Economy

The Thai baht, ground zero for the 1997 Asian financial crisis, is among leading exchange-rate decliners in the region. 
Opinion

Sliding Southeast Asian currencies are raising echoes of 1997

Other central banks may follow Indonesia's surprise rate hike

25 October 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The country in September said it would ban exports of rare earths, but the policy now appears to be changing to allow the export of minerals that have been processed in Malaysia. (Pool via Reuters)
Trade

Malaysia to allow exports of processed rare earths: minister

Shipments of raw materials will still be banned as country aims to grow industry

24 October 2023
Workers repair electricity lines in Hanoi. Vietnam was hit by a wave of power cuts over the summer, with some companies worried the problem will persist over the coming years.
Energy

Vietnam power crunch fears darken business outlook

Experts say blackouts could repeat in 2024 due to plant delays, grid constraints

24 October 2023
Bank Indonesia explained that the rate hike was a precautionary measure to mitigate the impact of higher prices for imports.
Economy

Indonesian rate hike highlights Asia's tough battle to defend currencies

Prospects of easing fade as Philippine peso and others remain weak

23 October 2023
Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Mansury speaks to Nikkei Asia in Jakarta on Oct. 5. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
International relations

China snaps up ASEAN's green, digital investment opportunities

U.S., U.K., France, Australia also join bloc's new projects: Indonesia minister

22 October 2023
Thailand's Si Thep Historical Park has been named a World Heritage site. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Travel & Leisure

Thailand's new World Heritage site faces overtourism pitfalls

Si Thep park unprepared for surge in visitors or threat of artifact theft

22 October 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping and foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, pose for a group photo at the Third Belt and Road Forum on October 18, 2023 in Beijing, China.
Belt and Road

On topic: A decade of China's Belt and Road

A collection of stories to catch up on a recent hot topic

21 October 2023
Indonesian rupiah bank notes at a money changer in Jakarta.
Economy

Indonesia raises key interest rate to 6% in surprise move

Central bank bends under rupiah pressure, keeps eye on stabilizing currency

19 October 2023
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, after signing the Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund into law on July 18.
Economy

Philippines suspends rollout of its first sovereign wealth fund

President Marcos Jr. now wants to study plan 'carefully' before any launch

18 October 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has big ambitions for his country's startups.
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia seeks to put state-run VCs under sovereign wealth fund

Goal is to make country a top global startup ecosystem, Anwar Ibrahim says

16 October 2023
Currencies in Southeast Asia have trended lower against the dollar in recent months due to tepid regional economic growth and interest rate gaps with the U.S. (Source photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Market Spotlight

Malaysian, Thai economies suffer as currencies slide vs. dollar

ASEAN depreciations bring higher import costs and increase inflation risks

16 October 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping raises his glass and proposes a toast at the end of his speech during the Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, April 26, 2019.
Your Week in Asia

Belt and Road Forum, Foxconn Technology Day, China GDP

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

15 October 2023
Malaysia Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim holds up the 2024 budget document as he departs for parliament on Oct. 13. (Courtesy of Malaysia's Department of Information via Reuters) 
Economy

Malaysia to raise taxes and trim subsidies, with eye on 5% growth

Government sets record $83.4 billion budget for 2024

13 October 2023
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, center, and other officials launch Indonesia's crude palm oil exchange on Oct. 13. The country is the world's largest producer and exporter of the commodity.
Commodities

Indonesia launches palm oil exchange to rival Malaysia benchmark

Regulator says voluntary bourse will provide 'transparent' transactions

13 October 2023
Srettha Thavisin speaks during an election rally of his Pheu Thai Party in April, explaining its 10,000 baht handout plan. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand PM pushes $15bn handout despite economists' warning

Srettha to detail digital money project next month ahead of February launch

13 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
Tourists walk past the Wat Arun temple in Bangkok on Sept. 10. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Chinese travelers' slow return hits Southeast Asian economies

Share of China tourists declines in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia

13 October 2023
Chicken rendang with white rice served at a restaurant in Selangor: The Malaysian government has taken new initiatives to support restaurants in the face of rising rice prices.
Inflation

Malaysia lets restaurants buy imported rice at wholesale prices

Government seeks to stabilize supply of staple in move against inflation

11 October 2023
People wait to board trains at the Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the National Day holiday in Shanghai.
Economy

China growth forecasts downgraded by IMF as world economies diverge

India and other emerging Asia markets lead in growth while Japan's outlook improves

10 October 2023
A Chinese tourist takes a selfie with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport: "Quick win" stimulus like visa waivers will not bring stronger growth.
Opinion

Time for Thailand's new government to match rhetoric with reform

New growth engines needed to reach ambitious economic targets

10 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
U.S. President Joe Biden raises a toast with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in Hanoi on Sept. 11.
Economy

Biden's Vietnam visit generates new wave of interest in investment

American businesses may flock to the country in fourth investment boom

10 October 2023
Garment workers at a factory in Yangon in 2019 before the military torpedoed the Burmese economy.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar regime ups minimum wage by 20% amid inflation

First increase since 2021 forced by currency depreciation, soaring prices

10 October 2023
Bets are placed at a small gambling hall in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. (Photo by Alastair McCready)
Asia Insight

Will Laos' economic zones boost growth or bring in criminals?

Amid bold plans, experts say border hubs like Boten face uncertain prospects

10 October 2023
Indonesian geothermal operator Barito Renewables raised $200 million in an initial public offering. (NIKKEI montage/Source photo by Getty. Logo from Barito Renewables' website)
Markets

Indonesia's Barito Renewables Energy up 25% in market debut

Geothermal energy group's share sale tests investor appetite for clean-power sector

9 October 2023