East Asia

The Hong Kong offices of HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank on March 15. Both banks have announced share buyback programs this week.
Finance

HSBC sets $3bn share buyback as current and next CEOs assess direction

Interim profit dips slightly; incoming Elhedery says Quinn leaves bank 'where we wanted to be'

31 July 2024
The Japanese government has ordered Toyota Motor to make "drastic reforms to ensure appropriate certification operations." (Photo by Haruka Kadooka)
Automobiles

Toyota handed corrective order for certification violations

Japan's transport ministry uncovers intentional misconduct and irregularities

31 July 2024
A thermometer shows a temperature of 44C in Athens, Greece, on July 18.
Opinion

World should take note of a new trade and climate change deal

ACCTS agreement between 4 small nations is a practical model for all economies

31 July 2024
Alternative investments take place in less liquid private markets than those in publicly traded assets such as equities. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Finance

Alternative investors shifting assets into Japan, India: Preqin

Overall fundraising in Asia drops to 10-year low on China concerns

31 July 2024
A steel mill in Hubei province. China's manufacturing activity declined for the third straight month in July as orders shrank.
Economy

China's factory activity shrinks for third month amid tepid demand

Stimulus measures have so far failed to revive business confidence

31 July 2024
Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, second from right, attends the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, on July 27.
The Nikkei View

Multilateral cooperation needed to deter Beijing in South China Sea

China continues to claim vast maritime area with no legal basis

31 July 2024
China's Zhang Yufei competes during a heat in the women's 100-meter butterfly at the Paris Olympics on July 27. She has denied doping and said she hopes the many tests she took before the games would convince her peers.
Sports

Chinese swimmers' past positive doping tests haunt Paris Olympics

New revelations, blamed on tainted burgers, fuel fight between U.S. and world watchdogs

31 July 2024
Asia Standard Hotel Group, which runs hotels under the Empire brand, has revealed the financial impact of exposure to Evergrande bonds. (Source photos by Reuters and Kenji Kawase)
China debt crunch

Hong Kong hotel operator reveals investment losses from Evergrande bonds

Asia Standard's developer-dominated portfolio hit by two winding-up orders

31 July 2024
South Korea's Samsung Electronics is benefiting from robust demand for AI-related chips.
31 July 2024
People take photos of characters from the Japanese manga series “Chiikawa” at a pop-up store in Hong Kong. (Photo by Echo Wong)
Tea Leaves

China's stressed young people find solace in Japanese manga

Struggles facing ‘Chiikawa’ characters resonate with youth amid economic slowdown

31 July 2024
While Southeast Asian retailers and manufacturers are seeking relief from what they see as unfair competition, government officials are trying to persuade Chinese companies to invest in local production, especially in high-tech sectors. (Illustration by Daniel Garcia)
The Big Story

Southeast Asia pushes back on cheap Chinese imports

E-commerce and EVs force balancing between tariffs and pursuit of high-tech investments

31 July 2024
ATMs are installed at the over 3,000 7-Eleven stores in the Philippines. (Seven Bank)
Finance

7-Eleven group ATMs coming to Malaysia in latest Southeast Asian expansion

Seven Bank to add new features like biometrics to cash machines in convenience stores

31 July 2024
The company's factory automation business is centered on China, where investments are sluggish. (Photo by Yoichiro Hiroi)
Electronics

Mitsubishi Electric bets on price hikes amid headwinds in China, Europe

Investors focus on two earnings drivers: factory automation and air conditioning

31 July 2024
Japan is seeing record numbers of foreign tourists attracted by the weak yen.
Food & Beverage

Japan restaurant reservation sites start catering to foreign tourists

Services let customers pay to skip lines, reserve tables in other languages

31 July 2024
The Bank of Japan will discuss increasing the policy rate to 0.25% at its two-day policy board meeting through July 31. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bank of Japan

BOJ to weigh rate hike to 0.25% at Wednesday policy meeting

Japan central bank seen halving JGB purchases within 2 years amid steady inflation

31 July 2024
IPEF nations have established a network that will take action whenever supply chains are disrupted.
Supply Chain

South Korea, Japan to help crisis-proof Indo-Pacific supply chain

14 IPEF members to share chips and medical supplies in emergencies

31 July 2024
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives to speak to a gathering of foreign lawmakers in Taipei on July 30, telling the conference Taiwan will work with others to protect democracy from "the threat of authoritarian expansionism."
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan president urges democracies to unite

Lai Ching-te makes the call at Taipei's largest gathering of foreign lawmakers

30 July 2024
Plaza 66, located on the ritzy Nanjing Road in downtown Shanghai, is the major breadwinner for Hong Kong's Hang Lung Properties but has suffered from changing consumer behavior.
Property

Hong Kong developer Hang Lung's shares sink 15% after profit cut

Revenue decline at high-end mainland shopping malls 'worse than expected'

30 July 2024
Isuzu's Elf EV: The Japanese automaker plans a push into the electric truck market in North America, starting with smaller vehicles. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Electric vehicles

Isuzu to enter U.S. EV truck market ahead of tougher CO2 rules

Automaker to start locally assembled compact vehicle sales in August

30 July 2024
A Harley-Davidson Japan office in Tokyo has been inspected over allegations that the subsidiary of the American motorcycle maker breached the Antimonopoly Act.
Automobiles

Harley-Davidson Japan faces probe over excessive sales quotas

Antitrust watchdog looks into allegations dealers were forced to buy unsold units

30 July 2024
A shopping complex in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. The country's top leadership is calling for a boost in domestic demand, while keeping an eye on risk in sectors such as property.
Economy

China's Politburo calls for consumption boost to drive 2024 growth

Top leadership acknowledges 'many' risks, calls for acceleration of fiscal policies

30 July 2024
United Wa State Army (UWSA) soldiers march during a ceremony in Myanmar's Shan state in 2019. The group is a key player in the region bordering China.
Myanmar Crisis

China and neighbors pressure Myanmar as regime reels from battle losses

Resistance gains, deteriorating security prompt concerned countries to recalibrate

30 July 2024
(From left) Kazuma Tomoto, Toshiyuki Tanaka, and Yoshiaki Oiwa won the bronze medal in the eventing equestrian event at the Paris Olympics on July 29.
Sports

Japan wins eventing bronze, 1st equestrian medal in 92 yrs

Three-day competition ends with Great Britain taking gold, France wins silver

30 July 2024
TSMC is building it first chip plant in Europe amid a global push to diversify supply chains. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Semiconductors

TSMC to start construction of first European chip plant in August

Chairman C.C. Wei to host groundbreaking ceremony in Dresden on Aug. 20

30 July 2024
China's e-commerce industry is searching for ways beyond low prices to attract shoppers and boost sales. 
Retail

For China's e-commerce platforms, low prices are no longer enough

Key sector is prioritizing sustainable sales growth

30 July 2024