ASIA: The southwestern Chinese capital of Chengdu announced a lockdown of its 21.2 million residents as it began four days of citywide testing for COVID-19 as some of the country’s most populous and economically important cities battle outbreaks. Residents of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, were ordered to stay at home from 6 p.m. […]

ASIA: Profits at China’s industrial firms sank in July, reversing previous gains as fresh COVID-19 curbs dragged down demand and squeezed factory margins, while power shortages due to heatwaves threatened production. Profits at China’s industrial firms fell 1.1% in January-July from a year earlier, wiping out the 1.0% growth logged during the first six months, […]

ASIA: India’s oil imports from Russia fell in July for the first time since March, along with its overall purchases, while supplies from Saudi Arabia rebounded for the first time in five months, data from trade and industry sources showed. Indian refiners lifted more futures from Saudi Arabia as prices were attractive, while prices for […]

ASIA: Japan’s imports jumped to a record amount in July, boosted by global fuel inflation and a weak yen, outweighing exports and deepening the trade deficit, in a sign of a further worsening in the terms of trade for the export-oriented economy. Ministry of Finance data showed on Wednesday exports grew 19.0% in July from […]

ASIA: China’s central bank surprisingly cut key interest rates on Monday to revive demand as data showed the economy unexpectedly slowed in July, with factory and retail activity squeezed by Beijing’s zero-Covid policy and the property crisis. Industrial production in July rose 3.8% from a year earlier, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), […]

ASIA: India’s consumer inflation eased to 6.71% in July, easing for a third straight month, helped by slower increases in food and fuel prices and adding to expectations that the central bank may rein in the pace of interest rate hikes next month. The year-on-year figure, published by the Office for National Statistics on Friday, […]

ASIA: China’s export sector posted strong growth in July, providing a much-needed boost to the world’s second-largest economy, which is almost certain to miss its GDP target this year. Exports measured in US dollars jumped 18% in July from a year earlier, marking the fastest pace of growth this year, according to Chinese customs statistics […]

ASIA: China announced on Tuesday that its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would launch a series of targeted military operations on the island in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and its resolute defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The announcement came shortly after Pelosi landed in Taiwan, the first time in […]

ASIA: Japan’s central bank forecast inflation would exceed its target this year in new forecasts on Thursday but kept interest rates ultra-low, signaling its determination to remain an outlier in a wave of global central bank policy tightening. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda brushed off the chance of policy tightening in the near future, saying he […]

ASIA: Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC reported steady returns for the year but warned of “deep uncertainties” as investors face concerns over inflation, pandemic risks and geopolitical challenges. The fund’s portfolio posted an annualized nominal dollar return of 7% over the 20-year period ending March 31, 2022, GIC said in its annual report released on […]