Breaking News: Asia
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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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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Japan’s exports fall for second straight month with no U.S. trade deal in sight, raising recession fears
New Isuzu Motors Ltd. trucks bound for shipment at a port in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s exports in June contracted 0.5% year over year, extending the 1.7% drop seen in May as deliveries continued to decline for the second straight month. The decrease in exports […]
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Asia-Pacific markets mostly fall as investors assess Japan’s trade data and Trump’s plans for Powell
Singapore stocks extend rally to hit fresh all-time highs Singapore’s 30-stock benchmark Straits Times Index extended its winning run for a ninth consecutive day, hitting a fresh all-time high of 4,154.13 earlier in the session. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Straits Times Index Chinese and Hong Kong stocks rise in early trade Chinese and Hong […]
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China’s second-quarter GDP tops expectations at 5.2%, easing stimulus pressure
High rise buildings, including the China Zun or CITIC Tower (L, back) is seen at the Central Business Distric (CBD) from the Tuanjiehu park in Beijing on June 2, 2025. Adek Berry | Afp | Getty Images China’s economy grew at a faster-than-expected rate in the second quarter and exceeded Beijing’s full-year target of 5%, […]
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Asia markets open mixed as investors await key China data
Asia-Pacific markets open mixed Asia-Pacific markets started the day mixed Tuesday. As of 8.10 a.m. Singapore time (8.10 p.m. Monday ET), Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark was flat while the broader Topix index added 0.32%. In South Korea, the Kospi index was down 0.31% while the small-cap Kosdaq moved up 0.26%. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 benchmark advanced […]
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India’s inflation cools to 2.1% in June, extending slide to more than 6-year lows
A laborer loads consumer goods onto a supply cart at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, on November 11, 2024. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images India’s consumer inflation continued to ease in June, hitting a lower-than-expected 2.10%, government data showed on Monday. The headline inflation rate extended its slide after dropping to a more […]
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China’s exports beat expectations in June, while imports rebound for the first time this year
A cargo ship loads and unloads containers at the Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, on July 10, 2025. Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images China’s exports beat expectations in June as businesses continued to rush out shipments to capitalize on a temporary tariff reprieve ahead of an August […]
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Singapore’s economy grows 4.3% in second quarter, beating expectations
This photo shows the Marina Bay Sands hotels resort and Garden by the Bay domes backdropped with the city skyline in Singapore on June 27, 2025. Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty Images Singapore’s economy grew at 4.3% year over year in the second quarter of 2025, accelerating from 4.1% in the first three months […]
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