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October 17th, 2019

Is Nissan beyond repair?

Lagging in innovation and shaken by executive cull, Japanese automaker struggles to reinvent itself

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The Big Story

Beyond repair? New Nissan CEO has bigger problems than Ghosn

Lagging in innovation and shaken by executive cull, Japanese automaker struggles to reinvent itself

Nissan has undergone a rapid regime overhaul and a strategy pivot. Is it enough to save the company and its fraying global automaker alliance? (Illustration by Daniel Garcia)
China's then-leader, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, tours a Nissan factory on the outskirts of Tokyo in 1978, two months before unveiling his transformative "reform and opening-up" policy.
The Big Story

Nissan thrives in China, thanks to Ghosn

Against flailing US business, an unlikely bright spot for the embattled automaker

Uniqlo India CEO Tomohiko Sei, left, and Founder and Chairman Tadashi Yanai pose at a press event ahead of the opening of brand's first store in India. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Company in focus

Uniqlo dreams big as it enters India, its 'new China'

But Japanese fashion giant must go head-to-head with Zara and H&M

The reason Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing launched its offer, to diversify itself from China, was also the reason London Stock Exchange Group was not interested in the bid, especially given the ongoing protests in the city. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

HKEX finds it hard to shake China focus as LSE bid fails

Market operator faces IPO weakness and greater competition from mainland exchanges

The Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall that opened in September is operated by one of the TCC Group's development arms. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Property

Public debut of ThaiBev affiliate pushes market cap to $6.2bn

Listing of TCC Group property unit to fund hotel acquisitions and renovations

Sales of Huawei's Mate 30 have been strong in China but losing Google services could hurt it overseas. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Huawei crackdown

Customers ask: Is a Huawei phone without Google worth $1,000?

Consumer question goes to heart of US efforts to curb China's biggest phone maker

Akira Yoshino shows off a model of a lithium-ion battery, the innovation that won him this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry, during a news conference Oct. 9. (Photo by Kento Awashima)
Technology

Nobel laureate Yoshino created the rechargeable world we live in

Chance encounter with Oxford scholar's paper led to discovery of lithium-ion battery

Global stock buybacks reached a record $1.32 trillion in 2018.
Datawatch

From fundraiser to gift giver: markets shift role in buyback era

Share repurchases surpass stock offerings by $1.8tn over past 5 years

Axiata President and CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim said a possible merger with Norway's Telenor could still happen. (Photo by P Prem Kumar)
Telecommunication

Malaysia's Axiata says Telenor merger still a possibility

Telecommunications provider happy to keep doing business with Huawei

Keppel says it is interested in exploring other opportunities in Brazil's gas and oil industry. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Nikkei Markets

Singapore rig builders draw line under disputed Brazil deals

Keppel O&M and Sembcorp Marine were tarred by corruption probe

The new disclosures raised concerns among investors, pushing Zee's shares down 5.6% in Mumbai trading.
Participants in the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade smile as they march through the capital's streets in May 2018.
Asia Insight

Japan's LGBT+ progress outpaces politics

Localities recognize same-sex couples as PM Abe frets over constitution

Thailand and Indonesia are reasserting control over their energy resources in the face of domestic political pressures and concerns about depletion.
Comment

Oil and gas supply tussle clouds Southeast Asia's economic outlook

Depletion fears and local politics make life hard for multinational players

Pressed plastic bottles are stored at a recycling facility in Switzerland. Much of the world's plastic waste ends up in landfills or is burned.
Environment

Plastic waste searches for a new home as Asia shuts its gates

Import bans highlight shortcomings in global recycling chains

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during the Taiwan National Day celebrations on Oct. 10. (Photo by Kensaku Ihara)
Politics

Taiwan's Tsai: China's 'one country, two systems' model has failed

President hardens anti-Beijing stance ahead of January election

Cambodian authorities in June ordered the destruction of Bun Kim Long's 80 pigs. Like many smallholder pig raisers across Asia, her business is in tatters. (photo by Shaun Turton)
Agriculture

African swine fever wipes out Asia's backyard pig farmers

Outbreak forcing a shift to commercial operations with biosecurity resources

Singapore is the world's most competitive economy, according to the World Economic Forum's annual ranking. It overtook the U.S., helped by its superior infrastructure and financial stability.
Economy

Singapore overtakes the US as world's most competitive economy

World Economic Forum lowers rating on India and Indonesia

Khaltmaagiin Battulga's first state visit to India is an example of the way smaller countries on China's periphery are seeking allies to balance their neighbor's growing might.
Opinion

Mongolia needs allies to withstand China's looming threat

Ulaanbaatar turns to US and India in face of Beijing's military and economic might

A corporate tax cut does not address the most pressing problem of a demand slump.
Opinion

India's corporate tax cut does not address country's deeper problems

Government must stimulate demand even as GDP growth slows

Iconsiam shopping mall in Bangkok, which opened to the public in November 2018: intraregional investment flows extend beyond manufacturing sectors such as retail. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Opinion

Southeast Asia moves from world's factory to regional powerhouse

Now governments need to respond with policies to encourage investment

A worker cycles past containers near Tianjin port in northern China. The U.S. and China are still imposing high tariffs on each other's products.
The Nikkei View

US-China deal is only first step in long road to end trade war

Both sides need to back up their words with substance

Demonstrators sing "Glory to Hong Kong" -- the unofficial anthem of the protest movement -- at the International Finance Centre shopping mall on Sept 12.
Life

'Glory to Hong Kong': anthem born of turmoil turns into music of hope

Crowds sing anonymous composer's song in malls and streets

Graham Gilbert, one of the artists involved with The Torch program. (Courtesy of The Torch)
Arts

Indigenous offenders in Australia find new life in art

Pioneering prison program aims to foster pride and creativity among country's Aboriginal population

Japan's Rugby World Cup squad has players from various backgrounds. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Tea Leaves

Lessons in identity and sport from Planet Rugby

Japan's Brave Blossoms show they have skin in the game