With Malaysian equities leading the way, the rally in Southeast Asian stocks has been underpinned by expectations of a September rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Markets

Investors turn to ASEAN markets as inflation's grip loosens

Weakening dollar provides tailwind to region's high-growth economies

26 August 2024
The Philippine central bank has approved four new licenses for digital bank operators as more Filipinos go cashless.
Finance

Philippines eases digital bank cap as industry fights for profits

Central bank offers 4 new licenses, but experts see credit risk 'challenge'

25 August 2024
Wagyu prices are slumping due mainly to feeble demand, but are still high for most consumers. (Photo by Hisashi Tsusui)
Agriculture

Wagyu beef's wholesale price falls to 4-year low as consumption slows

Exports to Asia, Europe and U.S. boom as farmers seek stable demand

24 August 2024
Seven & i Holdings operates a sprawling retail empire in Japan, including 7-Eleven convenience stores. (Photo by Yoshiyuki Tamai)
Markets

Seven & i takeover bid signals opening for corporate bargain hunters

Retail group among Japan blue chips with relatively low valuations

24 August 2024
The recent boom in artificial intelligence has only recently started to benefit the NAND memory, which is Kioxia's specialty. (Kioxia)
Semiconductors

Kioxia poised for long-sought IPO as AI boom trickles down

Japan memory maker finds footing after market slump and Western Digital saga

24 August 2024
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is speaking at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park to a gathering of global central bankers and economists.
Economy

Fed's Powell says 'time has come' for U.S. to cut interest rates

Jackson Hole remarks as close as he is likely to come to declaring victory over inflation

24 August 2024
Japanese purchases of foreign debt securities have hit a three-month high.
Bonds

Japan money piles into U.S., China bonds on rate cut expectations

Yen outlook holds key to Japanese investors' moves for rest of 2024

24 August 2024
India's securities watchdog says Anil Ambani orchestrated a scheme to "siphon off" funds from Reliance Home Finance, a listed subsidiary of conglomerate Reliance Group, of which he is chairman.
Markets

Anil Ambani banned from Indian securities market for 5 years

Securities and Exchange Board of India also imposes $3m fine

23 August 2024
Chinese insurer Ping An says bond investment will continue to be a core feature in its investment portfolio despite regulators' moves to cool bets. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters) 
Finance

Ping An to continue government bond investments despite crackdown

Chinese insurer evades questions on HSBC holdings at press conference

23 August 2024
High-rise buildings in India's financial capital Mumbai. India continues to be a bright spot in the region, with a stable macroeconomic backdrop driven by ongoing digitization, infrastructure development and services exports. 
Opinion

Asia's high-yield bonds are a great opportunity for investors

As the Asian market becomes more diversified, new prospects emerge across the region

23 August 2024
The market is keeping close tabs on Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda's remarks. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Bank of Japan

BOJ Gov. Ueda restates stance on policy normalization after market rout

Central banker scrutinized at parliamentary hearing on market messaging

23 August 2024
Kioxia's Kitakami plant in northeastern Japan. The chipmaker is tapping accelerating demand from the AI sector. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Semiconductors

Japanese chipmaker Kioxia aims to list in October amid AI boom

Expected capitalization of over $10bn would be Japan's largest 2024 IPO

23 August 2024
WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, received the green light to test vehicles on some Californian roads.
Markets

Chinese self-driving startup WeRide delays U.S. IPO

Delays come amid reports of tighter scrutiny over China's autonomous vehicle software

23 August 2024
Japan's Financial Services Agency will tighten disclosure requirements surrounding cross-shareholdings. (Photo by Fumi Matsumoto)
Equities

Japan looks to keep companies honest about cross-shareholding cuts

Tighter disclosure rules aim to keep shares from being repurposed in name only

23 August 2024
Oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, in June 2023. Figures from the Middle East suggest Shanghai Petrochem now sources 10% of its crude from Russia.
Commodities

Shanghai Petrochem reveals more Russia oil buying as Li Qiang visits

Executive stresses 'price' is key; Chinese premier cements economic ties with Putin

22 August 2024
Bank of China joined a growing list of Chinese companies terminating contracts with PwC as the collapse of China Evergrande put the auditor's work in doubt.
Caixin

PwC loses largest China client in wake of China Evergrande storm

Penalties on professional services firm over 'negligence' likely to come soon

22 August 2024
The share prices of ASEAN's three biggest tech companies -- GoTo, Sea and Grab -- are experiencing contrasting fortunes as investors seek greater profitability. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi, Reuters and Hiroki Endo)
Technology

ASEAN tech stars Grab, GoTo and Sea fight to retain market sparkle

Investors prize profitability over merely cutting losses

22 August 2024
Japanese companies' strong earnings during the April-June period encouraged investors to buy while their stock prices were down. (Photo by Shunsuke Inaba)
Equities

Japanese stocks erase losses from tailspin on brighter U.S. outlook

Companies' strong April-June performances boost share prices

22 August 2024
A real estate property developed by Kaisa Group Holdings in Beijing. The company's losses continue to pile up.
China debt crunch

China developers' loss warnings exceed $8bn in past week alone

Kaisa reports more red ink; Sunac takes big blow despite Xi's 'bright prospects'

22 August 2024
A boy swims in a pool at a Vinhomes condominium complex in Ho Chi Minh City: Demand for housing in Vietnam's big cities outstrips supply, buoying prices.
Property

Vietnam's housing market sees green shoots of recovery

Fears of crash subside but apartment shortage persists

22 August 2024
The Hong Kong Exchange logged a 3% decline in first-half profit although the second quarter showed more promise. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

Hong Kong Exchange's first-half profit sinks amid weak market sentiment

New CEO Bonnie Chan describes results as 'robust' but concedes outlook uncertain

21 August 2024
According to a Reuters poll, 24 out of 27 economists expected the central bank to stand pat, while the rest saw a 25 basis point rate cut.
Economy

Thai central bank stands pat to assess impact of political instability

Bank of Thailand balances growth and risk by keeping policy rate at 2.5%

21 August 2024
China's three state-owned telecom operators are gearing further towards higher dividend payments and lower capital expenditure. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)  
Telecommunication

China Telecom, China Mobile hike dividends under Beijing pressure

Payout ratios to go beyond 75% for state-owned telecos as need to invest recedes

21 August 2024
A Kaisa construction site in Shanghai in December 2021: Kaisa says 34% of one creditor group and 36% of another agreed to subscribe to newly issued senior notes and convertible bonds with later maturities.
China debt crunch

Distressed Chinese developer Kaisa gets breather from major creditors

Other players continue to scramble against winding-up petitions and mounting losses

20 August 2024