Markets
Economy
China hits 5% GDP target for 2025 as exports power growth
Momentum fades in Q4; spotlight on weak investment and consumption this year
Trading Asia
Japan's valuation in focus as stocks hit historic high on snap election
Experts divided on upside of Tokyo market while tech-heavy Taiwan and South Korea remain cheaper
Commodities
Antwerp's Indian diamond traders face a changing industry
Gujerati Jain community ponders next move as business becomes tougher
Food & Beverage
Major honey producer Turkey grapples with rise in fake products
Government focuses on testing amid inflation, dwindling number of beekeepers
Society
Tokyo's development boom is a 'failure,' Pritzker-winning architect says
Riken Yamamoto claims megaprojects erode community life and risk leaving the capital with obsolete buildings
Property
Japan's Mitsui Fudosan to invest $2.8bn in US Sun Belt rental housing
Developer aims to build 6,000 units by 2030 as domestic real estate market stagnates
Datawatch
Trump deals lift US exports to emerging markets 17%, excluding China
Shipments to India and others only partly offset drop in trade with Asian rival in 2025
Bank of Japan
BOJ set to hold policy rate steady at January meeting
Growth upgrade likely as government measures bolster spending and capital investment
Markets
Corporate governance trends signal 'split world,' says ICGN head
Investor-based group sees positive developments in Japan as code revision approaches
Commodities
South Korea pushes Lotte Chemical, LG Chem to slash ethylene capacity
16 manufacturers plan 30% cutback as supply glut weighs on profits
China debt crunch
China Vanke proposes fresh 90-day extension on yuan bonds worth $817m
Embattled developer's shares, bonds rally; key meeting set for Jan. 21
Companies
Trip.com stock falls 19% as group faces China antitrust probe
Travel booking platform joins Alibaba in coming under watchdog SAMR's scrutiny
Markets
South Korea's central bank holds rates to safeguard financial stability
Bank of Korea decision was widely expected by markets
Equities
Investors hunt for China's next tech champions
Satellite chip, brain-computer interface stocks up on hopes of government boost
Environment
Marubeni's Indonesia forests took little damage during deadly floods
Reforestation project pays environmental dividends and keeps business stable
Opinion
Prediction markets are warping future expectations
Oversight is lacking as regulators debate guardrails for event-based trading
Energy
Asian LNG prices sink on record US exports, shift in Chinese imports
China's bargain purchases of sanctioned Russian fuel put pressure on spot market
Equities
Asia defense stocks soar amid Venezuela, Iran, geopolitical unrest
South Korea leads region; Takaichi gives boost to Japan, driving rally to new high
Obituaries
David Webb, advocate for Hong Kong economic freedom, dies at 60
Activist investor's cancer battle coincided with deep change in his adopted home
Cryptocurrencies
Pakistan's fast crypto adoption triggers financial risk fears
Officials and experts warn Islamabad about hastily licensing Binance and HTX
International relations
Canadian PM's China oil pitch risks blunting Trump's Venezuela strategy
Carney aims to boost pipeline, reduce US reliance, but faces tricky superpower balance
Retail
Fast Retailing market cap soars to $126bn on overseas Uniqlo boom
Company becomes first Japan retailer to top 20tn yen
Opinion
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is taking on too much risk
Pivotal bourse must safeguard investors by doing due diligence and vetting
Transportation
Vietnam's 1st metro line saves riders time, but issues remain a year later
Ho Chi Minh City riders seek more access to popular spots with expansion in works
Food & Beverage
Chocolate snack maker Lotte diversifies cocoa sources as prices soar
Ivory Coast emerges as new supplier alongside Ghana
Markets
Japan stocks hit record high as investors bet on a Takaichi snap election
Defense, space and AI stocks lead Nikkei average's rise over 3%; yen nears 159
Commodities
Sumatra floods and climate change cast shadow on Indonesia's palm oil push
Industry struggles to boost production to support government's B50 biodiesel plan
Semiconductors
China AI, chip companies raise billions in Hong Kong amid tech rivalry
Chip specialists OmniVision and GigaDevice join rush of Hong Kong debuts
Commodities
Lynas Rare Earths CEO Amanda Lacaze to step down in June after 12 years
Company grew from startup to largest rare earth producer outside China
ASEAN Money
Thailand's residential property market faces prolonged slump
Wary lenders, high personal debt and low economic growth stymie overstocked developers