ASIAN STOCKS RISE AS CENTRAL BANKS PLEDGE SUPPORTShare prices in Asia have reversed early losses after Japan's central bankpromised to support markets.It comes after official data showed that Chinese factory activity fell inFebruary at the fastest rate on record.On Friday the US Federal Reserve made a similar pledge to intervene to stopfurther big falls on the world's financial markets.Last week concerns about the outbreak wiped more than $5 trillion fromglobal stocks.In a rare emergency statement, Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kurodasaid the central bank would take necessary steps to stabilise financialmarkets: "Overseas and domestic financial markets continue to make unstablemovements due to heightening uncertainty over the impact on the economy fromthe spread of the coronavirus.""The BOJ will monitor developments carefully, and strive to stabilisemarkets and offer sufficient liquidity via market operations and assetpurchases," he added.The language used in the statement suggested the central bank is ready tomake full use of its existing tools to inject funds into the market, beforeconsidering what other steps it may take.

PETE BUTTIGIEG DROPS OUT OF DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR WHITE HOUSEPete Buttigieg, the former Indiana mayor who made an ambitious run forpresident, has announced he is ending his campaign for the White House.The 38-year-old became the first openly gay presidential candidate from amajor party when he announced he was running for the Democratic nomination.But despite a successful start, his campaign lost momentum in recent weeks.His decision to drop out comes ahead of a key day on Tuesday in theDemocratic race to take on Trump.Fourteen states will vote on Super Tuesday, by the end of which staunchleft-winger Bernie Sanders could have an unbeatable lead and be a stepcloser to the nomination.His departure leaves six Democrats still in the running.