Asia Economy
Why tensions between China and Taiwan are on the rise
In May, President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to China: The U.S. would come to Taiwan’s defense militarily if China were to invade. “That’s the commitment we made,” Biden said in response to a question over the U.S.’ intention to protect Taiwan. “We agree with the ‘One China’ policy. We signed on to it.” […]
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How an Indian cement maker bought Russian coal using yuan
People walking past HDFC Bank In Kolkata, India on 19 August, 2021. An Indian cement maker’s recent purchase of Russian coal using yuan involved India’s biggest private lender, HDFC Bank, according to an invoice seen by Reuters and a source, as more details emerge of the kind of trade that could blunt Western sanctions against […]
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Malaysia fuel subsidies offer some reprieve from inflation, says economist
Malaysia is in an “enviable” position because fuel subsidies have shielded households from higher oil prices, according to an economist. “Even though we’re seeing this acceleration in inflation, and we’re going to see higher inflation going forward, particularly into the second half … households have in some way been shielded because of these fuel subsidies,” […]
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Chips drive Samsung’s highest second-quarter profit since 2018, but demand is cooling
People walk past the logo of Samsung Electronics in Seoul on July 7, 2022. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd turned in its best April-June profit since 2018 on Thursday, underpinned by strong sales of memory chips to server customers even as demand from inflation-hit smartphone makers cools. Jung Yeon-je | Afp | Getty Images […]
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Beijing city tightens Covid vaccine requirements as cases grow nationwide
Chinese cities like Beijing, pictured here on July 6, 2022, require negative virus tests from within the last 72 hours in order to enter most public spaces. Kevin Frayer | Getty Images News | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s capital city is set to require Covid vaccinations for entering gyms and some other venues, the […]
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How a former Lehman Brothers banker turned the tables and built a pandemic-proof business
Declan Ee always knew he wanted to run his own business. But when he graduated from University College London in 2006, he saw his peers applying for jobs at investment banks and decided to give it a try. His first gig? Lehman Brothers. “I liked seeing how businesses worked on a global scale. So that […]
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Switzerland surprised markets with a rate hike. But Japan could cause a much more violent reaction
Japan’s national flag flies atop the Bank of Japan building on November 12, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images Japan’s central bank is nearing an inflection point. It comes as policymakers around the world scramble to tighten monetary policy in an effort to rein in record-high inflation. The Swiss National Bank was […]
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Soaring rents and electricity prices are squeezing Singapore retailers’ margins
Retail businesses in Singapore are grappling with higher costs as rents rise and energy prices soar, the Singapore Retailers Association said. Cost pressure is a big concern for many Singapore retailers which have not completely passed on price increases to consumers, and are currently feeling the “margin squeeze,” Ernie Koh, the association’s president told CNBC’s […]
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GM reports worst sales in China since onset of Covid-19 lockdowns
WUHAN, CHINA – 2022/05/18: Employees wearing masks work on a car assembly line at the SAIC General Motors Co. The SAIC General Motors Wuhan Branch has resumed production following epidemic prevention and control rules. (Photo by Ren Yong/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images DETROIT – General Motors on Wednesday […]
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Macao locks down landmark Lisboa hotel after more than a dozen Covid-19 cases
In this 2019 photo, the Grand Lisboa casino resort towers over dilapidated buildings in Macao. Anthony Wallace | AFP | Getty Images Macao has locked down one of the city’s most famous hotels, the Grand Lisboa, after more than a dozen Covid-19 cases were found there on Tuesday, with infections spreading rapidly in the world’s […]
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