Asia Economy
Standard Chartered reports better-than-expected profit, flags bullish outlook on rising rates
Pedestrians pass the headquarters of Standard Chartered in London on Feb. 14, 2022. Standard Chartered’s first-quarter pre-tax profit rose 6%, beating market expectations, as the emerging markets-focused lender benefited from rising interest rates and flagged a robust outlook. Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images Standard Chartered posted a forecast-beating 6% rise in first-quarter profit, […]
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Hong Kong residents are flocking to Singapore, snapping up rental homes
Stifled by strict Covid restrictions in Hong Kong, residents from the financial hub are continuing to move to its rival, Singapore. Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty Images SINGAPORE — After eight years in Hong Kong, Jonathan Benarr is giving up that city for a new set of attractions — in Singapore. “Hong Kong was […]
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China’s Xi announces another infrastructure push to boost growth as Covid drags on
China had 37,900 kilometers (23,550 miles) of operational high-speed rail as of the end of 2020, which the country claims accounts for more than two-thirds of the world’s total. Zhang Bin | China News Service | Getty Images BEIJING — As Covid controls drag down growth, China plans to boost its economy with more infrastructure […]
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China’s central bank steps in to slow its rapidly weakening currency, as yuan hits one-year lows
The Chinese yuan has weakened sharply against the U.S. dollar in the last several weeks as the greenback strengthens and investors worry about China’s economic growth. Fotoholica Press | Lightrocket | Getty Images BEIJING — The Chinese yuan strengthened slightly against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, reversing a sharp weakening trend after the People’s Bank […]
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Heat wave in India threatens residents and crucial wheat harvest
Farmers harvest wheat crop on April 14, 2022 in India. The country has just endured its hottest March since records began, according to the India Meteorological Department, and the heat wave is dragging well into harvest time. Vipin Kumar | Hindustan Times | Getty Images A record-breaking heat wave in India exposing hundreds of millions […]
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At least a dozen U.S. universities reinstate mask mandates as Covid cases rise
Masked to protect against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), senior Lauren Pyjar takes advantage of the warm sunshine to study outdoors at Georgetown University in Washington, March 9, 2021. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters At least a dozen colleges and universities across the U.S. restored their indoor mask mandates this month after Covid cases rose on their […]
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Investment banks slash expectations for China’s economic outlook — one sees GDP growth of less than 4%
Prolonged lockdowns in Shanghai have snarled supply chains and prompted banks to cut China GDP forecasts. Here, a truck leaves a port on April 13, 2022, with healthcare supplies for Shanghai. Tang Ke | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — In just about a week, several investment banks have cut their China growth […]
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Here’s what the world’s first floating city in Busan, South Korea, could look like
Artist rendering courtesy Oceanix, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. The United Nations, a floating city architecture firm called Oceanix, and the South Korean city of Busan on Tuesday unveiled the prototype for a floating, sustainable version of the key shipping hub. Floating cities could be a way to mitigate the effects of sea level rise caused by […]
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HSBC’s first-quarter profit slides as Ukraine conflict, inflation bite
Pedestrians walk past a HSBC Bank branch in Hong Kong. HSBC reported a 27% fall in quarterly profit on Tuesday, as the Asia-focused bank suffered from decreased revenues and slowing growth in Hong Kong. Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images HSBC reported a 27% fall in quarterly profit on Tuesday, as the Asia-focused […]
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Chinese start-up Nreal is launching its augmented reality glasses in the UK this spring
Attendees look at NReal’s augmented reality glasses, on the last day of CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images Nreal, a Chinese augmented reality start-up, is planning to bring its smart glasses to the U.K. The Beijing-based company said Tuesday it will launch its Nreal Air AR glasses in […]
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