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GREATER CHINA
* Hong Kong-based FWD Group agreed to acquire HSBC Holdings PLC's 49% stake in HSBC Amanah Takaful (Malaysia) Bhd. in a deal believed to be worth less than US$100 million, three sources told Reuters. The transaction, subject to approval from Bank Negara Malaysia, is expected to close by the end of 2018. FWD plans to eventually own a majority stake in the insurer by acquiring shares from other holders.
* China Construction Bank Corp. posted a 6.28% year-over-year increase in net profit for the six-month period ended June 30 to 147.03 billion yuan from 138.34 billion yuan. EPS rose to 59 fen from 55 fen.
* Postal Savings Bank of China Co. Ltd. said net profit attributable to shareholders for the first half jumped 22.27% year over year to 32.52 billion yuan, or 37 fen per share, from 26.60 billion yuan, or 33 fen per share.
* China Everbright Bank Co. Ltd.'s net profit attributable to equity shareholders for the six months ended June climbed 6.71% to 18.08 billion yuan from 16.94 billion yuan. EPS declined to 29 fen from 32 fen.
* S&P Global Ratings lowered China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd.'s long-term issuer credit rating to BBB+ from A-, with a stable outlook. The company's short-term rating was affirmed at A-2. In addition, S&P changed its outlook on China Huarong International Holdings Ltd. to stable from negative and affirmed its ratings at BBB+/A-2.
JAPAN AND KOREA
* Japanese megabanks are increasingly off-loading shares in regional lenders, as the number of regional banks whose major shareholders include the country's three megabanks has decreased about 36%, Tokyo's The Nikkei reported, citing the security filings of 80 listed regional banks over a...