Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd (5101.T) said on Friday it had agreed to buy Alliance Tire Group B.V. from private equity firm KKR & Co LP (KKR.N) and others for about $1.2 billion in a bid to expand its commercial tire business. SEE MORE Vietnam's inflation rate rose sharply in the first quarter of 2016 according to official figures released Thursday, a turnaround for the communist country which saw inflation dwindle to zero last year. SEE MORE After flatlining in January, Vietnam's inflation has slowly picked up following price increases in education and health care services, according to new figures released by the government on Thursday. SEE MORE The revenue of the state budget is not big enough to cover expenses, but Vietnam cannot continue borrowing big money. SEE MORE Vietnam risks being vulnerable to external shocks if it doesn’t push through reforms to strengthen its banking system and restructure state businesses, according to International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde. SEE MORE