Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited

Australian Market Report of December 29, 2010 includes: Kangaroo Resources Limited (ASX:KRL) announce A$277 Million acquisition of Indonesian Thermal Coal Project; Dai-ichi (TYO:8750) is to acquire TOWER Australia Group (ASX:TAL) for future development in the Australian Insurance Market; Uran Limited (ASX:URA) has entered into an option to earn interest in near-production Manganese projects in Zambia; Imperial Corporation Limited (ASX:IMP) announced US$60.25 million acquisition of US oil assets.

The Australian share market was higher in early trade today despite Wall Street delivered a weak lead. Overnight US stocks reversed strong gains to close lower on worries over Euro amid the lingering Europe debt crisis. The newly released OECD economic outlook, predicting strong economic growth, has supported the local market today.

Most Asian markets rallied with resources shares significantly higher on Monday. Japan's Nikkei jumped 2.7 per cent while exporters were encouraged by stronger US dollar against yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 2.4 per cent. The Shanghai bourse reopened for the first day after the Lunar New Year holiday, Shanghai Composite dropped 0.5 per cent as the market was still impacted by the People's Bank of China's credit-tightening measures unveiled before the long holiday.