11.   Earlier this year, bilateral currency swap agreements were launched between Japan, China and Korea and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

12.   Japan has already concluded similar currency swap agreements, which help countries meet short-term liquidity problems, with South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

13.   More swap agreements are still being negotiated.

14.   The central banks of Japan and China signed a currency swap agreement Thursday aimed at ensuring exchange market stability, the Bank of Japan said.

15.   Ganda Holdings acquired a substantial stake in Interport last month in a stock swap agreement.

16.   ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said that at the conclusion of the meeting Saturday the ministers would announce a summary of the currency swap agreements forged to date.

17.   Central Bank of the Philippines governor Rafael Buenaventura said the swap agreements would help guard against external shocks that might affect the foreign exchange rate.

18.   Dai and his Japanese counterpart Masaru Hayami signed a currency swap agreement earlier Thursday aimed at providing protection against financial crises.

19.   The Philippines sealed a three billion-dollar currency swap agreement with Japan in August.

20.   Japan and China signed a currency swap agreement Thursday aimed at providing protection against financial crises, the Bank of Japan said.