With Malaysian equities leading the way, the rally in Southeast Asian stocks has been underpinned by expectations of a September rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Markets

Investors turn to ASEAN markets as inflation's grip loosens

Weakening dollar provides tailwind to region's high-growth economies

26 August 2024
Japanese companies' strong earnings during the April-June period encouraged investors to buy while their stock prices were down. (Photo by Shunsuke Inaba)
Equities

Japanese stocks erase losses from tailspin on brighter U.S. outlook

Companies' strong April-June performances boost share prices

22 August 2024
Analysts and investors will be looking for signs of easing in U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the central bank's research symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 
Currencies

Malaysia, Singapore currencies rise on tight policies before Jackson Hole

South Korea and Taiwan's currencies slump, reflecting U.S. recession risk

20 August 2024
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand in Wellington. The central bank signaled more cuts ahead depending on how inflation evolves.
Economy

N.Z. cuts rates for first time in over 4 years, flags more easing

Kiwi dollar tumbles as markets bet on more aggressive easing path

14 August 2024
The dollar is coming down from a prolonged period of strength, boosting Asian currencies. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Ringgit, baht gain against dollar on speculation of U.S. rate cut

Asian central banks seen weighing own moves as inflationary pressures ease

13 August 2024
A soldier with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force takes part in a military drill on the uninhabited Irisuna island close to Okinawa, Japan, in November 2023.
Opinion

Japan must hedge currency risk to avoid defense funding crisis

Biggest military buildup since World War II at risk from fluctuating forex

13 August 2024
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries pose for a photo in Vientiane on July 25. ASEAN now faces significant centrifugal forces amid the reshaping of global orders. 
Comment

OECD or BRICS? Key members' differences might weaken ASEAN unity

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand all pursue different 'diversification' strategies

12 August 2024
EBS is a platform for forex transactions operated by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group. It played a major role in interbank transactions in the late 1990s. (Photo by Yumi Kotani)
Currencies

EBS for forex faces challenges as trading platforms diversify

More banks and hedge funds use exclusive systems, and new platforms gaining momentum

12 August 2024
According to the International Monetary Fund, as of March 2024, the total balance of global foreign reserves stood at $12.3499 trillion, with the dollar accounting for 58.9% based on currency allocation.
Currencies

Central banks dump dollars and yuan in favor of gold

The 'stateless currency' shines as a haven amid geopolitical tension

10 August 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a press conference following a monetary policy meeting on July 31. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Opinion

BOJ still on hawkish track despite dovish bid to cool market turmoil

Central bank must improve communication, economy judgment and risk assessment

10 August 2024
Companies listed on Tokyo's Prime market have seen three consecutive years of record high profits. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Business trends

Japan corporate profits up 10% on weak yen, AI demand

Toyota, Hitachi among winners in April-June as China slump drags on others

10 August 2024
The mighty dollar has taken a 10% hit since early July from a suddenly strengthening Japanese yen. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Currencies

Currency strategists see yen closing out the year in the mid-140s

Speculators scurry to reduce their bets on the yen's fall

9 August 2024
Like the Japanese yen, the Chinese yuan has been used to make carry trades -- borrowing in currencies of countries with low yields and investing in those with higher ones.
Currencies

Chinese yuan rally puts central bank's next moves in spotlight

Firmer currency could enable more monetary easing, analysts say, with caveats

7 August 2024
Nikkei Stock Average rose as much as 3,453.38 points, or 10.98%, to 34,911.80 at one point. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Equities

Japan stocks rebound 3,217 points for their largest single-day rise

Strong U.S. service sector data for July eases concerns of recession

6 August 2024
Japanese stocks took a big upswing on Aug. 6 after suffering their worst-ever sell-offs in the previous two trading days. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Equities

Tokyo stocks brace for further volatility after biggest single-day jump

Market wary as it awaits U.S. rate cut decision and Japan real wage data

6 August 2024
The Malaysian ringgit had dropped in February to its lowest level against the dollar in data going back to 1971.
Currencies

Malaysian ringgit hits 16-month high against dollar

Country's strong economy fuels rebound amid greenback sell-off

6 August 2024
Japanese stocks have been in a downward spiral since Aug. 1, a day after the Bank of Japan aggressively raised interest rates to 0.25% from 0.1% and said it was open to more hikes this year. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Equities

Japan stocks dive 4,451 points, more than Black Monday in 1987

Yen surges to 141 per dollar as potential U.S. recession spooks investors

5 August 2024
Current debates around the international monetary system focus on de-dollarization.
Opinion

The dollar's days as a universal reserve currency are numbered

Retreat from free trade signals potential shift toward multipolar economic order

5 August 2024
The dollar dropped to a four-month low on Friday after a weaker-than-expected employment report for July raised expectations for a September rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
Economy

Dollar hits four-month low as weak U.S. jobs data boosts rate cut bets

Japanese yen strengthens to 146.42 against greenback at one point

3 August 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on July 31. 
Opinion

Poker-faced Ueda overplays hand as BOJ enters tightening phase

Weak yen policy has taken the onus off governments to restructure the economy

2 August 2024
Toyota Motor Kyushu's production line. Sales of the Toyota and Lexus brands in the April-June period fell by 14% on year. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Automobiles

Toyota's record Q1 net profit comes on weak yen and despite sales drop

Sales in Japan slip after group's safety test irregularities

1 August 2024
Services benefiting from inbound spending also took a blow. Department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings dropped 11.7%. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Equities

Japan's Nikkei average drops 3.5% as yen jumps to 148 per dollar

BOJ governor's hawkish posture weighs on stocks of exporters like auto companies

1 August 2024
The BOJ's monetary policy decision on July 31 sent the Japanese yen to a high it had not touched since mid-March. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Currencies

Yen jumps on BOJ chief's hawkish stance

Kazuo Ueda remains open to further rate hikes, pending economic growth and inflation

31 July 2024
The Bank of Japan is grappling with policy as a deeply depreciating yen stokes import prices and saps consumers' purchasing power. (Source photos by Nanami Sato and Pool)
Market Spotlight

'Wishy-washy' BOJ keeps investors guessing on next move

Central bank set to release tapering plan, mull timing of rate hike

29 July 2024
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends a Group of 20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro on July 25.
Interview

Yellen suggests Japan's yen intervention differs from typical manipulation

Exclusive: U.S. treasury chief says 'beggar thy neighbor' policies should not be used

27 July 2024