Economy

Travelers walk through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Dec. 20. As the number of tourists surges across Southeast Asia, so too are COVID cases. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore put guard up as COVID cases surge

Southeast Asia asks public to mask up and get vaccinated as travel season begins

21 December 2023
Chinese tourists visit Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew temple in August. People from the country made up the world's biggest outbound travel market before the COVID pandemic, with 155 million trips in 2019. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

In charts: How Asia's tourism recovery is held back by stay-home Chinese

World's biggest foreign travel market hurt by weak economy, safety concerns

21 December 2023
Container ships at the port in Singapore on Sept. 28. The city-state's economy is projected to grow 2.8% in 2024, according to a survey of experts. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Singapore's economic rebound to boost ASEAN growth in 2024: JCER

Survey finds concerns rise over Israel-Hamas war spillover on oil prices, markets

16 December 2023
Taiwan's National Development Council led almost 30 startups to Singapore for a business expedition in November. (Startup Island Taiwan)
Technology

Taiwanese tech startups pile into ASEAN amid risks in China

From Singapore to Vietnam, companies tap Southeast Asia in expansion drive

12 December 2023
Singapore's commercial property investment volume declined 11%, year-on-year, to $2 billion in the third quarter of 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Market Spotlight

From Singapore to South Korea, commercial property deals falter

Japan and India are bright spots, although most real estate investors remain wary

11 December 2023
Sentosa Cove is the only place in Singapore where foreigners can buy mansions without needing to get the extra layers of approval that similar properties elsewhere require. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Property

Singapore property playground for rich foreigners hits rough patch

Money laundering arrests plus sales dip test 'little Monaco' on Sentosa Island

28 November 2023
Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port on July 16. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

ASEAN economies await a cloudy 2024 amid export worries

Trade-oriented countries are 'not out of the woods' yet after 2023's slowdown

22 November 2023
Singapore's business district. The city-state's GDP growth is slower than nearby economies in Southeast Asia. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Economy

Singapore pegs 2024 GDP growth between 1% and 3%

City-state expects electronics demand recovery after 1.1% expansion in Q3

22 November 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands after a joint news conference in Singapore on Oct. 30. (Pool photo via Reuters)
International relations

Singapore and Malaysia eye special economic zone on border

PMs Lee and Anwar discuss bilateral projects; expect agreement in January

30 October 2023
Singapore's economy grew 0.7% in the July to September quarter of 2023.
Economy

Singapore to double monetary policy statements from 2024

Decisions to be issued 4 times a year; Q3 GDP growth inches up to 0.7%

13 October 2023
Singapore will raise bus fares and fees for utilities in December. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Inflation

Singaporeans face higher bills and fares as inflation bites

Government announces support measures for lower-income families

10 October 2023
The Malaysian Health Minister will table an amendment to the Tobacco Act, which is part of the Generational End Game policy, aiming to restrict tobacco products to people born after 2007.
Your Week in Asia

Malaysian tobacco ban bill, Singapore GDP, New Zealand election

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

8 October 2023
The Monetary Authority of Singapore will look into whether further measures are necessary to ensure Singapore's approach to single family offices remains rigorous.
Crime

Singapore focuses on money laundering laws, denies China pressure

Case involving Chinese suspects with $2bn illicit gains spurs regulatory review

3 October 2023
Sea's e-commerce platform, Shopee, has become the biggest online shopping site in Southeast Asia.
Markets

Thai, Singapore tech firms surge in market value

Delta and Sea worth more since pandemic while conglomerates falter

3 October 2023
A port along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: Lackluster exports are dragging down Thailand's economic forecast.
Economy

Malaysia and Thailand GDP outlooks cut as China slows: JCER

Economists also warn that El Nino's swelter will impact India and Indonesia

29 September 2023
An atmosphere of caution has made its presence felt among property equities in Asia as a state of depression sinks in. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters) 
Market Spotlight

China property crisis holds Singapore, Hong Kong REITs back

Asia's real estate shares suffer doldrums as investors tread cautiously

25 September 2023
Singapore's tourism sector is rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Work

Singapore opens door wider to foreign workers at hotels, restaurants

Work permit eligibility expanded to those from India, Philippines and 4 other nations

5 September 2023
The Monetary Authority of Singapore's headquarters: The city-state's central bank has appointed a new chief for the first time in more than a decade.
Economy

Singapore central bank names first new chief in over a decade

Managing Director Ravi Menon to retire, making way for civil servant Chia Der Jiun

4 September 2023
From left: Singapore presidential candidates Tan Kin Lian, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Ng Kok Song (Photos by Tsubasa Suruga)
Politics

Singapore presidential election in final stretch: 5 things to know

Candidates for largely ceremonial post are all former finance gurus

31 August 2023
A view of the moon from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on Aug. 5 in this screengrab from a video released Aug. 6. (Photo by ISRO/Handout via Reuters)
Your Week in Asia

China prime rate, Cambodia's new PM, India moon landing mission

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

20 August 2023
Chinese exports to ASEAN dropped by 21% in July from a year ago.
Caixin

Container shipping rates fall on weaker China-ASEAN trade

Shanghai to Singapore 20-foot container spot price down 30% from March

16 August 2023
AMRO Chief Economist Khor Hoe Ee speaks during an interview in Singapore. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Economy

China's economic and tourism recovery hold key to ASEAN

'Supply chain reconfiguration' also benefits region, says AMRO chief economist

12 August 2023
A view of the Singapore skyline and the Tanjong Pagar container terminal. The trade-reliant economy is sensitive to global conditions.
Economy

Singapore cuts 2023 GDP growth outlook to 0.5-1.5% on weak exports

Global electronics downturn 'more protracted than initially thought': official

11 August 2023
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He says his People's Action Party has taken a hit over recent controversies.
Politics

Singapore political drama exposes frailty of Lee's succession plan

Ruling PAP 'has taken a hit' over minister's graft probe, speaker's resignation

3 August 2023
GIC's Chief Investment Officer Jeffrey Jaensubhakij noted the U.S.-China rivalry has extended beyond trade and technologies issues to capital flows, prompting businesses and investors to rethink their strategy. (Photo courtesy of GIC)
Finance

Singapore's GIC eyes India, Indonesia, Vietnam amid China pivot

Sovereign fund expects 'some time' before deals return in second-largest economy

26 July 2023