Economy

Singapore's spending on health care and other social programs will rise in 2019.
Economy

Southeast Asia's expansionary fiscal budgets put markets on edge

Governments struggle to maintain growth amid trade war and looming elections

16 February 2019
Singapore's MTI warned that the manufacturing sector was likely to see a "significant moderation" in growth.
15 February 2019
The pact is the first between the EU and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (Nikkei montage/Reuters) 
International relations

EU-Singapore investment deal at risk of delay over debt rule

Main free trade pact passes, but loophole leaves related agreement vulnerable

14 February 2019
Slowing global demand, in part stemming from a slump in smartphone sales, weighed on Asia, as many economies are reliant on Chinese production.
Nikkei PMI

Asia’s manufacturing PMIs show clear sign of slowing global economy

Factory output contracts in most markets, clouding regional growth prospect

8 February 2019
Stream article image
7 February 2019
A motor show held near Bangkok in November. New-car sales in Southeast Asia increased for a third straight year in 2018. (Photo by Hiroshi Kotani)
Economy

Southeast Asian auto sales climb 6% to new heights in 2018

But slowdown seen on trade-war fallout and rising interest rates

7 February 2019
A worker assembles parts at BMW Group factory in Jakarta.
Economy

Southeast Asia bucks trend of sinking global foreign investment

Strong markets make region the world's main driver of FDI growth

4 February 2019
According to EDB, a weighted 46% of manufacturers in the electronics sector had a negative outlook for the next six months compared with 1% that expected an improvement. 
Nikkei Markets

Singapore firms turn bearish on outlook as slowdown builds

Sentiment weakest in electronics industry, EDB survey shows

31 January 2019
It is a mistake to view James Dyson as a footloose entrepreneur.
Opinion

Dyson's Singapore sling

British billionaire's move has less to do with UK gloom than with Asia's rise

30 January 2019
For the whole of 2018, Singapore's manufacturing output rose by 7.2%, slowing from 2017's expansion of 10.4%.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore may lower growth after manufacturing disappoints

Downturn could worsen without U.S.-China trade deal

25 January 2019
Smooth and effective implementation is the key to the success of CPTPP.
Opinion

The Unsexy Challenge of CPTPP

Members must focus on implementing the trade accord, or risk embarrassment

23 January 2019
© Illustration by Eric Chow
Asia Insight

Real estate slowdown shakes Asia's economic foundations

Weak markets spell trouble for investors, consumers and retailers

22 January 2019
Emerging economies across Asia have long had a relatively low ratio of government debt to gross domestic product.
Economy

Public debt in emerging Asia creeps past 50% of GDP

Region opens fiscal taps, but borrowing could spell trouble in next slowdown

21 January 2019
Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, warns of growing risks in the U.S.-China economic conflict while speaking at the Nikkei Forum on Jan. 17 in Singapore. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Trade war

Asia tech bosses fear a US-China cold war splitting global market

Beijing accuses Congress of 'hysteria' in latest chip trade dispute

17 January 2019
According to data released by trade agency Enterprise Singapore, non-oil domestic exports rose 3.0% year-on-year in February.
Nikkei Markets

Unexpected fall in Singapore's exports casts shadow on growth

December figures show broad-based decline across markets, categories

17 January 2019
Pension system is an inter-generational issue. ((Imaginechina/AP) 
Opinion

Asia must navigate pensions crunch

Region unprepared to manage growing financial burdens of retirement

16 January 2019
A ceremony for the first China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise, held in October 2018: Many Southeast Asians say China and the U.S. are on a collision course in the region.
Trade war

Southeast Asians feel caught in US-China fight for hegemony

Survey of opinion leaders finds skepticism of Belt and Road runs deep

7 January 2019
Stream article image
4 January 2019
Although China has tightened its information controls, the country has also shown an interest in helping to create shared, international rules governing data management.
International relations

WTO seeks to ban government raids on corporate data

China and US open to multilateral effort led by Japan, Singapore and Australia

3 January 2019
The government forecasts GDP to grow between 1.5% and 3.5% in 2019, said Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, seen here addressing the 33rd ASEAN summit in November.
International relations

Singapore's Lee sounds alarm over trade tensions

US-China feud makes it harder 'to be friends with both,' leader warns

1 January 2019
A worker walks next to a stack of containers at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta.
Economy

ASEAN growth forecast downgraded further as trade war escalates

Key regional elections in 2019 seen as risk factors, economists say

27 December 2018
The growth of Singapore's manufacturing output in November was the fastest since June and came despite a surprise contraction in non-oil exports
Nikkei Markets

Singapore manufacturing surprises with faster growth

Prospect of higher tariffs next year may have boosted trade

26 December 2018
A containership arrives in port in Singapore. Re-exports from the city-state, a logistics hub for global trade, have increased of late.
Trade war

Southeast Asian exports to China rise on trade war fears

Slowdown likely later as propped-up demand fades

24 December 2018
Exports to the majority of the top markets declined in November according to trade agency Enterprise Singapore.
17 December 2018
Singapore’s economy could get a boost from increased government spending next year.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore's economy has some buffers as growth slows

Early elections could lift government spending next year

13 December 2018