Nursing home construction using proceeds from special bond issues has been approved under China's latest directive aimed at spurring growth.
Bonds

China to allow local governments to use bond funding more broadly

List of projects to cover quantum technology, bar some construction projects

Economists expect China's annual gross domestic product growth to slow by 4.4% and 4.1% in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Economy

China's GDP growth to decelerate to 4.4% in 2025, say economists

Local experts expect yuan to depreciate on weak outlook, smaller Fed cuts

China Evergrande Group's housing projects in Qidong have reportedly added more than 40,000 units to the market. (Photo by Noriyuki Doi)
Property

China housing rents slump to 4-year low amid oversupply

Downturn risks prolonging real estate slump as mortgage rates outpace rental yields

26 December 2024
A Toyota executive said that reaching a return on equity of 20% is necessary for the carmaker to compete globally. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Automobiles

Toyota aims to double return on equity to 20%, says executive

Move by automaker likely to push Japan Inc. to focus on capital efficiency

25 December 2024
Pakistan's Karachi-based stock exchange has been dogged by its reputation as a playground for the wealthy that is prone to manipulation.
Markets

Pakistan posts 'massive' 86% share rally against all odds

Benchmark stock index emerges as one of world's top-performing markets this year

25 December 2024
A construction crew works on the Toyomi Tower Marine & Sky condominium complex in Tokyo. (Photo by Naoyuki Toyama)
Property

Tokyo condo market to remain tight in 2025 despite supply bump

New units to increase for the first time in four years

25 December 2024
Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick says the Wall Street bank is "in this for the very long term" with Japanese partner MUFG. (Photo by Daichi Mishima)
Interview

Morgan Stanley CEO seeks closer MUFG ties in asset management

Ted Pick sees tech as avenue for cooperation with Japanese partner

25 December 2024
Honda President Toshihiro Mibe says Honda's financial foundation will remain strong even after its 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) buyback. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Equities

Honda shares surge 17% on $7bn buyback amid Nissan merger talks

Auto giant is working to eliminate financial concerns, says fund manager

24 December 2024
Farmers harvest rice in a field in Chainat province, Thailand, in August 2023.
Agriculture

Thai 2024 rice exports to hit 6-year high, say industry officials

Shipments rose due to low yields among neighbors, India trade restrictions

24 December 2024
Siam Cement Group shut down its Long Son Petrochemicals complex in Vietnam after just over two weeks. (Siam Cement Group)
Materials

Thailand's Siam Cement suffers latest setback at Vietnam petrochemical plant

China supply glut forces Long Son complex to stop production after just two weeks

24 December 2024
Chinese regulators say brokerage economists must "play a positive role in interpreting government policies and boost investor confidence."
Economy

China says economists who spread 'inappropriate' views should be fired

Securities watchdog says brokerages must help 'boost investor confidence'

23 December 2024
The U.S. largely built the Panama Canal, but handed control of the waterway to Panama in 1999 after a period of joint administration.
Trump administration

Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal, eyeing Chinese influence

U.S. president-elect accuses Panama of charging ships 'ridiculous' fees

23 December 2024
Malaysia emerged as the best performing IPO market in Southeast Asia in 2024, hosting 46 listings and raising a total of $1.5 billion. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters)
Trading Asia

Southeast Asia's IPOs poised for rebound in 2025, but clouds loom

Smaller companies could turn to local listings, lifting region's performance

23 December 2024
Tanks at an oil field operated by Caspiy Neft, one of Kazakhstan's largest oil companies. Oil revenue is an important source of funds for the national government.
Economy

Kazakhstan's budget concerns deepen as oil prices hinge on Trump policy

Poor tax discipline leaves government struggling to balance books

22 December 2024
Nippon Steel's shares have drifted lower since U.S. President Joe Biden first hinted earlier this year that he was opposed to a takeover of U.S. Steel. 
Your Week in Asia

Nippon Steel deal, Indian Ocean tsunami, holiday trading hours

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

22 December 2024
Lynas Rare Earths started up its first Australian rare-earth processing facility in November. (Lynas Rare Earths)
Commodities

Australia's Lynas nears start of heavy rare-earth processing amid China shift

CEO sees expansion into rarer, pricier elements potentially boosting margins

21 December 2024
Japanese companies engaged in record share buybacks this year as the Tokyo Stock Exchange urge improvements in capital efficiency. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Business trends

Japan share buybacks soar to record $108bn on strong profits

Stock repurchases gain steam as businesses exit cross-shareholdings

21 December 2024
Sapporo Holdings’ real estate business includes properties in prime downtown locations such as the Yebisu Garden Place commercial complex in Tokyo.
Property

Sapporo Holdings' $2.6bn in real estate draws interest from Mitsui Fudosan, KKR

Several companies to be shortlisted, asset assessments to begin early next year

20 December 2024
Some private equity funds are vowing to steer clear of China as the U.S. government tightens restrictions on investment in the country. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters, AP and Akira Kodaka)
US-China tensions

Private equity firms pledge to be China-free as U.S. tightens rules

33 firms sign on to bipartisan-backed initiative ahead of key Congress vote

20 December 2024
The BOJ statement after the meeting was little changed from the previous meeting, leaving little clue as to why the central bank refrained from a rate hike. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Bank of Japan

BOJ chief surprises with dovish remarks, trimming odds of January hike

Japanese central bank stands pat in bow to sluggish economy

19 December 2024
A Mr.DIY shop in Bangkok. The region's largest home improvement retailer has more than 4,000 stores globally. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
IPO

Shares in Indonesian arm of Malaysia's Mr.DIY volatile in debut

Listing comes as purchasing power declines in Southeast Asia's largest economy

19 December 2024
Before the BOJ's announcement, market watchers were divided over whether the central bank would hike its policy rate in December or January. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Bank of Japan

BOJ and Fed double up on yen, sending it to a five-month low

Currency falls past 157 per dollar on Gov. Ueda's cautious stance

19 December 2024
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Eli Remolona: According to a Reuters poll, all 24 surveyed economists forecast the BSP would ease interest rates by 25 basis points.
Economy

Philippines cuts policy rate in effort to support economy

Easing comes amid peso's persistent weakness and continued headline inflation

19 December 2024
Segantii founder Simon Salder walks with his lawyer Denise Fung in Hong Kong in July. (Photo by Echo Wong)
Markets

Segantii executives plead not guilty in Hong Kong insider trading case

'Block trade king' trial over Esprit dealings set for 2026

19 December 2024
Yuan and dollar notes are counted at a bank in Bangkok in January 2023. China's currency has been weakening against the greenback.
Currencies

China's central bank steps up currency support after Fed move

Onshore yuan hits 15 month-low, treasury bond yields fall

19 December 2024
The Federal Reserve has made its final interest rate decision before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Finance

Fed signals fewer rate cuts after quarter-point reduction

U.S. stocks tumble on Powell's hawkish stance on rate cuts

19 December 2024
Kioxia's market cap upon closing Wednesday stood at 863 billion yen ($5.6 billion), a significant drop from its 2 trillion yen valuation when the chipmaker, then called Toshiba Memory, was acquired in 2018.
Semiconductors

Lackluster Kioxia IPO signals cold winter for Japan chip industry

Tepid valuation reflects concern over flagging computer and smartphone demand

19 December 2024
Brazil became the largest source of China's corn imports from January to October, accounting for 50%, according to trade data from China's General Administration of Customs.
Trade

Argentina, Brazil eye crop exports to China as Trump tariffs loom

South American wheat, corn likely to benefit from trade tensions

19 December 2024