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April 19th, 2018

Empires in transition

In the post-Li Ka-shing era, Hong Kong’s property tycoons inherit a tougher market

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The Big Story

After Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's property tycoons inherit tough market

Influx of mainland investors and push for affordable housing to squeeze profits

Li Ka-shing waves goodbye after announcing his retirement as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings at a news conference in Hong Kong on March 16.
A woman and her son live in this 60-sq.-foot subdivided unit, which has a monthly rent of $487.
Business trends

Apartments shrink as Hong Kong's property tycoons prosper

Critics say policy failure to blame for affordable housing crisis

Kazuo Hirai, then-president and CEO of Sony Corporation, makes a fist during a news conference at the 2018 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Company in focus

How Sony saved itself, as seen from the trenches

Insiders cite three reasons the once-ailing giant is set for a record profit

Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai speaks at a press conference in June 2016.
Companies

Sony's Hirai eschewed Band-Aid solutions to heal earnings

The former president forced a reality check with drastic restructuring

Grab and Go-Jek drivers wait for customers in Jakarta. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Companies

Uber's Indonesia exit sets off driver hunt by Grab and Go-Jek

Both companies need drivers to expand into food and goods delivery

Carlos Ghosn, chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, speaks to Nikkei in Tokyo on April 16. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Companies

Ghosn: All options 'open' on Nissan-Renault capital structure

Revamped cross shareholdings would likely result in closer integration of carmakers

Carlos Ghosn says any reworking of the capital ties between Renault and Nissan must take into account the needs of all shareholders. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Companies

Q&A with Ghosn: Renault-Nissan ties must be acceptable to all

Under French pressure, search is on for a more formal alliance between the automakers

Pertamina has been tasked with major refinery projects while shouldering a growing subsidy burden despite rising crude prices.
Companies

Indonesia creates oil and gas holding company to expand production

Government transfers $2.77bn stake in gas distributor to Pertamina

Saudi Aramco's Juaymah facility in Saudi Arabia. Overseas expansion is part of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's plans to boost his country's economy.
Companies

Saudi Aramco to invest in $44bn Indian refinery

Saudi major accelerates expansion in developing Asia

Visitors wait at the reception of Axis Bank's corporate headquarters in Mumbai, India July 25, 2017.
Companies

Axis Bank CEO heads to exit as India takes on bad debts

Central bank said to be unhappy with Sharma's performance

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, center, with delegates at the Indonesia Africa Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on April 10. (Courtesy of Vice President's Office)
Companies

Indonesian state companies scramble for Africa

Deals by Garuda and Wijaya Karya signal increasing SE Asian influence in continent

Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies are exchanged for digital tokens in initial coin offerings. Large scams involving ICOs have been reported in Vietnam.
Cryptocurrencies

Vietnam protesters say $660m stolen in initial coin offerings

Modern Tech touted high returns to around 32,000 investors

Foreign investment pledges in the Philippines dropped 51.8% in 2017 to the lowest level in 12 years.
Asia Insight

Duterte spooks foreign investors with tax 'sword of Damocles'

Incentives behind the Philippine outsourcing boom hit the chopping block

Delhi airport is India's busiest airport, and will get much busier if more airports are not built.
Business trends

India plans to build 100 more airports for 1bn flyers by 2035

Government counts on private sector to foot most of $60bn bill

The Damascus skyline is lit up by missile fire as the U.S. launches air strikes targeting chemical weapons facilities.
International relations

Syria strikes cast shadow over North Korea denuclearization talks

U.S. actions draw mixed reactions while experts appear divided on effect

China's aircraft carrier Liaoning at sea. ASEAN leaders grapple with managing Beijing's influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Opinion

With China or without?

ASEAN leaders wary about Indo-Pacific cooperation plans

The U.S. has been pressuring China to open its financial sector wider for years.
Trade war

China moves up plans to open finance sector

Central bank chief says foreign ownership limits will be scrapped in three years

Children draw Myanmar flags at a school in a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh.
Economy

Economies begin to flourish at Rohingya refugee camps

Steady salaries and supplies create 'comfort' that could impede repatriation

Filipino women are seen here at a training course in Tokyo to become housekeepers. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Politics

Japan to allow foreign interns to work five additional years

Labor shortage increases need for technical talent

The Dalai Lama attends an event marking the start of the 60th year of his exile in India, in Dharamsala, India, on March 31.
Opinion

New Delhi's delicate dance over Tibet

As Beijing grows stronger, India shows China respect but will not abandon Dalai Lama

Doing things like other companies is more of a liability in globally competitive markets.
Opinion

Japanese companies must dare to be different

Copycat strategies will fail in the face of accelerating competition and innovation

Can it do your job?
Opinion

Robots threaten Asian jobs

Automation risks hitting the region's low-skill industrial posts

Chinese and Japanese officials meet for high-level economic talks in Tokyo on April 16. (Pool/AP)
Opinion

When Japan and China are communicating, everyone benefits

Regular talks between the economic giants promotes global stability

From left; Fathers Bruno Rossi, Bruno Soppelsa and Raffaele Sandona outside Caffe Bruno (Photo by Denis D. Gray)
Tea Leaves

Catholicism and caffeine in Thailand's hills

Priestly trio serve up mix of pastoral care, pizza and cappuccino