RETAIL car sales in China jumped 30 per cent in May from April, preliminary data published by an industry body showed, as authorities rolled out stimulus to revive the market depressed by the country's measures to combat the spread of Covid-19.

BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - China's exports grew at a double-digit pace in May, shattering expectations in an encouraging sign for the world's second-biggest economy, as factories restarted and logistics snags eased after authorities relaxed some COVID curbs in Shanghai.

HONG KONG, June 9 (Reuters) - The yen dropped to a 20-year low on the dollar on Thursday, though most major currency pairs traded cautiously ahead of a highly-anticipated meeting by the European Central Bank, which should offer insights into its monetary policy tightening plans.

SHANGHAI, June 9 (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell, U.S. bond yields rose and a soaring dollar pushed to a two-decade high against the yen on Thursday as investors worried about the outlook for more rate rises ahead of a key meeting of the European Central Bank later in the day.

SINGAPORE, June 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices held firm near 13-week highs on Thursday after China reported stronger-than-expected exports in May, although new Shanghai lockdown restrictions capped gains.

HONG KONG, June 8 (Reuters) - Asia stocks rose on Wednesday, encouraged by a rally on Wall Street, but gains were kept in check by worries that aggressive central bank policy tightening will stifle global growth and raise the risks of stagflation.