The Asian Development Bank lowered its economic growth forecast for developing Asia to 5.1% for 2026, down from 5.4% in 2025, citing Middle East conflict spillovers on energy prices.
The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.5%, defying hawkish expectations as the yen slid past the 160-per-dollar level.
Asian markets rallied after Federal Reserve Chair Powell indicated a June rate cut was likely, pushing the MSCI Asia-Pacific index to an 18-month high.
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 led an $800 million investment in Korean AI company Upstage, valuing the enterprise AI platform at $4.5 billion in the largest Asian AI funding round of 2026.
ASEAN and China entered final negotiations on upgrading their free trade agreement, with new chapters covering digital trade, supply chain resilience, and environmental standards.
India's UPI processed 15.3 billion transactions in March 2026, a 28% year-over-year surge that cements its status as the world's largest real-time payments network.
Fast-fashion company Shein filed for a London IPO after U.S. listing plans stalled amid political opposition, targeting a valuation of around $50 billion.
Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund INA launched a $10 billion green bond program, with the inaugural $3 billion tranche drawing orders 4.2 times the offered amount.
Australian iron ore exports to China dropped 8% in Q1 2026 as China's prolonged property downturn cut steel production, pushing benchmark prices below $100 per ton.
Cross-border payments platform Nium raised $350 million in a pre-IPO round led by GIC at a $3 billion valuation, ahead of a planned Nasdaq listing in Q3 2026.
China's Belt and Road Initiative directed 62% of new commitments toward renewables and digital infrastructure in 2025, pivoting away from coal and heavy construction.
Coupang posted its first annual net profit of $420 million, achieving a milestone for the South Korean e-commerce giant as operating leverage from its logistics network materialized.