Singapore

The market caps of COSCO Shipping Holdings and Asian steelmakers took noticeable leaps in the first half of 2021. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Markets

Indian steelmakers and China's COSCO Shipping lead stocks rally

Alibaba and Pinduoduo slip as Asian stocks underperform global peers in first half

1 July 2021
DBS is betting heavily on growth in China's Greater Bay Area, which generated more than 11% of China's GDP in 2018.
Caixin

Singapore's DBS closer to taking strategic stake in Chinese lender

Move is first foreign investment in small or midsize bank since 2010

30 June 2021
The Tokyo Stock Exchange had only four listed non-Japanese companies at the end of 2020, a far cry from Hong Kong or Singapore.
Markets

Tokyo snags Asian listing in 'Goldilocks' space between NYSE and Hong Kong

More than 30 companies weighing depositary share debut in Japan

30 June 2021
A Raffles City development in Shanghai: CapitaLand plans to shift its Chinese portfolio away from commercial sites toward logistics and other growth sectors. (Photo courtesy of CapitaLand)
Property

Singapore's CapitaLand cashes in China stakes to fund new bets

Ping An agrees to buy shares in Raffles City commercial projects under $7bn deal

30 June 2021
Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary Scoot will debut new Airbus A321neo jets to serve Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Transportation

Singapore Airlines' budget unit Scoot debuts new Airbus jets

Low-cost carrier eyes routes to Thailand and Vietnam after fleet refresh

28 June 2021
The Monetary Authority of Singapore has not said whether it will launch a retail digital currency, but it has been exploring the concept.
Economy

Singapore dangles fintech prize for digital currency ideas

Central bank aims to iron out issues with fiat e-money as interest grows

28 June 2021
The National University of Singapore took a proactive approach to keep COVID-19 off campus, monitoring where students are with Wi-Fi and a smartphone app, for example.
Education

Singapore university keeps COVID at bay with tech and discipline

School maintains on-campus classes with zoning rules and sewage checks

27 June 2021
A teenager receives a COVID-19 vaccine dose in Tel Aviv on June 21, after authorities urged parents to get their kids inoculated amid school outbreaks.
Coronavirus

Israel COVID uptick shows vaccines help but are no panacea

As Asia accelerates shots, signs point to virus becoming endemic like flu

25 June 2021
Singapore's Keppel is one of the world's top builders of offshore rigs.
Energy

Singapore's Keppel talks merger of offshore unit with Sembcorp Marine

Oil and gas rig builders seek deal in 2022 amid growing pressure to restructure

24 June 2021
A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Noevir Stadium Kobe in Kobe, Japan, on June 12. 
Coronavirus

Delta variants create roadblock on Asia's path toward normalcy

Vaccination efforts accelerate in face of evolving virus

24 June 2021
GIC will buy a 16% stake in an agreement that values Sunway Healthcare at about $1.13 billion.
Health Care

Singapore's GIC to invest $180m in Sunway's health care unit

Malaysian company plans to increase hospital beds to 3,000 in four years

23 June 2021
U.S. semiconductor giant GlobalFoundries will invest over $4 billion in its Singapore plant, increasing its capacity to about 1.5 million wafers per year.
Semiconductors

GlobalFoundries puts $4bn into Singapore expansion

US semiconductor giant ramps up wafer capacity amid chip shortage

22 June 2021
ASEAN's emblem, center, features stalks of rice that symbolize the 10 member countries' solidarity. 
Asia Insight

ASEAN defends its Indo-Pacific 'centrality' between Quad and China

Myanmar and COVID crises threaten bloc's role in regional order

22 June 2021
Breathonix's breath test requires subjects to blow into a mouthpiece connected to analytics equipment. (Photo courtesy of Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry)
Coronavirus

Singapore's COVID breath tests give results within 2 minutes

Devices suited for large events and border control

22 June 2021
Sea's share price ended at $282.49 on Friday in New York, another record high for the company on a weekly close basis..
Markets

Sea tops SoftBank in market cap amid Latin America expansion

Singapore tech group valued at $140bn launches e-commerce in Chile and Colombia

21 June 2021
Under a proposed bilateral agreement, Vietnam is set to send its workers to Israel to learn agricultural techniques used there. 
Agriculture

Southeast Asia looks to Israeli tech to improve farming techniques

Israel companies offer ways to boost production as region faces supply threats

20 June 2021
Employees work at Mediatrac, a data analytics startup in Jakarta: Southeast Asia has seen a strong rebound in deals as investors adjust to the setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Startups

Indonesia startups stand out in ASEAN by leaning on bonus pay

Southeast Asia battles for top professionals as its digital prominence grows

18 June 2021
A SPAC listing deal gives Anthony Tan 60.4% of Grab's voting rights despite his 2.2% ownership stake. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura) 
Business Spotlight

Grab's $40bn SPAC plan puts CEO Anthony Tan in driver's seat

Super app founder's huge voting power will bring fresh scrutiny of leadership

18 June 2021
Skyscrapers tower over Shanghai: A senior IMD economist says China addressed the pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis in a "most effective way."
Economy

China gains on US in competitiveness ranking as Taiwan joins top 10

Singapore and Hong Kong slip on IMD's list amid pandemic strain

17 June 2021
China regards Taiwan as a "core interest" not subject to outside interference.
International relations

China fends off pressure over Taiwan in ASEAN-led defense talks

Japan criticizes Beijing's sea legislation; nations vow 'respect for international law'

17 June 2021
A thick cloud of smoke billows from a coal-burning power station in Beijing. Transitioning to green technology could be costly for companies. 
Climate Change

Japan and Singapore to push decarbonization investments in Asia

Industry ministries support gradual steps to curb emissions in emerging economies

17 June 2021
ASEAN defense ministers attend a virtual meeting on June 15. (Image courtesy of Brunei's Defense Ministry)
South China Sea

ASEAN defense ministers urge quick work on South China Sea code

Tuesday's talks to be followed by broader meeting with US, China and others

15 June 2021
Carro CEO Aaron Tan says insurance and B2B financing are areas of interest to his company. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Finance

SoftBank supercharges Singapore's Carro to unicorn status

Vision Fund 2 leads $360m Series C round in Southeast Asian car marketplace

15 June 2021
The benchmark food price index published by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, which tracks the prices of meat, dairy, cereals, vegetables oils and sugar, has hit the highest level in nearly 10 years. 
Market Spotlight

Decade-high food prices hit Asian consumers and businesses

Bread and mayonnaise costs surge in South Korea and Japan as Thai farmers gain

14 June 2021
Yokohama's Minato Mirai waterfront business district. The Japanese port city lost multiple potential suitors to build an integrated resort casino. (Photo by Tomoya Ushiyama)
Travel & Leisure

Genting Singapore-led group in running for Yokohama casino deal

Two competing offers, one unnamed, to be considered ahead of final decision this summer

11 June 2021