India’s market premium cracks as oil shock meets weak growth
Economy

India’s market premium cracks as oil shock meets weak growth

Lack of AI-related themes deter global investment capital from Indian stocks A recent survey shows that India is the most underweighted region for investors. (Photo by Ken Kobayahshi) BENGALURU -- Foreign investors were already pulling back from Indian equities before the U.S. war in Iran, deterred by high valuations and few artificial intelligence plays. The Hormuz conflict is now adding pressure as higher oil prices squeeze margins and worsen macro risks.

China’s Huayou to buy Africa-focused Australian miner in lithium rush
Economy

China’s Huayou to buy Africa-focused Australian miner in lithium rush

$210m deal secures access to EV battery ingredient in Ghana, Ivory Coast China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt previously acquired this lithium mine in Zimbabwe. Now it is moving to secure interests in Ghana and Ivory Coast. © Getty Images TOKYO -- Chinese mineral miner Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt has agreed to fully purchase an Australian peer with lithium assets in Africa, expanding its portfolio on the continent.

ASEAN must stay ‘agile’ to address global headwinds, Marcos urges bloc
Economy

ASEAN must stay ‘agile’ to address global headwinds, Marcos urges bloc

Energy crisis at top of leaders' summit agenda in the Philippines ASEAN leaders pose during the opening ceremony of their summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8. © Reuters CEBU, Philippines -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Southeast Asian nations on Friday to remain "agile" in the face of global uncertainties, as regional economies face the prospect of soaring inflation and slowing growth because of the Middle East crisis.

Southeast Asian banks check Iran war strain on corporate lending
Economy

Southeast Asian banks check Iran war strain on corporate lending

Singapore's OCBC raises allowances to buffer potential losses Singaporean banks are actively scrutinizing their loan books amid the Middle East uncertainty. © Reuters SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asian banks bracing for further impact from the Iran war are also anxious about softening loan activity and rising credit risks for borrowers grappling with the conflict's economic fallout.

Editor’s Choice: U.S.-China summit tests fragile stability as global tensions rise
Economy

Editor’s Choice: U.S.-China summit tests fragile stability as global tensions rise

Akito Tanaka shares his weekly reflections and recommendations President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour the Forbidden City in Beijing in November 2017. The U.S. leader is poised to visit the Chinese capital again next week. © AP Hello from Tokyo. Last week, I visited Nikkei Asia's editorial headquarters in New York on a business trip. The team there, made up of desks and reporters who handle newsroom operations during Asia's nighttime hours, plays a crucial role in our 24-hour news cycle. Since the launch of the Trump administration, the New York team's hard work has enabled us to deliver high-quality journalism to our readers around the clock. It's been a year since I last visited New York, and I was struck by how much more difficult daily life seems to have become. To avoid heavy traffic, I took the train and subway from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the city. From the perspective of someone accustomed to newly built Asian metropolises, the rundown public transportation system and road infrastructure stood out. The surge in prices was also striking, making me hesitate before ordering another bottle of beer at a restaurant.

South Korean conservative leader casts US ties as key to national strength
Economy

South Korean conservative leader casts US ties as key to national strength

Jang Dong-hyeok says economic concerns to shape June elections more than Yoon fallout Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of South Korea's opposition conservative People Power Party, speaks at a news conference in Seoul on May 8. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok) SEOUL -- The leader of South Korea's conservative opposition has reiterated his party's strong fealty to the U.S. ahead of pivotal local elections next month.

ASEAN’s electric vehicle ambitions hit the ‘grid wall’
Economy

ASEAN’s electric vehicle ambitions hit the ‘grid wall’

Rapid EV uptake bares fragile networks, fossil fuel reliance and infrastructure risk VinFast electric taxis wait for customers in Hanoi on Aug. 30, 2025. © Reuters Tim Daiss is a journalist and analyst who has covered energy markets, sustainability and geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific region for the past 15 years.

Baidu’s spun off chip unit plans dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong
Economy

Baidu’s spun off chip unit plans dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong

Hong Kong IPO for Kunlunxin is expected in the third quarter, tapping AI investment demand A man passes a Baidu logo at an open-source AI event in Beijing on Mar. 17. The search engine operator's chip unit, Kunlunxin, is planning a public listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Kunlunxin, a unit of Chinese search engine group Baidu, has filed for a dual listing on the tech-focused Shanghai STAR market, according to a regulatory filing on Friday, as the chipmaker seeks to tap investors' appetite for artificial intelligence.

Taiwan opposition votes to cut Lai’s defense budget despite US urging
Economy

Taiwan opposition votes to cut Lai’s defense budget despite US urging

Outlays slashed by about 38% days before expected Trump-Xi summit in Beijing Taiwanese soldiers carry a drone during an annual military exercise in Kaohsiung in January. © Reuters TAIPEI -- Taiwan's opposition-led legislature on Friday voted to cut President Lai Ching-te's proposed defense funding by more than a third, a move likely to draw scrutiny in Washington days before an expected summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders.

India power companies strained as big users source own electricity
Economy

India power companies strained as big users source own electricity

Data centers seek distribution licenses, leaving middlemen heavily indebted Engineers work on an electricity pylon on the outskirts of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. © Reuters BENGALURU -- India's state-owned power distribution companies (discoms) face a growing, two-pronged threat to their revenues, with industrial customers going off grid for relatively cheaper power, and data centers and factories buying from private power companies.

Sony and TSMC partner on next-generation AI image sensors
Economy

Sony and TSMC partner on next-generation AI image sensors

Japanese group targets robotics, automotive sectors as it forecasts double-digit profit growth Sony is the global leader in manufacturing image sensors used in smartphones, as well as in automotive and industrial applications. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu) TOKYO -- Sony Group on Friday said it planned to deepen its partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., aiming to develop next-generation image sensors for artificial intelligence applications that would allow it to expand into fast-growing sectors such as robotics and automotive.

Toyota forecasts decrease in net profit for FY26 amid Middle East tensions
Economy

Toyota forecasts decrease in net profit for FY26 amid Middle East tensions

Automaker aims to maintain strong sales in North America despite Trump tariffs Toyota marked record-high global sales for the fiscal year ended March 2026 even with U.S. tariffs on imported cars. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) TOKYO -- Toyota Motor said on Friday that it expects net profit for the year ending March 2027 to fall by 22% from the previous year to 3 trillion yen ($19.1 billion), reflecting soaring material costs, including those driven by the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.