Publisher

Trade

US-China Trade Tensions Escalate as New Tariffs Target AI Chips

Washington expanded semiconductor export controls targeting China, adding mid-range AI inference chips to the restricted list and tightening enforcement on third-country transshipment.

Startups

Vietnam's VinFast Raises $1.2 Billion to Fund Southeast Asian Expansion

VinFast raised $1.2 billion through convertible bonds and equity to fund factory construction in Indonesia and India as the Vietnamese EV maker expanded beyond its home market.

GDP

China GDP Grows 4.8% in 2025, Missing Government's 5% Target

China's economy expanded 4.8% in 2025, falling short of the government's 5% growth target as property sector contraction and deflation constrained the recovery.

IPOs

Indonesian Nickel Processing Giant Harita Group Plans $1.5 Billion IPO

Harita Group, a major Indonesian nickel processor, filed for a $1.5 billion IPO on the Jakarta exchange, targeting an $8 billion valuation amid surging global battery metal demand.

Central Banks

BOJ Raises Interest Rate to 0.75% in Historic Normalization Step

The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 0.75%, the highest since 2008, as sustained wage growth and above-target inflation gave policymakers confidence to continue normalization.

Energy

LNG Spot Prices in Asia Fall 15% as Mild Winter Cuts Demand

Asian spot LNG prices dropped 15% to $11.50 per mmBtu as mild winter conditions across Northeast Asia curtailed heating demand and left storage levels elevated.

M&A

Tata Group Acquires Wistron's India iPhone Plant for $680 Million

Tata Electronics completed the $680 million acquisition of Wistron's iPhone plant in Karnataka, becoming the first Indian company to assemble Apple devices.

EV

China EV Exports Surge 38% in 2025 Despite Trade Barriers

Chinese automakers exported 2.4 million EVs in 2025, up 38%, pivoting to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East as EU and US tariffs limited Western market access.

Central Banks

South Korea's BOK Cuts Rate to 3.0% in Surprise Move

The Bank of Korea surprised markets with a 25-basis-point rate cut to 3.0%, responding to weakening exports and rising concerns about household debt servicing costs.

Infrastructure

Singapore's Sovereign Wealth Fund GIC Reports 7.2% Annual Return

Singapore's GIC reported a 20-year annualized real return of 4.6% and nominal return of 7.2%, maintaining its position as one of the world's best-performing sovereign funds.

GDP

China's Manufacturing PMI Returns to Expansion in December

China's manufacturing PMI rose to 50.3 in December, crossing back into expansion territory as government stimulus measures gained traction in the industrial sector.

Currencies

India's Rupee Hits Record Low Against Dollar on Capital Outflows

The Indian rupee weakened to a record 85.40 per dollar as foreign investors pulled $8.2 billion from equities in Q4, pressuring the central bank's reserve management.