2 January 2008,
The latest economic data from South Korea and Singapore suggests that the slowdown in US economic growth could be starting to hit East Asia.
South Korea's exports increased by a worse-than-expected 15.5% to $33.25bn (£16.8bn) in December, as it saw its first monthly trade deficit since 2003.
Separately, Singapore's economy shrank in the past three months for the first time in five years.
