Trade
CPTPP Members Begin Negotiations on UK and China Accession
CPTPP members met in Auckland to finalize UK accession and begin preliminary discussions on China's controversial bid to join the trade pact.
Publisher
Tourism
Asian Tourism Recovery Reaches 85% of Pre-Pandemic Levels
International tourist arrivals across Asia-Pacific hit 85% of pre-pandemic levels through November, with Japan and Southeast Asia driving the recovery.
M&A
Malaysian Semiconductor Firm Unisem Receives $2.1 Billion Takeover Bid
Huatian Technology offered $2.1 billion for Malaysian chip packaging firm Unisem Holdings, testing the limits of Chinese semiconductor expansion in Southeast Asia.
Currencies
Yen Carry Trade Unwinds as BOJ Signals January Rate Hike
The yen jumped 2.8% against the dollar after BOJ Governor Ueda signaled a January rate hike, triggering a partial unwind of global carry trade positions.
Infrastructure
ADB Approves $8.5 Billion in Climate Finance for Asia-Pacific
The Asian Development Bank approved $8.5 billion in climate financing for Asia-Pacific nations, targeting energy transition, flood resilience, and sustainable transport.
Retail
China's Live-Streaming E-Commerce Market Hits $500 Billion in 2025
China's live-streaming e-commerce market surpassed $500 billion in GMV through November, driven by Douyin, Taobao Live, and a new generation of influencer-merchants.
Infrastructure
Japan Approves $42 Billion Supplementary Budget for Semiconductor and Defense
Japan's parliament approved a 6.3 trillion yen supplementary budget, directing significant funds toward semiconductor subsidies, defense modernization, and energy security.
Startups
India's Startup Funding Rebounds to $14 Billion in 2025
Indian startups raised $14 billion through November 2025, a 42% recovery from the previous year, with AI, fintech, and climate-tech attracting the bulk of capital.
Corporate Earnings
South Korean Battery Makers LG and Samsung SDI Report Margin Squeeze
LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI reported shrinking margins as Chinese battery makers CATL and BYD undercut pricing by 20-30%, intensifying a global price war.
Real Estate
China Property Developer Country Garden Completes Debt Restructuring
Country Garden completed the restructuring of $22 billion in offshore debt, converting 60% of obligations into equity in a landmark deal for China's troubled property sector.
Corporate Earnings
Indonesian Ride-Hailing Giant GoTo Reports First-Ever Quarterly Profit
GoTo Group posted its first quarterly net profit of $12 million, marking a milestone for the Indonesian tech giant after years of heavy losses.
Currencies
Thai Baht Drops to Three-Year Low as Tourism Recovery Stalls
The Thai baht slid to 37.2 per dollar, a three-year low, as Chinese tourist arrivals continued to lag pre-pandemic levels by 30%.