Economy & Finance
- Economy & Finance · 21/10/2026
Kazakh Borrowers Ramp Up Yuan Bond Issuance as Low Rates and China Trade Ties Boost Demand
Kazakh borrowers are ramping up yuan bond sales as ultra-low funding costs and stronger trade ties with China lift demand for panda and dim sum issues. - Economy & Finance · 21/10/2026
Blackstone’s Founders Mark Milestone as Firm’s 2007 IPO Signals a Turning Point for Private Equity
Blackstone’s IPO made it the first major private equity firm to go public, reshaping how alternative-asset managers raise capital and face scrutiny. - Economy & Finance · 21/10/2026
Musk Confirms SpaceX–Tesla Merger Talks, Sending Shares Higher in After-Hours Trading
Elon Musk says SpaceX and Tesla have opened merger talks, validating long-running speculation and lifting both stocks. A deal would face major governance hurdles. - Economy & Finance · 21/10/2026
Idemitsu Kosan to Diversify Japan’s Fuel Supply With LNG Imports Beyond the Middle East by Early 2030s
Idemitsu Kosan plans to import LNG for Japan from outside the Middle East, aiming to diversify supply and reduce geopolitical risk, with domestic sales targeted for the early 2030s. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Greater Tokyo New Condo Prices Hit Record High Despite Signs Demand Is Cooling Under Higher Rates
New condo prices in the greater Tokyo region hit a record first-half average above 100 million yen as supply fell, but rising mortgage rates may cool demand. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Toyoko Inn Leads Japanese Budget Hotel Chains’ Overseas Push, Luring Travelers With Low Rates and Extra Amenities
Japan’s no-frills “business hotel” chains are expanding overseas, betting their low prices plus perks like free breakfast and communal baths will appeal to rate-weary travelers. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Hackers Breach Vendor Behind IwaiCosmo’s Online Trading Platform, Triggering Unauthorized Client Trades
IwaiCosmo Securities said hackers breached Trade Works, its online trading platform operator, enabling unauthorized trades in some client accounts and exposing 4,975 people’s data. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
From Chicago Streets to Silicon Valley: Stanford Alum Stanley Anderson ’79 Breaks the Myths of the Corner Office
Former HP, Intel and PARC executive Stanley Anderson is now CEO of Costa Pickleball, betting on customizable high-performance paddles and quieter designs to stand out in a crowded market. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Record Demand at Japan’s 20-Year Bond Auction Signals Flight to Safety Amid France Fiscal Jitters and AI Risk Concerns
Demand for Japan’s 20-year government bonds hit a record at auction as investors sought stability amid worries over French finances and AI-linked financial risks. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Japan’s Ruling Party Pushes Fast-Track Debate on Food Tax Cut, Putting Key Consumption Tax Revenue at Stake
Japan’s ruling party is pushing to fast-track Diet debate on a proposed food tax cut, sharply compressing committee scrutiny despite potential hits to consumption tax revenue. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Thales Bets on Japan’s Defense Build-Up to Expand Local Footprint, CEO Says
Thales plans to expand in Japan as Tokyo boosts defense industry capacity, targeting partnerships and opportunities in radar and sonar sensor technologies. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Toyota to Build Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hilux in Thailand, Production Set for December 2027
Toyota plans to build a hydrogen fuel cell Hilux pickup in Thailand, exporting first to Europe and later Australia and New Zealand as infrastructure grows. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Polaris Capital Group Plans 100 Billion Yen Private Credit Fund in Japan Amid Shift From Bank Loans
Japanese buyout firm Polaris plans a private credit fund targeting about 100 billion yen, seeking insurer and pension backing as companies shift beyond bank loans. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
State-Backed China Automaker Chery to Enter Japan Passenger-Car Market With Hybrid Launch Next Year
Chery plans to enter Japan’s passenger-car market with an Omoda hybrid, seeking growth as trade barriers tighten elsewhere. The move pits it against local brands and BYD. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Asia’s AI Spending Boom Lifts Exports and Growth, but Benefits Flow Mainly to Companies and Owners, Economists Say
Asia’s AI investment boom is lifting exports and economic growth, economists say, but early gains are concentrated among companies and owners, with limited impact on household finances. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Mitsubishi Marks 10 Years in Nissan Alliance With Shift From Turnaround to Standout Growth Strategy
Mitsubishi Motors is shifting from rebuilding under Nissan’s alliance to pursuing growth with more distinctive vehicles, led by a new Pajero SUV positioned as a flagship for Japan. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Zipair Tokyo Launches First Malaysia Route With Nonstop Narita–Kuala Lumpur Service
Zipair Tokyo has launched its first Malaysia route, adding nonstop Narita–Kuala Lumpur service as it expands its low-cost network and builds transfer options via Japan. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Bangladesh Households Pay Up to 36% Above Official LPG Prices Amid Worsening Gas Shortages
Bangladesh households are paying up to 36% above the official LPG cylinder price as localized shortages bite, sparking a blame game among regulators, importers and dealers. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Vietnam Real Estate Sales Hit Lowest Level Since 2021 as Rising Prices and Borrowing Costs Crush Demand
Vietnam’s property sales have fallen to their weakest since the pandemic-era slump, as soaring home prices and higher borrowing costs erode affordability, especially in Hanoi. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
GCash Operator Mynt Debuts on Philippine Stock Exchange in Record $965 Million IPO
Mynt, parent of Philippine digital wallet GCash, debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange in the country’s largest IPO, raising 60.9 billion pesos as digital payments surge. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Dan’s Steaks to Close in Coming Months as Rising Costs Bite Singapore F&B Operators
Dan’s Steaks, founded by former radio DJ Daniel Ong, plans to close after rising rent, wages and ingredient costs squeezed margins, underscoring strains on eateries. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Blackstone’s Landmark 2007 Purchase of Sam Zell’s Equity Office Defined a Real Estate Era
Blackstone’s acquisition of Equity Office Properties reshaped control of the US office market, marking a landmark bet on the sector and elevating the firm in real estate. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Cicada Innovations CEO Says Australia Poised to Build Globally Competitive Deep-Tech Champions
Australia has the assets to build globally competitive deep-tech companies, says Cicada Innovations’ CEO, but scaling them is key to stronger sovereign capability. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
SoftBank Quietly Secures Power Supply to Fuel Aggressive AI Data Center Expansion
SoftBank is pursuing an ambitious AI infrastructure buildout, focusing first on securing renewable electricity for energy-hungry data centers. The strategy carries huge capital needs and risk. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Surging Tanker Rates Squeeze Asian and European Refineries, Eroding Margins Despite Higher Fuel Prices
Surging tanker rates are raising delivered crude costs and squeezing refinery margins in Asia and Europe, even as fuel prices rise. Costlier shipping is also pushing buyers toward shorter routes, lifting Brent. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Southeast Asia’s Startup Boom Loses Steam as Investor Optimism Fades
Southeast Asia’s startup boom is cooling as funding shifts to AI and global capital tightens, while local barriers like red tape, talent access and scarce growth funding persist. - Economy & Finance · 20/10/2026
Toyota and Honda Restart Thailand Production as Floodwaters Recede, Signaling Supply Chain Recovery
Toyota and Honda are restarting vehicle production in Thailand after flood disruptions, signaling early supply-chain stabilization. Thai Airways is reviewing its response to airport delays. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Bank of Japan Nears Long-Sought 2% Inflation, Shifts Focus to Sustaining Price Gains
Japan’s inflation is nearing the BOJ’s 2% target, shifting the focus from reaching the goal to keeping price gains stable. Officials and politicians are managing expectations to avoid premature tightening. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
U.S. and Japan Stage Coastal-Defense Drills Near Taiwan, Showcasing Advanced NMESIS Missile System
The US and Japan have launched joint drills deploying the Marine Corps’ NMESIS coastal-defense missile system to Yonaguni Island near Taiwan, signaling deterrence of China. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Shanghai Office Vacancies Hit 24%, Highest Among Major Global Cities as Empty Towers Mount
Shanghai’s office vacancy rate has risen to 24%, the highest among major global cities, as foreign firms cut back. Landlords face mounting pressure on rents and values. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
VinFast Narrows Q2 2026 Loss on Vietnam Plant Sale Gains, Masking Core Operational Weakness
VinFast posted a sharply narrower quarterly net loss after gains from selling Vietnam factories, but operating losses widened as core costs outpaced revenue. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Japan to Launch Government-Backed Certification for Data Centers and Cloud Services to Bolster Security Against China, Russia Risks
Japan plans a government-backed certification for data centers and cloud services to steer finance and healthcare toward secure providers and curb risks tied to China and Russia. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
NBER Paper Warns California’s Proposed Billionaire Wealth Tax May Fall Short—and Could Shrink Revenue
An NBER paper says California’s proposed billionaire wealth tax may raise far less than supporters claim and could reduce net revenue if rich residents relocate. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Advantage Partners to Launch Japan’s First Large-Scale Forestry Investment Fund as Early as Spring, Nikkei Reports
Advantage Partners plans what it calls Japan’s first large-scale forestry investment fund, targeting returns from timber, biomass and carbon credits via consolidated forest rights. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
EV Battery Recycling Plants Sit Underused as Adoption Slows and China Tightens Supply Chain Grip
EV battery recycling plants in Europe, Japan and North America are underused as end-of-life packs arrive slower than forecast and China tightens control of supply chains. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Indonesia Stocks Slide to Six-Year Low as MSCI Downgrade Fears Rattle Investors
Indonesia’s stock benchmark hit a six-year low as selling accelerated on fears MSCI may reclassify the country from emerging market to standalone status. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Indonesia’s IDX to Exclude High-Concentration Stocks from Jakarta Composite Index, Impacting 80 Firms and 18% of Weighting
Indonesia Stock Exchange plans to exclude 80 high shareholding concentration stocks from the Jakarta Composite Index, affecting about 18% of its weight, as MSCI reviews Indonesia’s market status. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Festive Season Sales Slump Hits Street Vendors Near New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar
Festive-season sales near New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have slumped as protests and heavy policing deter shoppers, leaving street vendors with unsold stock and shrinking cash flow. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Foxconn and Mitsubishi Electric Form Joint Venture to Supply EV Platforms to Global Automakers
Foxconn and Mitsubishi Electric will form a 50-50 joint venture to supply modular EV platforms to automakers worldwide, aiming to cut development time and costs amid intensifying competition. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Data Center Construction Boom Sparks “Crowding Out” Claims—But the Math Behind the $51 Billion Narrative Doesn’t Add Up
Charts citing a $51bn data-center boom claim it crowds out other investment, but the math and GDP-share framing mislead; in real dollars, non-tech spending still rises. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Banks Begin Pricing Generative AI Risk as Euro-Area Study Links Adoption to Shifting Default Probabilities
New research finds euro-area banks are lowering default-risk estimates for private firms in AI-exposed industries, signalling lenders increasingly see generative AI as a credit positive. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
China’s Economy Ticks Up in Q3 as Export Strength Offsets Weak Domestic Demand
China’s economy grew slightly faster than expected as exports offset weak domestic demand. Policymakers are leaning on fiscal support and high-tech sectors to sustain momentum. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Freed WSJ Reporter Gershkovich Warns Russia Likely to Demand Concessions Before Releasing Detained Japanese Journalist
Former WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich says Russia is unlikely to free a Japanese journalist it detains without concessions, urging Japan to coordinate with allies. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Oasis Weighs EGM at Nidec as Activist Investor Seeks Governance Overhaul After Accounting Scandal
Activist investor Oasis Management is weighing a call for an extraordinary meeting at Nidec to drive board and nomination reforms after an accounting scandal and loss. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Taiwan, Philippines Move to Deepen Maritime Cooperation Amid Rising Chinese Vessel Activity
Taiwan and the Philippines are stepping up maritime coordination after years of caution, driven by increased Chinese vessel activity and shared interests in fisheries and sea-lane security. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Pandora’s New Ho Chi Minh City Plant Set to Create 7,000 Jobs Faces Immediate Flooding Challenge
Pandora’s new Ho Chi Minh City plant highlights how recurring floods disrupt workers, logistics and investor confidence, spurring plans for a $5.5bn drainage overhaul. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Japan Regional Banks’ Real Estate Lending Surges to Record, Raising Concentration Risk Concerns as Rates Rise
Japan’s regional banks ramped up real estate lending at a record pace, with property loans nearing half of some portfolios. Regulators are watching risks as rates rise. - Economy & Finance · 19/10/2026
Japan Investors Brace for Near 24-Hour U.S. Stock Trading Launch in December
Japan’s investors are bracing for near 24-hour access to U.S. stocks, a shift welcomed by retail traders but raising cost, liquidity and staffing concerns for institutions. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Japan Updates National Records System to Allow “Taiwan” as Place of Origin in Certain Government Databases
Japan has updated national records systems to allow “Taiwan” as a listed place of origin in some government databases, standardizing entries across agencies. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Mitsubishi Heavy to Restart Idle Western Japan Shipbuilding Line by FY2027 to Boost Naval Output
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will restart an idle shipbuilding line in western Japan to boost naval vessel output, starting with a Defense Ministry replenishment ship. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Trump and Xi Agree to Two More In-Person Summits This Year, Signaling Bid to Stabilize U.S.-China Ties
Trump and Xi agreed to two more face-to-face meetings, signaling an effort to stabilize ties and reduce market risk even as core disputes, especially Taiwan, persist. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Asia Maintains Strong Growth as AI, Climate Risks and Private Capital Deepen Regional Divides at IMF-World Bank Bangkok Meetings
Asia is still growing despite global turbulence, but performance is diverging as AI, climate risks and shifting private capital flows reshape winners and losers. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Australian Home Prices Slide as Rate Hikes and Tighter Tax Rules Cool Demand, Threatening New Construction
Australian home prices are falling as rate rises and tougher tax settings cool buyer and investor demand, threatening new construction and supply targets. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Stephen Schwarzman Says His Lifelong Drive to Try the Unfamiliar Fueled His Biggest Bets
Stephen Schwarzman says entrepreneurship is rooted in curiosity and disciplined risk-taking, citing early efforts to bring rock and ballet to tradition-bound schools. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Japan Plans Stricter Gold Export Controls to Curb Smuggling and Tax Evasion
Japan’s Finance Ministry plans tighter oversight of gold exports, expanding customs powers to block untraced shipments suspected of smuggling and tax avoidance. - Economy & Finance · 18/10/2026
Japan Moves to Fast-Track Bangladesh’s First Economic Partnership Deal Amid Growing China Influence
Japan is moving to secure parliamentary approval for Bangladesh’s first economic partnership agreement, cutting Japanese textile tariffs and deepening trade ties as China’s regional influence grows. - Economy & Finance · 17/10/2026
Toyota to Move Next-Generation Corolla Production to China in 2028 Amid Cooling Auto Market
Toyota plans to build the next-generation Corolla in China from 2028, aiming to respond faster to a cooling market. A new platform will support multiple powertrains. - Economy & Finance · 17/10/2026
Middle East Crisis Widens Economic Divide as Gulf States Weather Shock, Fragile Nations Seek Aid, Saudi Minister Says
Saudi Arabia’s finance minister warned Middle East turmoil is widening the economic divide, with Gulf states able to absorb shocks while weaker economies may need outside aid. - Economy & Finance · 17/10/2026
U.S. Power-Plant Buildout Accelerates, but Analysts Say Efficiency Could Unlock Big Capacity Without New Generation
As the US scrambles to add power generation, efficiency experts say variable frequency drives on electric motors could cut demand sharply and ease grid constraints. - Economy & Finance · 17/10/2026
Japan Lodges Protests Over China, Russia, North Korea Moves as U.S. Alliance Strength Questioned Amid ICC Sanctions
Japan has issued repeated protests over actions by China, Russia and North Korea, amid doubts about allied unity after U.S. sanctions on the ICC.