Tuesday.

financials