WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Growth in New Zealand household borrowing was subdued in July, data showed on Thursday, as the finance minister warned the economy faced its greatest challenge in over two decades.

MANILA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Faltering consumption dragged Philippine annual economic growth down to 4.6 percent in the second quarter but a rate rise was still expected later on Thursday as climbing inflation remains the biggest threat.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday the central bank should not relax its guard on inflation risks even as rises in international commodity prices have eased.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan should not relax its guard on inflation risks even as rises in international commodity prices have eased, a hawkish member of the central bank's policy board warned on Thursday.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond futures edged up on Thursday, crawling towards a four-month high struck earlier this week, as investors took their cue from an overnight rise in U.S. Treasuries.

WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Growth in New Zealand household borrowing was steady in July, data showed on Thursday, suggesting consumer spending remained subdued in the face of a slowing economy.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan (BOJ) board member Miyako Suda said on Thursday the central bank should not relax its guard on inflation risks even as rises in international commodity prices have eased.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The dollar slipped from a six-month high against the euro on Thursday after comments by European Central Bank officials the previous day scaled back speculation about an ECB rate cut.

TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Thursday he would decline to comment on a media report that the United States, Europe, and Japan had planned in March to intervene if the dollar fell too far.

SYDNEY, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The New Zealand dollar <NZD=> rose on Thursday as the U.S. currency came under pressure on receding expectations of a rate cut in the euro zone.