Bank giant HSBC said on Monday that profits fell in the first half because one-off gains were not repeated and after a weaker showing at its investment arm.

Net profit dropped to $9.746 billion (7.259 billion euros) in the six months to June 30 compared with earnings after tax totaling $10.284 billion in the first half of 2013, the British lender said in an earnings statement.

Indonesia's trade balance swung to a slim deficit in June as imports of food and clothes rose ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and Eid holiday, official data showed Monday.

The deficit in Southeast Asia's top economy came in at $305 million, compared to a slim surplus of $70 million the previous month, according to the data from the national statistics agency.

A property flagship led by Asia's richest tycoon Li Ka-shing is seeking to buy into Irish aircraft leasing group AWAS -- the Hong Kong businessman's first major foray into the aviation industry.

Cheung Kong Holdings said Monday in a filing to Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the company "has submitted a preliminary non-binding proposal in respect of the possible acquisition of certain aircrafts from the AWAS group". 

The euro slipped against the dollar in Asia on Monday following news of a bailout for a crisis-hit Portuguese bank, while the dollar held steady after falling on U.S. jobs data.

Portugal's central bank announced late Sunday that the nation will inject 4.4 billion euros ($5.9 billion) into the Banco Espirito Santo (BES) amid fears of a catastrophic bank run.

A report commissioned by London Mayor Boris Johnson has concluded that a British exit from the European Union would be better for the city than remaining in an unreformed EU.

Johnson is likely to give his backing to the report in a speech this week to launch the document, The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times newspapers said.

A 24-hour strike by Air France ground staff caused flight delays and frustration for huge numbers of passengers at Paris airports on Saturday -- on one of France's busiest travel weekends of the year.

Major automakers Friday reported another month of strong U.S. sales in July, with many of the biggest gains coming in trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Uruguay, the first country to fully legalize the production, sale and distribution of marijuana, called for bids Friday from private growers who want to farm cannabis in a public field.

The U.S. judge presiding over Argentina's bitter dispute with two hedge funds left the country stranded in default Friday, ordering it to hold new negotiations and calling for an end to "mistrust."

Sharp said Friday it logged a $17.4 million net loss for the three months to June, but added it still expected a full-year profit as the Japanese electronics giant tries to move past years of record losses.

The Osaka-based company lost 1.79 billion yen in the period, well down from a 17.98 billion yen shortfall a year ago, which it said was largely due to one-time factors.