Economy

Firefighters spray disinfectant to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease in Jakarta.
4 April 2020
Tourist and school buses are seen at a parking lot near Kwai Chung Container Terminal in Hong Kong, April 1: The novel coronavirus outbreak has devastated the territory's tourism industry.
Economy

Pandemic to cut Asian growth to 2.2%, worst since 1998 crisis: ADB

Thailand, Hong Kong and seven other economies to shrink, China to slow sharply

3 April 2020
A man is tested for the coronavirus outside a hospital in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

From light touch to total lockdown: How Asia is fighting coronavirus

Countries begin to toughen their approach as infections continue to rise

28 March 2020
Congress gave final approval to the largest economic package in U.S. history. 
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of Mar. 22 to Mar. 28, US House passes a $2.2tn stimulus

Hong Kong bans gatherings of over 4 people; Trump tweets he is working with Xi

28 March 2020
A worker sprays disinfectant at a closed Kuala Lumpur market. With a prolonged coronavirus lockdown choking the economy, the Malaysian government has introduced two rounds of stimulus.
Coronavirus

Malaysia adds $53bn of coronavirus stimulus as fiscal pressure mounts

Indonesia also in tight spot while Singapore and others have wiggle room

27 March 2020
With 60 million Filipinos in self-isolation since last week, many are turning to streaming services such as Netflix to help pass the time. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Coronavirus

Philippines asks Netflix to drop streaming quality to ease congestion

Company vows to reduce traffic on telecom networks by 25%

26 March 2020
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has come under fire for his slow response to the deadly pandemic.
Coronavirus

Duterte granted $5bn and power over companies to fight coronavirus

Lawmakers give Philippine president extraordinary authority to aid economy

24 March 2020
Pedestrians in Seoul: Governments across Asia are scrambling to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus

Asia turns on the fiscal taps to cushion coronavirus impact

As crisis drags on, governments face pressure to offer even more aid

23 March 2020
Indonesian ride-hailing startup Go-Jek has created millions of informal jobs that are vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Society

Indonesian informal workers lose work in coronavirus outbreak

Income support needed for many on the lower rungs of the economy

21 March 2020
A freeway sits almost empty in downtown Los Angeles, after California's Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an unprecedented statewide "stay at home order" directing the state's 40 million residents to hunker down in their homes for the foreseeable future during the global outbreak of coronavirus disease, in California, U.S., on March 20, 2020.
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of Mar. 15 to Mar. 21, New York orders millions to stay indoors

Mainland China reports zero new local cases for 3rd day; worldwide total surges

21 March 2020
A Maserati dealership in Seoul: South Korea saw the biggest jump in the number of high net worth individuals last year, according to Knight Frank's survey. 
Economy

Ranks of crazy rich Asians grow but heirs face uncertain future

Studies show region's wealthy shy away from touchy subject of succession

19 March 2020
A member of the Indonesian Red Cross looks through goggles as she and her team disinfect in a Jakarta school on Monday. 
Economy

Four Asian central banks cut rates as virus rips markets

Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Taiwan all move even as currencies slide

19 March 2020
A dealing room of a bank in Seoul. Shares across much of Asia suffered in morning trade on March 19 as the coronavirus pandemic continued to spook investors.
Markets

Asian shares tumble as surging dollar negates stimulus measures

South Korean shares fall sharply as more coronavirus infections emerge

19 March 2020
Rodrigo Duterte speaks during an Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Malacanang presidential palace on Mar. 16: the Philippine president has been trying to please China.
Opinion

Philippines ignored neighbors' lessons on how to tackle coronavirus

Manila lockdown comes far too late after Duterte tried to placate China

18 March 2020
A man wearing a protective mask sits outside the Philippine Stock Exchange at the central business district in Makati City, Manila's financial district. 
Coronavirus

Philippine Stock Exchange pushes to resume trading

Concerns that closure will further undermine investor confidence

17 March 2020
The foodcourt inside a mall in Quezon City on the first day of Metro Manila's lockdown, March 15, 2020, due to the surge of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines. (Photo by Kimberly Dela Cruz)
Coronavirus

Manila lockdown cripples businesses big and small

President Duterte considering further drastic measures to control virus

16 March 2020
Trump has ramped up the global blame game.
Opinion

Three reasons Asia should fear Trump's coronavirus fiasco

His incompetence and vitriol will have economic consequences for China and region

16 March 2020
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong town, Bataan province, north of Manila. Southeast Asia’s only fully-constructed nuclear power plant was built there during the era of former President Ferdinand Marcos, but the government shuttered the facility before it ever came online.
Energy

Indonesia and Philippines move to revive nuclear ambitions

New regulations proposed amid surging energy demand and anti-coal backlash

15 March 2020
Donald Trump speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus outbreak at the White House on Feb. 29: he said the health crisis may "bring the world closer."
Opinion

Trump's postponed ASEAN summit exposes fragile truce with China

Move has potential to diminish tensions with Beijing during coronavirus crisis

13 March 2020
Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, pictured on Feb. 5: the coronavirus outbreak is nothing short of a human credit squeeze. 
Opinion

Asia has little hope of economic recovery in 2020

Coronavirus, oil shock, weakened central banks all bode ill for struggling region

11 March 2020
Downsizing announcements by Honda Motor, Wells Fargo and Nokia are giving Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte a headache.
Economy

Duterte's tax plan curbs foreign investment for 2nd straight year

Philippine FDI falls 23.1% to $7.6bn amid policy uncertainties and trade war

10 March 2020
The Philippines' ratio of women in senior management positions stood at 43%, versus just 12% in Japan.
Economy

Women in management: Southeast Asia improves but Singapore slips

Philippines' ratio of female execs tops region as Japan lags behind at 12%

7 March 2020
Stream article image
6 March 2020
The correct thing for Duterte to do would have been to contest any questionable contracts in court.
Opinion

Duterte's threats against business are driving investment away

Philippine president's railing against liberal oligarchs puts off multinational companies

4 March 2020
Stream article image
Asia Insight

China's Belt and Road power grids keep security critics awake

As Xi connects the region, Philippines weighs 'shutdown' risk

3 March 2020