* MSCI Asia ex-Japan down 0.2 pct, Nikkei flat

* Dollar steadies vs yen, rises against euro

* European shares seen lacklustre, US markets shut due to hurricane

By Chikako Mogi

TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Asian shares slipped on Monday as investors switched their focus away from signs of stable U.S. growth, looking instead at tepid global corporate earnings and the uncertain economic outlook.

European shares were seen as lacklustre, with financial spreadbetters expecting London's FTSE 100, Paris's CAC-40 and Frankfurt's DAX to open down about 0.1 percent.

U.S. stock futures were down 0.4 percent. U.S. stock and options markets will be closed on Monday, and possibly Tuesday, as regulators, exchanges and brokers worried about the integrity of markets in the face of Hurricane Sandy approaching the East Coast.

In Asia, the MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan erased small gains earlier to trade down 0.2 percent, after shedding 1 percent on Friday and posting its biggest weekly drop in two months of 1.3 percent.

South Korean shares gave up earlier gains to inch down 0.1 percent. Japan's Nikkei average, which tumbled 1.3 percent on Friday, was flat after being up early on Monday.

Hong Kong shares lost 0.2 percent and Shanghai shares eased 0.3 percent.

Australian shares were up 0.1 percent, aided by solid U.S. economic growth in the third quarter.

"Today was all about 'righting the ship' on the Australian share market," said Tim Waterer, senior trader at CMC Markets. "Solid U.S. GDP data offered a reprieve which was capitalised on by the materials and energy stocks."

Commodities were also capped, with London copper holding above 7-week lows plumbed last week, while U.S. crude futures fell 0.4 percent to $85.96 a barrel and Brent eased 0.2 percent to $109.31.

"People can't really see much optimism out there. We wanted the U.S. corporate earnings to be a little more robust," said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of Barratt's Bulletin, a Sydney-based commodity research firm.

The dollar steadied at 79.63 yen, off a four-month high of 80.38 yen touched on Friday, ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy decision on Tuesday. Markets expect the BOJ to take further easing measures.

U.S. GDP grew at a 2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, slightly above a 1.9 percent forecast, and picking up from the second quarter's 1.3 percent rise. But the stronger pace of expansion fell short of what is needed for a substantial rise in employment.

European shares eked out gains on Friday after the U.S. data but U.S. equities were weighed down by poor earnings outlooks from major companies such as Apple, Amazon and South Korea's Samsung Electronics.

Over the weekend, China said industrial profits rose 7.8 percent in September from a year earlier to 464.3 billion yuan ($74 billion), compared with a 6.2 percent drop in August, signalling some stability in the world's second-largest economy.

"Overall it suggests a continued period of subdued risk reduction bidding the U.S. dollar higher," said Societe Generale analyst Sebastien Galy.

Data showed that U.S. bond speculators scaled back their bullish bets on U.S. Treasuries futures early last week, even as worries about Spain and disappointing company earnings supported the bond market.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday also showed currency speculators cut their bets against the U.S. dollar in the same week to the lowest since early September.

The dollar index measured against a basket of six major currencies hit a near seven-week high of 80.270 on Friday and was still hovering near that level at 80.108 on Monday.

MONEY PULLED OUT

Data from EPFR Global showed that investors pulled the most money out of U.S. stock funds in the past week than at any point in more than a year, an indication that many still harbour deep concerns about the global economy.

"Investors are taking on more risk," EPFR Global Research Director Cameron Brandt said in a note. "But they are doing so largely within the fixed income universe and, when it comes to equities, bypassing the U.S. in favour of emerging markets."

Bullish bets on U.S. commodities by hedge funds and other big speculators have fallen to a near 2-1/2-month low, trade data showed on Friday, as oil and gold saw heavy selling for a second straight week.

The euro was down 0.1 percent to $1.2927, staying within the recent broad range between $1.28 and $1.31, waiting for bailout prospects for struggling Spain and Greece to become clear.

Asian credit markets softened, pushing the spread on the iTraxx Asia ex-Japan investment-grade index wider by 5 basis points.



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With all this Lindsay Lohan family drama, gotta wonder: Is she going to face a Britney Spears-style conservatorship?

—Flute Player, Wisconsin, via Facebook

Lindsay's ever-charming father, Michael Lohan, has indicated that he wants to establish a conservatorship that would affect Lindsay's life in the same way that Britney Spears's father and fiance have essentially taken over hers.

And I wish him good luck with that. Because, according to people who would know, Michael's bid isn't likely to stick.

Got a question for E! Online? Tweet us!

Look, a personal conservatorship, if that is indeed what Michael wants, is not an easy thing to get, attorneys tell me.

"It takes a lot," says Bryan Sullivan, partner at Early Sullivan. "You have to show that someone is incapable of taking care of their own affairs and creates a risk for themselves and or others."

And while Lindsay may not have the best reputation at the moment, her situation is still a far cry from where Spears was in 2008. We're talking head-shaving and involuntary psychiatric holds (Spears), versus public family squabbles, non-hit-and-run accidents, and nebulous shenanigans on and off set (Lohan).

Even if Lindsay were abusing alcohol or other substances—as Michael has alleged—that alone couldn't persuade a judge to hand over the keys to Lilo's life.
Got a question for E! Online? Talk to us on Facebook!

"Otherwise," notes A-list attorney Irwin Feinberg, "what you would have is every single addict as a potential conservatee."

Sullivan agreed that she would be surprised to find a conservatorship (if sought) actually granted: "Lindsay is still is functioning, whereas Britney was having massive mental breakdowns."

Still, some experts wonder whether it's only a matter of time before Lohan ends up in the same boat as the onetime pop superstar.

"Essentially, you have to show that she is unable to care for herself and unable to make medical and financial decisions regarding her life," family attorney Lisa Helfend Meyer tells E! News.


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Move over, Dallas.

Antonio Cromartie has dubbed the Jets’ upcoming opponent, the New England Patriots, the “new America’s Team.”

“Honestly, you can’t say they’re not,” the Jets cornerback said Wednesday. “Everybody talks about New England. If they’re losing they’re talking about New England. If they’re winning they’re talking about them all the time. So I call them the new America’s Team.”

Cromartie, who called Tom Brady “an a--hole” two years ago, called the Bill Belichick and Brady-led Pats a “dynasty” that have the Super Bowls to back up all the talk.  

“They’re always in the playoffs,” Cromartie said of the Pats, who won Super Bowls in the 2001, ’03 and ’04 seasons but have not done so since. “Every single year they’re coming up and having a chance to win the Super Bowl. When you have a dynasty team like Coach Belichick has put together, they’re always going to be talked about.”

The Jets will have a chance Sunday to avenge their two losses to New England last season. Cromartie recalled that in their last meeting, when the Patriots beat Gang Green, 37-16, at MetLife Stadium in November, the Jets got their “ass whupped.”

REX’S TOP BILLING
Rex Ryan still puts Belichick on a coaching pedestal.

“I don’t think I’m the best head coach in the league right now. I think he is,” Ryan said Wednesday.

“If it was just between Belichick and me, he’s going to win that battle. I recognize that,” Ryan said. “Maybe he struggles one day, something happens, he’s sick, I don’t know, maybe I’ll get him.

“I’m confident in my abilities and all that stuff, but if you’re looking, let’s face it, we know he’s got all the rings and everything else,” Ryan said.

NOT QUITE TERMINATED
The Jets came to an injury settlement with FB John Conner, who has been dealing with an MCL sprain and hamstring injury in recent weeks. Although Gang Green waived Conner, Ryan said  that the move “doesn’t preclude us from bringing him back at some point . . . that is a possibility that he could be back with us.” Per terms of the new CBA, Conner can rejoin the Jets in Week 15.

The Jets signed LB Marcus Dowtin off the practice squad to take Conner’s roster spot heading into Sunday’s game. “Quite honestly we needed the spot,” Ryan said.

Conner hit the national stage when Ryan routinely praised the running back - nicknamed “The Terminator” - on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” before his rookie year.

Ryan has been impressed with veteran Lex Hilliard, who was recently signed when Conner hurt his hamstring.

QB SNEAK
Asked whether free agent QB Kevin O’Connell, who worked out for the Jets on Tuesday, could return, Ryan said, “It’s always a possibility,” but didn’t get into whether a deal was imminent.

“I’m not going to say one way or the other,” the coach said. “Kevin’s a guy that we feel really good about. You have to be prepared down the road as well.”



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Better known as a classical clarinetist, having appeared as a soloist with such world class orchestras as the London Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony, and the City of Birmingham Symphony, Julian Bliss now turns his attention to classic jazz with his album A Tribute to Benny Goodman. As he explains in the album notes, his enthusiasm for the great swing clarinetist began early. On his first visit to New York City at the age of seven, already a "classical clarinetist in the making," he chose for a souvenir a recording of Goodman's greatest hits. And by the time he got to bed, he says, "I had heard every track-and I was hooked." Fast-forward 14 years, the CD resurfaces and rekindles his passion for the master. He gathers together a group of like-minded musicians, and the Julian Bliss Septet is born.

Modeling his ensemble on the Goodman sextet that featured guitar great Charlie Christian, Bliss collaborating with pianist and arranger Neal Thornton and added a trumpet (Martin Shaw) so that they could include a few of the Goodman orchestra tunes in their repertoire. What you're getting in this new album are not slavish imitations. They honor Goodman the way any jazz artist would want to be honored. They do their own thing, and they do it with style. Rounding out the septet are Jim Hart (vibes), Colin Oxley (guitar), Tim Thornton (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums).

The album's 13 tracks include some Goodman classics and one or two less well-known pieces. Omitting "Let's Dance," they open strongly with a medley of "Don't Be That Way" and "Stompin' at the Savoy." This is followed by the album's lone nod to Goodman's interest in classical music with a swing arrangement of Paganini's "Caprice No. 24." "Up a Lazy River" has a witty trumpet solo from Shaw, who does yeoman work throughout the CD. "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" and the "Sheik of Araby" get the real upbeat treatment with some powerful solo work from most everyone in the septet.

They do a lyrical "Moonglow" that is as good as it gets (and it gets very good). "Lady Be Good" and the Goodman/Charlie Christian composition "Seven Come Eleven" are energetic swingers with some interesting guitar solos from Oxley, not to mention the solos on the vibes from Hart. Bliss opens "Here's that Rainy Day" with a stylish presentation of the melody, leading into a Thornton bass solo. "Goodbye" has Bliss playing that haunting melody aided by some sweet trumpet echoes. You might expect the album to end here, but you've still got the Al Jolson standard "Avalon," "Soft Winds" and "After You've Gone" to round out the album.

A Tribute to Benny Goodman is a fine piece of work. Some may consider swing a bit old fashioned, but Bliss and the rest of the ensemble have put together an album that may change some minds. Great music is never old fashioned, and this is great music. And the best thing about it: think of all those other wonderful Goodman tunes waiting for a possible sequel. After that there's Artie Shaw, and after that there's Woody, and after that...well, you get the idea.



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LUXEMBOURG - The eurozone has unlocked its 500-billion-euro ($A646 billion) European Stability Mechanism (ESM), amid worries over Greece and as Spain agonises over whether to call for a full bailout.

MADRID - Spain's indebted Andalusia region has finalised its request for 4.9 billion euros ($A6.33 billion) in aid from the central government to survive the financial crisis, an official said.

WASHINGTON - Credit rater Moody's assigned the European Stability Mechanism, Europe's new emergency fund, a triple-A rating Monday, but labelled it with a negative outlook.

ATHENS - Greek police have increased security and are preparing to close down large sections of the capital, Athens, to contain protests during a visit by Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

WASHINGTON - American companies should avoid sourcing network equipment from China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the United States, the House Intelligence Committee says.

WASHINGTON - The number of cyberattacks targeting US organisations has doubled over the past three years, leading to hefty losses, a study released Monday showed.

FINDLAY, OhioP - BP has finally found a buyer for its Texas City refinery, one of the largest and most complex in the US.

NEW YORK - Oil prices have fallen following losses at the end of last week, as the weak global economic outlook continued to feed into demand expectations.

WELLINGTON - The New Zealand dollar fell against the greenback and the euro as European finance ministers prepare to meet in Luxembourg amid speculation Spain is struggling to avoid a bailout request.

LOCAL NEWS

SYDNEY - The Australian dollar has lifted from a three-month low against its US counterpart as euro zone finance ministers unlock their multi-billion euro bailout fund.

SYDNEY - The Australian market looks set to open higher despite falls on the US and European markets overnight.

CANBERRA - Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the time has come for Australia and Japan to "seal the deal" on a free-trade agreement that has been more than five years in the making.



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Andy Murray is already second favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award but at this rate Bradley Wiggins must be wondering whether the Scot might catch him in a sprint finish. The US Open champion, who is the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title for 76 years, extended his winning run to 10 matches here yesterday when he beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open.

Murray, nevertheless, would like the BBC to break with tradition at their end-of-year extravaganza. "Personally I don't think this year there should be a winner of the Sports Personality of the Year," Murray said after securing a meeting with Canada's Milos Raonic in today's semi-finals. "I think it should be a celebration of the year as a whole and of what we, as a nation, have achieved, rather than singling one person out and saying he or she has had the best year.

"There are so many things that go into all the different sports. Somebody like Rory McIlroy has had an incredible year, but people aren't really talking about him as a potential winner. It's just because he's not part of an Olympic sport. I think it would be a cool way to do it, but they won't. It's so hard to decide because so many things have happened this year. I can't see us having another year like this for a while."

Asked what had given him the most enjoyment in 2012 as a spectator, Murray chose the evening in the Olympic Stadium when Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won gold in the space of just 42 minutes. "There were certain things I missed through travelling and not being able to watch, but I saw that evening and it was really cool," he said.

If Murray does win the BBC award, he is unlikely to pick it up in person. The world No 4 spends most of December training in Miami and will be there again this year to work with his coach, Ivan Lendl.

"For me, that time of the year and those days of training are so important," Murray said.

"It has worked so well for me in the past and I do not think going back and forth for three or four days and not having Ivan around is wise. It may not make a difference, but sometimes tennis matches come down to the smallest of differences.

"Say I was in the semi or the final of the Australian Open and I got tired at 5-5 in the fifth set or whatever, I may look back on it. I need to do the right thing for my tennis. I'm not saying I'm definitely not going to go, but I've spoken to my team and I haven't planned on coming back."

Murray also revealed that he does not expect to play next year in Dubai or Rotterdam following the Australian Open. He usually plays in one of the tournaments before the Indian Wells Masters in March, but next year he plans to spend that period training again in Miami, although he might enter the nearby Delray Beach event at the end of February.

"After Australia, obviously Indian Wells and Miami are important tournaments," Murray said. "Last year I went over to train in Miami and then I went back to Dubai. I did well in Dubai and then flew back over to Miami. That maybe wasn't perfect for Indian Wells [where Murray lost his first match], so I think I'm probably going to spend more time in Miami and not do so much travelling at the start of the year."

Wawrinka gave Murray his toughest test of the week and took advantage of a dip in the world No 4's form midway through the second set. Murray, nevertheless, quickly took control of the decider to win after just over two hours.

A match played in the middle of another steamy day in the Ariake Colosseum saw both men receive code violations after smashing their rackets in frustration. Murray was on court again some 90 minutes later to play doubles with his brother, Jamie, but they were beaten 6-4, 3-6, 10-2 by the top seeds, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek.

In the other singles semi-final, Kei Nishikori will take on Marcos Baghdatis. Nishikori, the best player in Japan's history, delighted his home crowd with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Tomas Berdych, the No 2 seed.

All the top players, with the exception of the injured Rafael Nadal, will compete next week at the Shanghai Masters, which will increase its security measures after it was revealed yesterday that a death threat had been made against Roger Federer.

The threat was made on a fan website by "Blue Cat Polytheism Founder 07". The tournament said that it took all such issues seriously and "has security in place for our players and every precaution is taken".



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