Economy
Canada has announced a new investment in a major economic development project in the Philippines, joining efforts led by the United States and Japan to strengthen regional supply chains and infrastructure. Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu said that Canada will invest around 2......
Asia is facing a dangerous convergence of inflationary pressures as a looming El Niño weather event and record temperatures compound the economic fallout from the Middle East oil crisis, threatening to drive food and energy costs sharply higher in the second half of 2026 at a moment when central......
Japan and Australia signed a series of agreements on critical minerals and energy cooperation during a bilateral summit in Canberra, as both countries move to secure supply chains under mounting pressure from global oil market instability linked to tensions in the Middle East. Japanese Prime Minister......
Japan is reported to have intervened heavily in the foreign exchange market, spending more than 30 billion dollars to support the yen as it weakened against the US dollar, according to local media reports. The intervention, estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000 billion yen (approximately 32 to 38 billion......
The Strait of Hormuz closure blocks 20% of global oil and comparable liquefied natural gas flows, sparking the modern era's largest energy disruption. Asian governments ration fuels, revive coal power, and fast-track nuclear plans. Western oil majors post surging profits as supplies dwindle. The......
Brent crude slipped below 110 dollars a barrel on Thursday, pulling back from a brief spike above 120 dollars the previous day, one of the most volatile stretches on oil markets since the start of the Strait of Hormuz crisis two months ago. The sharp moves underscore a market caught between fears of......
China’s manufacturing sector expanded in April despite a global energy crisis triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions and disruptions to maritime routes. Official data showed industrial activity continuing to grow, supported by a domestic energy system heavily reliant on coal, which has insulated......
Bitcoin fell below $77,000 after the Bank of Japan signaled a more hawkish policy direction despite keeping interest rates unchanged at 0.75 percent. The cryptocurrency dropped as low as $76,400 during early US trading, as investors reacted to growing expectations that Japanese rates could rise again......
The Bank of Japan kept its policy rate unchanged at 0.75 percent in a closely divided decision, with three policymakers voting for an increase to 1 percent. The 6 to 3 split highlights rising concern within the central bank as the war in Iran drives energy prices higher and intensifies inflationary pressures.......
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index crossed the 60,000-point threshold for the first time in its history on Thursday, marking a major milestone after decades of market evolution. The benchmark briefly reached an intraday high of 60,013.98 points early in Tokyo trading before reversing course and slipping......
Asian equity markets surged to new highs as strong demand for artificial intelligence technologies and easing geopolitical tensions lifted investor sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed at a record level, while South Korea’s KOSPI broke above 6,400 points for the first time, driven by gains......
Crude imports across Asia are declining as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz approaches its eighth week, exposing the limits of alternative supply routes. Major importers including China, India, South Korea and Japan are struggling to replace Middle Eastern crude that previously moved through the corridor,......
China’s exports of rare earth magnets and materials to Japan dropped sharply in March, reaching their lowest level in nine months and underscoring growing strain in a critical global supply chain. The decline follows export restrictions imposed by Beijing earlier this year amid escalating diplomatic......