Asia Economy
South Korea proposes extra $17 billion budget to cushion energy costs fueled by Iran war
Workers install solar power infrastructure at a public parking lot within the National Assembly grounds in Yeouido, Seoul, on March 26, 2026. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images South Korea on Tuesday proposed a supplementary budget worth 26.2 trillion won (about $17.1 billion) to ease the burden of rising energy prices on households and industries […]
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Indian mobile giant Airtel raises $1 billion for data centers from Carlyle, other PE firms
A Bharti Airtel office building pictured in Gurugram, on the outskirts of New Delhi. Pacific Press | Lightrocket | Getty Images India’s telecom giant Bharti Airtel has raised $1 billion for its data center arm — Nxtra Data — from private equity firms Alpha Wave, Carlyle and Anchorage Capital, underscoring a growing global interest in […]
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China’s factory activity returns to growth, expanding at its sharpest pace in a year
LIANYUNGANG, CHINA – FEBRUARY 28: Employees produce stuffed toys for export at a toy factory on February 28, 2026 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China. Si Wei | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s official gauge for manufacturing activity climbed more than expected in March to mark its best performance in a year and snapping […]
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India flags slower growth, wider deficit as Iran war raises the stakes for New Delhi
People queue to refuel their vehicles at a gas station in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on March 24, 2026, following import disruptions related to the war in the Middle East. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images India has warned that its growth forecast of 7.0%–7.4% for the financial year ending March 2027 faces “considerable downside” risk […]
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CNBC Daily Open: Trump’s ‘favorite thing’ is Iranian oil
A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs Pbc | Via Reuters Hello, this is Leonie Kidd writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open. Sometimes, two things can be true at the same time. But U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration […]
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South Korea’s Kospi leads declines in Asia as Middle East war enters fifth week
The Tokyo Tower stands amid buildings at dusk in Tokyo, Japan. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets fell sharply on Monday as the Middle East war entered its fifth week, with the conflict escalating despite efforts aimed at finding a diplomatic solution. The benchmark Kospi plunged over 5%, while the small-cap Kosdaq was […]
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CNBC Daily Open: U.S. eyes ground operation as oil execs warn of price shock
This picture taken on March 26, 2026 shows an oil tanker unloading crude oil at a port in Yantai, in China’s eastern Shandong province. CN-STR | Afp | Getty Images Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open. On March 11, President Donald Trump said […]
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Trump reportedly warns to ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Tehran targets water, power plants in Kuwait
Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. Smoke could be seen rising from the direction of a major UAE energy installation on March 14, in what appeared to be the latest strike targeting the Gulf’s petroleum facilities hours after the US struck Iran’s […]
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Oil surges 3% as Iran war escalates with Yemen’s Houthis entering the Mideast conflict
Smoke emanates from smokestacks from an oil refinery in Linden, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty Images Oil prices climbed Monday after Yemen’s Houthis said they had fired missiles at Israel, opening a new front in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. May futures for international benchmark Brent crude rose […]
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Analysts name ‘positive surprises’ for BTS parent company Hybe with double-digit upside
HSBC has raised its target price for Hybe, the company behind Kpop sensation BTS , even as the band’s March comeback concert in Seoul drew a smaller crowd than expected. The bank reiterated its “buy” rating for the stock, increased its target price for Hybe to 500,000 won ($332) from 420,000 won and gave it […]
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