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Economy

Did Japan raise yen intervention line to 157? Sharp volatility draws speculation

Some market players think authorities have stepped in repeatedly since last week An exchange rate of 160 yen to the dollar was previously seen as the level at which Japanese authorities would intervene. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) TOKYO -- The yen's exchange rate against the dollar has continued to fluctuate even after Japanese authorities intervened in the market by buying the currency, raising speculation that additional interventions may have taken place and that the threshold for stepping in has been raised from 160 yen to the 157 range.

May 7, 2026

Economy

ASEAN leaders under pressure to address economic fallout of Iran conflict

Summit in the Philippines also set to discuss Myanmar and South China Sea A vendor selling vegetables tends to customers at a public market in Manila, the Philippines. Rising prices of basic goods will be in the spotlight at the ASEAN summit in the Philippine city of Cebu this week. © Reuters MANILA/JAKARTA -- The escalating impact of the Iran war on Southeast Asia is expected to dominate this week's ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, as leaders seek to mitigate the effects of the conflict on their economies. The heads of government will also discuss the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and the conclusion of negotiations for a South China Sea code of conduct, according to officials.

May 6, 2026

Economy

UAE bets big on AI education to move into post-oil future

Future of human intelligence: National strategy aimed at children, starting at age 3 Marwan, a father of four, says today's children will have to grow up with AI. (Photos by Shun Kato) Generative artificial intelligence has begun to take over human thinking in many ways, presenting challenges to how the intellect is cultivated and used. Despite the collective wisdom of people, divisions and conflict continue around the world, raising the question: What skills and capabilities are needed for human beings to navigate the future? In a series of articles, Nikkei explores how the world is reconstructing the value of intellect. This is part two.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Swiss energy company chief casts doubt on nuclear renaissance

Financial risks remain despite scramble to cut fossil fuel imports Christoph Brand, CEO of Swiss energy company Axpo group believes cost and regulatory barriers will limit any nuclear renaissance. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Axpo) TOKYO -- The chief executive of Swiss energy company Axpo Group has cast doubt on the revival of nuclear energy, even as the Iran War prompts countries around the world to take another look at the technology as a way to reduce fossil fuel imports.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Japan’s Asahi places global bet on beer-brewing byproducts

From agriculture to food alternatives, beer yeast becomes major growth driver Japan's Asahi Group Holdings is utilizing nearly a century of experience with beer yeast to expand operations in areas ranging from agriculture to non-animal milk. (Source photos by Nanami Sato and Asahi Group Holdings) TOKYO -- In fields in Kenya, rice sown in February is steadily growing by using methods different from conventional farming. The crop lies not in flooded paddies but dry fields.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Singapore needs harsher penalties for money laundering: watchdog

Financial Action Task Force also notes improvements in fight against crime Paris-based FATF wants Singapore as a global financial hub to penalize criminals laundering dirty money there more severely. © Reuters SINGAPORE -- A global money laundering watchdog on Wednesday found room for improvement in Singapore's fight against dirty money flows, and called for higher penalties.

May 6, 2026

Economy

India and Vietnam agree on minerals, rare earth, defense ties

Narendra Modi hosts To Lam as both aim to raise trade to $25bn by 2030 Vietnam's President To Lam and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 6. © Reuters NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam held wide-ranging discussions on Wednesday over cooperation in sectors such as energy, critical minerals, rare earths and supply chain resilience, as they seek to expand their partnership and increase bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2030.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Japan’s startup ambitions collide with harassment concerns

Survey finds 32% of entrepreneurs have suffered some form of harassment An event for female entrepreneurs in Tokyo. Far more women running startups report sexual harassment than men. TOKYO -- About 32% of entrepreneurs at Japanese startups have experienced some form of harassment, with women far more likely than men to report sexual harassment, according to a recent academic survey.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Indonesia’s 5.61% Q1 growth hides weak fundamentals, economists warn

Seasonal consumption and front-loaded spending drive expansion but pressures remain Millions of Indonesian Muslims traveled to their hometowns for Eid al-Fitr, which fell in late March this year. Increased household spending during the holiday helped the economy grow 5.61% on an annualized basis in the first quarter of 2026. © Reuters JAKARTA -- Indonesia's economy posted its fastest growth in almost three years in the first quarter of this year, despite mounting internal and external pressures, but economists cast doubt on the durability of the expansion.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Video game engines find new homes in construction and retail

Software repurposed for urban redevelopment planning and designing virtual kimonos General contractor Taisei virtually renders urban redevelopment projects using a game engine. (Taisei) TOKYO -- Software used to create 3D graphics for video games has gained an extra life with long-established companies in the construction and retail industries looking to innovate.

May 6, 2026

Economy

Capsule toys capture overseas visitors in Japan’s latest cultural craze

Tourists use last coins at vending machines for a ball with a random miniature A tourist from Thailand shows off the capsule toy she obtained from a vending machine at the Gashapon Bandai Official Shop in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district. (Photo by Yuji Murakami) TOKYO -- Insert a coin into a vending machine slot, turn the handle clockwise, and a small toy in a translucent capsule pops out at random. It's a shopping habit that increasing numbers of foreign visitors to Japan are enjoying as capsule toys catch on.

May 6, 2026

Economy

The debate over Mekong ‘control’ misses the point

It is a question of whether cooperation can be made to work for the people who depend on it A person harvests river weed, or khai, in the Mekong River along the Thai-Laos border on Feb. 6, 2023 © Reuters Meas Sopheak is a technical adviser at the Cambodia National Mekong Committee. An Pich Hatda is a secretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, and former chief executive officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat.

May 6, 2026