ile improved compared with the first quarter, withretailers in China especially upbeat, reflecting expectationsfor increased consumer spending.
China and India, where respondents included insurer Ping An
outlet online ol, miner Coal India , and software exporterInfosys , remained the most optimistic countries in theAsia-Pacific region.
However sentiment slipped in both of the regionalpower-houses from the very high levels seen in the firstquarter, with six out of nine Indian companies positive or verypositive about the future
christian louboutin new collection , compared with seven of seven in thelast survey.
"China's domestic economy continues to grow after a softpatch. But inflation is something of a worry and it might lastlonger than expected. So, the government may have to be moreaggressive in its monetary policy, and that will make growthslow down," said Santitarn Sathirathai, an economist at CreditSuisse in Singapore.
"For India
christian louboutin new collection , it is more of a worry. India has faced risinginflation and its central bank so far is behind the curve inraising interest rates. So growth has to be sacrificed if itspeeds up to raise rates."
India's economy grew at its slowest annual pace in fivequarters in January to March as rising interest rates crimpedconsumption and investment, suggesting the central bank couldtemper the pace of further tightening to tackle inflation. (Reporting by Reuters journalists in Asia-Pacific; Additionalreporting by Isabel Reynolds in Tokyo; Editing by DharaRanasinghe and Lincoln Feast)
* Fireworks, ceremonies mark bicentennial party
* Chavez hints at hoping to govern until 2021
* Questions linger over his recovery, capacity to rule (Adds Chavez speech, markets
christian louboutin new collection , details)
By Brian Ellsworth and Andrew Cawthorne
CARACAS, July 5 - Venezuela's President HugoChavez celebrated his nation's 200th anniversary ofindependence on Tuesday after a triumphant return from cancersurgery in Cuba that has left him weakened but defiant.
"Here I am, in recovery but still recovering
christian louboutin new collection ," the56-year-old Chavez said in a speech from his palace in Caracasas ministers and generals led ceremonies outside to mark thebicentennial of the end to Spanish colonial rule.
Chavez's return from Havana has enabled him to reas