Economy

A port in Singapore. The European Union’s trade pacts with Singapore and Vietnam could hurt other ASEAN members if the EU increases its investment in those two countries at the expense of the others. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
International relations

EU struggles to strike trade pacts with major ASEAN countries

Sticking points could hinder other deals, as Vietnam gains from recent agreement

4 August 2019
Progress Singapore Party leader Tan Cheng Bock said the country's economic agreement with India should be reviewed as he laid out the party's agenda party on August 3. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Politics

Singapore's new opposition calls for curbs on foreign labor

Progress party unveils agenda as it looks to challenge People’s Action Party

4 August 2019
Singapore's non-oil domestic exports have fallen for four consecutive months.
31 July 2019
An anti-China protest on July 12 in Metro Manila: Duterte is facing popular backlash over his relations with China.
Opinion

China's overreach provokes backlash across Southeast Asia

Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia all show signs of rejecting Beijing's influence

31 July 2019
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Finance

DBS remains confident despite slowing economy, competition

Investment in technology to help as digital banks enter

29 July 2019
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26 July 2019
Progress Singapore Party leader Tan Cheng Bock, center, introduces his party to the media on July 26. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto) 
Politics

Singapore PM Lee faces fight with new party backed by his brother

Challenger blasts 'erosion of transparency' but is greeted with skepticism

26 July 2019
A ship loaded with containers readies to depart Qingdao in China's Shandong Province.
Trade war

Trade war triggers Asia-wide exports slump

China slowdown ripples through supply chain, hurting Singapore and Thailand

26 July 2019
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Nikkei Markets

Expectations of easier policy bear down on Singapore dollar

Disappointing growth, inflation to influence central bank's move

24 July 2019
Singapore faces a worsening slump in its exports, amid the prolonged U.S.-China trade dispute.
Economy

Singapore's export slump worsens, marking biggest fall in 6 years

Local banks downgrade city-state's growth forecast amid trade war

17 July 2019
Singapore is the world's third-largest trading center for foreign exchange after New York and London.
Nikkei Markets

IMF urges Singapore banks to strengthen FX liquidity

Income inequality down but government can spend more to tackle aging, climate change

16 July 2019
The Singapore government said last month it was reviewing this year’s growth projection of 1.5% to 2.5% to reflect downside risks.
Economy

Singapore growth dips to lowest in 10 years

Second quarter GDP barely rises at 0.1% amid trade war

12 July 2019
A port in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. Although the U.S. and China have agreed to reopen trade talks, the future direction of their trade relationship remains unclear.
Economy

US-China trade war will hit ASEAN economy harder

JCER quarterly survey records fourth straight downgrade as uncertainty remains

9 July 2019
The appreciation of Thai baht was largely supported by the opposing monetary stances of Thai and U.S. central banks.
Markets

Thai baht outperforms Asian currency peers on Fed's dovish turn

Shanghai leads stock index gainers during first half

2 July 2019
The strong demand for homes in prime locations comes despite government measures aimed at discouraging purchases by wealthy foreigners as well as locals seeking to buy second properties.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore home prices rebound, prime areas in demand

Outlook clouded by weak economy, growing number of unsold units

1 July 2019
The Kolam Ayer bridge stretches over the Kallang River in Singapore. The city-state is opening the way for more digital banks.
Finance

Singapore paves way for digital disruptors to become banks

Up to 5 licenses to be issued, with Grab among potential contenders

29 June 2019
The Singapore skyline: more businesses see Southeast Asia as a potential alternative to China.
Trade war

Half of multinationals in Asia stung by trade war: survey

Majority see no end in sight to tensions between US and China

27 June 2019
Singapore's factory output for the first five months of 2019 is negative on the year.
26 June 2019
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  urged all countries to avoid actions "which make the situation harder to solve" in the South China Sea. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Interview

Q&A with PM Lee: Freedom of navigation needs to be preserved in the South China Sea

Prolonged trade war could be 'more serious than financial crisis'

24 June 2019
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at an interview on June 24 in Singapore (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Interview

Trade war risks splitting world economy for decades: Singapore PM

Lee welcomes China to TPP and says India cannot be left out of RCEP

24 June 2019
Toll Group's large logistics center in Singapore. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Business trends

Trade war lures logistics giants deeper into Southeast Asia

Nippon Express and DHL respond to demand as supply chains move out of China

22 June 2019
Japan's government is encouraging companies to keep employees on the payroll until age 70. 
Asia Insight

Aging Asia rethinks retirement to pursue 'productive longevity'

Active seniors join robots as a potential answer to labor shortfalls

18 June 2019
Manufacturing accounts for about one-fifth of Singapore's GDP.
Trade war

Trade war drags down Asian factory employment

Singapore manufacturing work force shrinks to 13-year low as retrenchments rise

18 June 2019
Malaysia is lukewarm about joining military exercises yet accepts aerial surveillance drones from the U.S.
Opinion

Asia-Pacific's smaller states can be active players in great-power rivalry

US-China tensions are raising anxiety but Trump and Xi do not hold all the cards

18 June 2019
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17 June 2019