The Big Story
HSBC battles shareholder revolt as breakup vote looms
Bank’s balancing act between U.K. and China appears increasingly untenable
Hong Kong
Politics
Hong Kong to slash democratically elected seats on local councils
Plan includes strict vetting for candidates in double blow to pro-democracy camp
Cryptocurrencies
Hong Kong presses banks to provide services for crypto companies
Virtual asset firms struggle to open accounts despite city's push to become hub
Hong Kong security law
Hong Kong security law keeps tight lid on Labor Day rallies
Quiet streets reveal limitations of city's post-COVID return to 'normal'
Hong Kong security law
U.N. expert warns Hong Kong security law compromising judiciary
Letter comes as city pushes for veto on foreign lawyers, other powers
Hong Kong security law
Overseas Hong Kongers fear long reach of national security law
Arrest of student living in Japan stokes concern over law's broad application
Hong Kong security law
Hong Kong faces teacher flight as China pushes 'patriotism'
Exits more than double in 2 years amid curriculum changes after security law
Business Spotlight
How business-friendly Hong Kong became a hub of Russian chip trade
Ease of setting up companies makes dodging sanctions easier, experts say
DealStreetAsia
Australia and Singapore AI startup Cortical Labs raises $10m
Funding round led by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's Horizons Ventures
China debt crunch
China developer Sunac shares plunge after suspension ends
Shares down nearly 60% at one point after resuming trade in Hong Kong
COVID vaccines
Moderna eyes local COVID vaccines for Japan, other countries
Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton highlights room for region-specific shots
Tea Leaves
Hong Kong's 'new normal' is anything but
City retains its business buzz as political freedoms wither
Semiconductors
Special report: How U.S.-made chips are flowing into Russia
Shipments from Hong Kong and China jumped tenfold after invasion of Ukraine
Market Spotlight
Chinese banks ditch bad loans amid property woes
Hundreds of billions of yuan in distressed assets were sold last year
Property
Banking turmoil threatens Hong Kong office market rebound
Chinese financial companies seen as Central's 'next wave of office occupiers'
Economy
China economists expect 5.4% GDP growth in 2023: survey
Outlook upgraded on consumption recovery, exceeding Beijing's 5% target
Business trends
China art market slumps on virus curbs, falling wealth: report
Hong Kong, mainland sales drop 14% in 2022 to $11.2bn as U.K. overtakes China
Companies
HSBC executives meet shareholders over breakup calls
Management pushes back at movement keen to spin off key Asian business
Media & Entertainment
Hong Kong's Viu streaming app eyes Thai, Philippine rural users
Locally geared content key for growth in unit controlled by billionaire Richard Li
Market Spotlight
From Hong Kong to Japan, commercial property sector faces chill in Asia
REITs could lose out as China reopening hopes fade and interest rates bite
Finance
Chinese banks hit by bad property debts, lending margin squeeze
Headwinds facing financial system highlighted as earnings season begins
Electric cars in China
BYD seeks to beat Volkswagen as China's top automaker: chairman
Wang Chuanfu thanks Warren Buffett for longtime support despite recent sell-off
Cryptocurrencies
Justin Sun's Hong Kong expansion plans threatened by U.S. SEC action
Fraud charges could hamper effort by Huobi Global to obtain license, lawyers say
Market Spotlight
Chinese regulation seen boosting AT1 bond prices during crisis
Investors find comfort in Beijing bureaucrats' history of supporting wobbly banks
Travel & Leisure
Singapore closes gap with Hong Kong on pricey business trips
City-state overtakes Tokyo, now Asia's 2nd costliest with $515 average daily cost