Economy — 2,007 insights
1 in 5 USB drives recommended on Amazon have complaints about faked storage
Economy

1 in 5 USB drives recommended on Amazon have complaints about faked storage

Weak seller vetting appears to let through fake Chinese drives, name-brand counterfeits All of the inexpensive Chinese-branded USB drives Nikkei purchased from Amazon had falsified storage capacity, an analysis found. (Nikkei montage) TOKYO -- Around 20% of USB drives appearing as recommended picks in Amazon searches have multiple reviews indicating their capacity has been misrepresented, a Nikkei investigation shows, exposing buyers to risks from poorly vetted sellers.

July 9, 2026
Pimco may eye long-term JGBs if yields hit 3%, Japan co-head says
Economy

Pimco may eye long-term JGBs if yields hit 3%, Japan co-head says

Japan's credit not at risk, but government must be careful about spending: Masanao Tomoya Masanao, co-head of Pimco Japan, thinks that friction between the Bank of Japan and the government could emerge. (Photo by Genki Ikuta) TOKYO -- With Japanese government bond yields climbing to historically high levels, major institutional investors are repositioning themselves in the market.

July 9, 2026
LG’s $1bn move shows Vietnam climbing semiconductor value chain
Economy

LG’s $1bn move shows Vietnam climbing semiconductor value chain

Apple supplier expands into semiconductor substrates in northern tech hub LG Innotek's manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The South Korean company is expanding its semiconductor-related operations in the country. (LG Innotek) HO CHI MINH CITY -- South Korean conglomerate LG will pour $1 billion into chip packaging in Vietnam on a site the size of 45 football fields, local authorities said, in a move highlighting the Southeast Asian country's growing role in higher-value segments of the semiconductor supply chain.

July 9, 2026
Webull to offer commission-free trades of US stocks in Japan
Economy

Webull to offer commission-free trades of US stocks in Japan

Trading platform operator is the first in the country to eliminate those fees The Webull app has been downloaded 55 million times since its founding in 2016. © AP TOKYO -- Stock trading platform Webull Financial will become the first brokerage in Japan to offer commission-free trades for U.S. equities, a move expected to spark a trend among rivals in the market.

July 9, 2026
Russia fuel crisis spills over to Central Asia as drone strikes bite
Economy

Russia fuel crisis spills over to Central Asia as drone strikes bite

Kyrgyzstan hunts for suppliers, Uzbek prices climb, Kazakhstan guards its market As Russia tightens energy exports after Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries, Kyrgyzstan is facing shortages of premium-grade gasoline, with consumers now turning to standard grade. (Photo by Ilkham Umarakhunov) ISTANBUL/BISHKEK -- Central Asia's fuel markets are absorbing the shock of Russia's refinery crisis, with higher-octane gasoline shortages reported in Kyrgyzstan, prices rising in Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan tightening controls to protect its own market.

July 9, 2026
Apple supplier Luxshare slips in Hong Kong’s biggest listing of 2026
Economy

Apple supplier Luxshare slips in Hong Kong’s biggest listing of 2026

Manufacturer's $3.1bn debut adds to rush of Chinese tech listings in financial hub Visitors check out a Luxshare display at the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 22. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Apple's largest supplier in China began trading in Hong Kong on Thursday after raising $3.1 billion in the financial hub's biggest listing so far this year.

July 9, 2026
Gao Shanwen, economist who questioned China’s GDP data, dies
Economy

Gao Shanwen, economist who questioned China’s GDP data, dies

Former central bank adviser's blunt remarks on world's No. 2 economy drew scrutiny Gao Shanwen, an outspoken Chinese economist, is pictured here attending a forum in Beijing in 2009. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Chinese macroeconomist and former central bank adviser Gao Shanwen, best known for alleging that China had overstated its gross domestic product data, has died, according to local media.

July 8, 2026
South Korea’s chip hub plans face tough questions over timing, demand
Economy

South Korea’s chip hub plans face tough questions over timing, demand

SK Hynix, Samsung aim to tap AI boom, but cyclical nature of memory market has some worried Samsung Electronics' chip production plant at Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Samsung and SK Hynix are involved in a plan to build a new chip production hub in the country's southwest. © Samsung Electronics/Reuters SEOUL -- South Korea's "unprecedented" vision for a new chip production hub involving Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix is facing questions over how it will mesh with the cyclical nature of the memory chip sector, even as the AI-fueled supply crunch shows little sign of easing.

July 8, 2026
Singapore’s Temasek to raise AI exposure 2.5-fold over 5 years
Economy

Singapore’s Temasek to raise AI exposure 2.5-fold over 5 years

State investor bets on data centers, chips amid concerns over tech bubble Singaporean state investor Temasek Holdings sees "compelling opportunities" in artificial intelligence. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters) SINGAPORE -- State investor Temasek Holdings is set to raise its exposure to artificial intelligence bets by about 2.5-fold over the next five years, with data centers and semiconductors among its key focus areas.

July 8, 2026
Singapore hospital group makes market debut as population ages
Economy

Singapore hospital group makes market debut as population ages

Foundation Healthcare hits $780m market cap just 3 years after establishment Singaporean hospital group Foundation Healthcare's stock listing ceremony at the Singapore Exchange on July 8. (Photo by Fumika Sato) SINGAPORE -- Shares of private medical service provider Foundation Healthcare Holdings (FHH) debuted on the Singapore Exchange on Wednesday, marking a major hospital operator listing in Southeast Asia as the population ages.

July 8, 2026
IMF sharply downgrades Cambodia economic forecasts
Economy

IMF sharply downgrades Cambodia economic forecasts

Growth to slow to 3% and inflation to double to 5.6%, according to US-based fund Workers at a China-funded textile and garment factory in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia. The sector remains one of the mainstays of the Southeast Asian nation's economy. © Getty Images PHNOM PENH -- The International Monetary Fund has sharply downgraded its economic outlook for Cambodia, warning that rising energy prices will compound previous challenges like the Thai border conflict and cyber scam industry, depressing growth and accelerating inflation.

July 8, 2026
Toyota-backed Chinese unicorn Momenta falls flat in Hong Kong bourse debut
Economy

Toyota-backed Chinese unicorn Momenta falls flat in Hong Kong bourse debut

Self-driving startup tied to top carmakers met with caution after raising $750m in IPO A Momenta robotaxi is displayed at the booth of the Chinese autonomous driving startup at the Auto Shanghai show in April 2025. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Shares of Chinese self-driving startup Momenta opened higher but ended flat in their Hong Kong debut on Wednesday, as investors weighed hopes that its technology will define the future of autonomous vehicles against worries about profitability.

July 8, 2026