*** Markets: Asia slid, except China strongly up Asian stocks fell as concern about the outlook for company earnings overshadowed gains in China. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.2% to
130.49 in Tokyo. China's Shanghai Composite Index jumped 3.3% on the back of three positive news: retail sales surged, Moody's Investors Service said it may boost the country's bond A1 rating and the Juan climbed to its strongest against the dollar since 1993, as Premier Wen Jiabao said this week China will gradually increase flexibility in the currency. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid 0.5% as carmakers dropped after the yen reached a 15-year high against the dollar. South Korea's Kospi index and Taiwan's Taiex index dropped 0.2%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.7%. Futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 0.2%.