Breaking News: Asia
China fourth-quarter growth slows to 4.5%, weakest in nearly three years as consumption misses forecasts
Pedestrians in the Huaqiangbei electronics market area in Shenzhen, China, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images China’s economic growth slowed to its weakest pace in nearly three years in the fourth quarter as domestic demand softened, though full-year growth matched Beijing’s target despite growing trade frictions with the U.S. […]
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Asia-Pacific markets mostly slip as investors assess Greenland developments, await key China data
People celebrate the New Year at a ceremony at the Juyongguan Great Wall section, also known as Juyong Pass, in Beijing, China, January 1, 2026. Maxim Shemetov | Reuters Asia-Pacific markets mostly slipped Monday, as investors assessed threats from the Trump administration toward Greenland over the weekend and looked toward key economic data from China. […]
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Asian chip stocks advance, Taiwan outperforms after trade deal with U.S.
The city skyline is seen with the landmark Taipei 101 building from a lookout point on Elephant Mountain in Taipei on April 14, 2025. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP) (Photo by I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images) I-hwa Cheng | Afp | Getty Images Asian chip stocks climbed Friday, lifting several regional markets even as […]
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Iran briefly closes airspace as U.S. tensions rise, flights rerouted across region
Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026. Kamran | Afp | Getty Images Iran temporarily closed its airspace late Wednesday to most incoming and outgoing flights amid escalating tensions with the U.S., according to a notice posted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The restriction was scheduled to […]
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China’s annual trade surplus hits a record $1.2 trillion as December exports sharply beat estimates
QINGDAO, CHINA – JANUARY 13, 2026 – The cargo ship is loading and unloading foreign trade containers at Qingdao Port in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China on January 13, 2026. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images China’s exports growth in December sharply beat expectations, catapulting the annual trade surplus to a record high, even […]
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Japanese stocks open at record highs as expectations of snap poll rise
Osanbashi in Yokohama on December 10, 2022. Yuichi Yamazaki | Afp | Getty Images Japanese indexes hit record highs Wednesday on expectations that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could call for a snap election, likely in February. If called, it will be Takaichi’s first time facing Japan’s voters in an election. The Nikkei 225 index rose […]
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China inflation hits near three-year high in December as full-year CPI misses target
HAIKOU, CHINA – JANUARY 01: Customers shop at CDF Haikou International Duty Free City on January 1, 2026 in Haikou, Hainan Province of China. Luo Yunfei | China News Service | Getty Images China’s consumer inflation accelerated in December to the fastest pace in nearly three years as spending picked up ahead of the New […]
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Asia-Pacific markets set to start 2026 on a mixed note
People celebrate the New Year at the Bank of China building in Central in Hong Kong, China, January 1, 2026. Lam Yik | Reuters Asia-Pacific markets are set to open mixed Friday to kick off the new year. All three major indexes in the U.S. pulled back on New Year’s Eve, but still clocked gains […]
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China manufacturing activity expands for the first time since March, beating expectations
An employee works on the production line of power batteries and box chassis for new energy vehicles at a workshop on July 11, 2025 in Huaibei, Anhui Province of China. Li Xin | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s economy ended the year on a slightly less gloomy note, as factory activity expanded in […]
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Softbank has fully funded $40 billion investment in OpenAI, sources tell CNBC
Softbank has completed its $40 billion investment commitment to OpenAI, sources told CNBC’s David Faber. The Japanese investment giant sent over a final $22 billion to $22.5 billion investment last week, according to the sourced familiar with the matter. Softbank had previously had syndicated $10 billion and invested $8 billion in the ChatGPT maker. CNBC […]
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