Asia Economy
Thai cabinet approves Vitai Ratanakorn as next central bank chief, official says
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for Vitai Ratanakorn to be the next governor of the Bank of Thailand, a government official said. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for Vitai Ratanakorn to be the next governor of the Bank of Thailand, a government official said. The appointment of Vitai, 54, the […]
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South Korea fin min, trade envoy to hold 2+2 trade talks with U.S. counterparts
South Korea’s new finance minister and the country’s top trade envoy will meet with U.S. counterparts on Friday for talks on U.S. tariffs. RunPhoto | Photodisc | Getty Images South Korea’s new finance minister and the country’s top trade envoy will meet with U.S. counterparts on Friday for talks on U.S. tariffs, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday. The country’s foreign and industry ministers will also visit […]
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Asia-Pacific markets rise after Wall Street benchmarks hit record highs
Japan’s Nikkei 225 share average rises in early trade Japan’s rose in early trade Tuesday, as markets reopened after the ruling party lost its majority in the upper house over the weekend. The 225-stock share average advanced 1.12% to hit 40,254.18 at 9.17 a.m. local time (8.17 p.m. ET Monday), while the broader Topix index added […]
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Singapore dollar exhibits safe-haven currency features. But it’s no yen or Swiss franc — yet
A staff member counts Singapore dollar currency notes at Raffles Place financial business district in Singapore on October 6, 2022. Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty Images In times of uncertainty, investors turn to safe-haven assets — gold, Treasuries as well as currencies such as the Japanese yen, U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc. These […]
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Chinese companies are waging fierce price wars — but the consumer isn’t always the winner
A store in a shopping mall in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2024. Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty Images Fierce price wars in China are hitting industries from cars to food deliveries to solar panels, squeezing profits and worsening the country’s deflationary slide. Though consumers may be lured by ultra-cheap deals, the trade-offs for them […]
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China holds key lending rates as softening consumer sentiment persists in world’s second largest economy
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) building in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Bloomberg | Getty Images China kept its benchmark lending rates steady on Monday as the country continues to grapple with weak consumer sentiment and softening growth. The People’s Bank of China held the 1-year loan prime rate at 3.0% and […]
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Asia markets set to open mixed as investors assess trade developments, await China benchmark rates
Here are the opening calls for the day Good morning from Singapore. Investors will be keeping a close watch on the People’s Bank of China’s decision on its 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates for July expected later in the day. Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 24,883, pointing to a stronger open compared […]
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Australian stocks hit record high as Asia-Pacific markets track Wall Street gains
Australia stock markets climb to record high Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.58% to a record high of 8,689.4 during early trading hours. Year-to-date, the benchmark index as risen 6.62%, data from LSEG showed. Index heavyweights like mining giant BHP and Rio Tinto are up 1.7% and 1.32% respectively. Biotech firm CSL is up over 1.7%. Stock Chart […]
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Japan’s core inflation cools in June as expected, coming down from 29-month high as rice prices ease
A customer visits a store at Togoshi Ginza shopping street in Tokyo on January 23, 2025. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan’s core inflation cooled to 3.3% in June, coming down from a 29-month high of 3.7% as rice inflation showed signs of easing. The figure — which strips out costs for fresh […]
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China’s premier urges tighter price oversight as deflation pressures squeeze economy
TOPSHOT – China’s Premier Li Qiang delivers his speech during the ASEAN – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – China Economic Forum official dinner after the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, 2025. Vincent Thian | Afp | Getty Images Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for tighter […]
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