Belief that economic fundamentals are near theirbottom is still firm here

Belief that economic fundamentals are near theirbottom is still firm here," said Won Jong-hyuck, a market analystat SK Securities U.S. jobs data dented brewing hopes of an economicturnaround, but share losses were limited as investors here didnot necessarily take it as a sign of a further slowdown of globaleconomies. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) wasdown 0.26 percent at 1,407.76 points as of 0143 GMT "U.S. jobs data and as North Korea's firing of short-rangemissiles weighed on sentiment, but shares trimmed earlier lossesof as much as 1.6 percent supported by defence and tech issues.

* KOSPI falls 0.26 percent, but trims earlier 1.6 pct loss * Defence issues rally after North Korea missile news * Techs up on favourable product pricing, earnings hopes (Updates to mid-morning) By Jungyoun Park SEOUL, July 3 (Reuters) - Seoul shares fell on Friday afterbleak U.S. -- Coffee farmers in top-growing province of Daklak held backsales to beef up falling prices, dealers said (Reporting by Hanoi Newsroom). THANH NIEN -- Dung Quat refinery has successfully blended 92-octane and95-octane petrol grades this week. NHAN DAN -- Vietnam has so far detected 181 people as infected withthe H1N1 flu virus, after 15 new cases were confirmed onThursday, the Health Ministry said. TUOI TRE -- Transportation companies are considering raising feesfollowing this week's pump price hike of more than 5 percent. TUOI TRE -- Remittances from overseas are dropping between 15-29percent so far this year, with the largest fall from the U.S.market, partly due to the global financial crisis, figures fromthree firms handling the money transfers showed.

THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM -- Continuous order matching would start in September on theUPCom market, designed for shares of unlisted companies, theHanoi Stock Exchange regulators said. ECONOMIC AND GENERAL NEWS: VIETNAM NEWS -- President Nguyen Minh Triet promulgated three new lawsthis week, including the abolition of the death penalty for eightcrimes including rape, theft, smuggling, illegal use of drugs andgiving bribes. -- The government investment arm SCIC said it would divestfrom 200 companies in the second half to raise funds for newprojects, including Long Thanh airport near Ho Chi Minh City. LAO DONG -- Taxi cab operator Mai Linh said it would list its shareson the over-the-counter market UPCom by the end of 2009. DAU TU CHUNG KHOAN -- The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange index .VNI is expected tohover around 500 this year, Chief Executive Tran Dac Sinh said. FINANCIAL NEWS: VIETNAM NEWS -- Petrovietnam's financial arm PVFC PVF.HM will delay itslisting plan in Singapore this year due to the global financialturmoil, Chief Executive Tran Van Hoa said.