. >>> chinatrust bank has agreed to buy tokyo star bank. the bank plans to complete the deal by the end of this year. sources say it will buy out tokyo star's major shareholders for around $520 million. they include u.s. investment fund lone star and japan's shinsei bank. chinatrust began operating in japan by offering loans to small and medium-sized companies starting in 2000. the bank plans to extend its lending business to japanese companies operating in asian markets. chinatrust also aims to strengthen its asset management services for wealthy japanese customers. bank officials plan to make better use of tokyo star's 31 outlets located mainly in the tokyo metropolitan area and its capital base of more than $20 million in deposits. >>> here's the three-day world weather forecast. >>> that concludes this edition of "newsline." i'm keiko kitagawa in tokyo. thank you for joining us.