China keeps benchmark lending rates steady amid rising tariff risks

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has set up a fintech committee. Zhang Peng | LightRocket | Getty Images China kept its key lending rates unchanged Thursday, as Beijing prioritizes financial stability over interest rate easing to bolster the economy. The People’s Bank of China held the 1-year loan prime rate unchanged at 3.1%, and … Read more

More support for businesses and households

The Singapore Parliament building. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted in his 2025 budget that while the country’s economy grew by more than 4% in 2024, it will be difficult to achieve that level of growth on a sustained basis. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore on Tuesday unveiled steps to support households and businesses in … Read more

Japan’s GDP expands 0.7% in fourth quarter

Commercial and residential buildings at dusk in the Minato district of Tokyo, Japan. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s economic expansion in the fourth quarter beat analysts’ expectations for quarter-on-quarter and annualized growth, boosted by a jump in exports. Preliminary government data showed Monday that GDP grew 0.7% quarter on quarter, more than the … Read more

U.S. and India to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030

U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 13, 2025.  Kevin Lamarque | Reuters New Delhi and Washington will work to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a joint press conference … Read more

China’s January factory growth misses estimates ahead of U.S. tariffs

Workers making Care Bears at a factory in Ankang, China. CNBC China’s factory activity slowed in January as export orders dwindled ahead of additional U.S. tariffs that are set to come into effect Tuesday, a private-sector survey showed Monday. The seasonally adjusted Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing manager’s index came in at 50.1 in January, missing … Read more

Samsung profit misses estimates, falls sharply from previous quarter as costs rise

Photo illustration showing the Samsung Group company logo displayed on a smartphone screen. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Samsung Electronics on Friday reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue, though its operating profit dropped sharply from the previous three months due to higher R&D expenses in its chips segment. Here are Samsung’s fourth-quarter results compared with … Read more

Australia and Japan markets rise

Cityscape image of Sydney, Australia with Harbor Bridge and Sydney skyline during sunset. Vacation and travel in Australia. Prasit Photo | Moment | Getty Images Japan and Australian stocks rose Wednesday as Wall Street rebounded overnight, while several Asia-Pacific markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Japan benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.76%, while the … Read more

Trump says he likes China’s Xi ‘very much’

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 6, 2017. Carlos Barria | Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has “always had a great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and that he looks forward to “getting along with China.” The U.S. and China will “have a very good relationship,” … Read more

Singapore eases monetary policy for the first time since 2020, warns of growth slowdown

The Monetary Authority of Singapore building in Singapore. Wei Leng Tay | Bloomberg | Getty Images Singapore on Friday loosened its monetary policy for the first time since 2020, citing a faster than expected decline in inflation and warning about a growth slowdown. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would slightly reduce the slope … Read more

South Korea fourth-quarter GDP grows at its slowest pace in six quarters, missing expectations

The Seoul skyline. Mongkol Chuewong | Moment | Getty Images South Korea’s economy expanded 1.2% year on year in the fourth quarter, marking its slowest expansion since the second quarter of 2023. Advance figures missed the 1.4% expansion expected by economists polled by Reuters, and the growth was also softer compared with the 1.5% rise … Read more