hyun, chief economist at CJ Investment & Securities. "High oil prices could make companies delay investment and keep new hiring low." Hong Kong stocks ended morning trade down 0.1 percent, while Singapore's Straits Times index was up 0.2 percent as Creative Technology rose 5.0 percent. In Australia, a 3.5 percent rebound in BHP Billiton, the world's largest miner, underpinned a 0.6 percent rally in the broader market. The main stock index closed 1.1 percent off Tuesday's record high. At 0545 GMT, the dollar was steady with its late New York levels. It was trading around 110.00 yen at 0315 GMT, near the middle of the 109-111 yen range in which it has drifted for the past two weeks. The euro was sitting near $1.2320, in the middle of its range for August. --More 1325 Local Time 1025 GMT
