Asia Economy
Trump to visit Federal Reserve, escalating campaign against Chair Powell
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and U.S. President Donald Trump. Elizabeth Frantz | Nathan Howard | Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday, the White House said, escalating his pressure campaign against Chairman Jerome Powell. This is the first time in nearly two decades that an American president has […]
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South Korea avoids technical recession as GDP expands 0.6% in second quarter
View across the Hangang River in Seoul, South Korea. Universal History Archive | Universal Images Group | Getty Images South Korea avoided a technical recession as its economy expanded 0.6% from the previous quarter, according to advance estimates, beating expectations. This was higher than the 0.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters, and a reversal […]
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Japan trade deal info on Trump’s desk was altered by hand with a marker
President Donald Trump discussing a U.S.-Japan trade agreement with a Japanese delegation and top White House aides in the Oval Office, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Source: @Scavino47 via X | The White House President Donald Trump’s art of the deal seemed to play out in real time on Tuesday. Trump announced what he called a […]
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Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba denies reports suggesting he could resign in August: Reuters
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses the media at the vote counting center in the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on July 20, 2025. Franck Robichon | Afp | Getty Images Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has denied media reports that he was considering resigning, according to Reuters. Local media outlets earlier in […]
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Singapore inflation remains at over four-year low ahead of monetary policy decision
The Merlion statue in the central business district of Singapore, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore’s headline inflation rate remained steady at 0.8% in June, staying at its lowest level in over four years. The inflation figure was lower than the 0.9% expected by economists, and comes ahead of […]
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China’s affluent are as pessimistic about the economy as they were during the Covid-19 pandemic
A study of affluent Chinese released this month by consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that 22% of respondents were negative about the economy when surveyed in May. It just exceeds the 21% seen in October 2022, just before Beijing announced plans to ease its stringent zero-Covid policy. Dukai Photographer | Moment | Getty Images BEIJING […]
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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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