Economy — 2,051 insights
Japan set to receive first LNG via Hormuz since de facto closure
Economy

Japan set to receive first LNG via Hormuz since de facto closure

Supplies offer psychological relief, but too small to impact overall market Power provider JERA has major LNG facilities at the port of Futtsu in Chiba prefecture. (Photo by Rie Ishii) TOKYO -- A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz is set to reach the Japanese port of Futtsu as early as Monday, the first such shipment to reach the country since the strait was effectively closed because of the Iran conflict.

May 16, 2026
Malaysia’s Q1 GDP growth slows to 5.4% as cost pressures loom
Economy

Malaysia’s Q1 GDP growth slows to 5.4% as cost pressures loom

Central bank says Mideast conflict has begun to weigh on economic outlook A view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline: Malaysia's economy grew at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the previous three months. © Reuters KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's economy grew at a slower pace in the January-March quarter, as the impact of the Middle East conflict began to weigh on the economy, official data from the central bank showed Friday.

May 15, 2026
Japan’s Kioxia forecasts 48-fold quarterly profit jump on AI demand
Economy

Japan’s Kioxia forecasts 48-fold quarterly profit jump on AI demand

Chip supplier says 'strength of the flash memory market is expected to continue' Kioxia has been increasing its focus on advanced memory products used in AI servers. (Photo by Naoki Hori) TOKYO -- Kioxia Holdings on Friday forecast a 48-fold jump in quarterly net profit as booming demand from artificial intelligence data centers continues to drive up prices and shipments of memory semiconductors.

May 15, 2026
India’s Gautam Adani settles civil suit with the SEC in the US
Economy

India’s Gautam Adani settles civil suit with the SEC in the US

The patriarch of the eponymous infrastructure giant was indicted in 2024 Indian billionaire Gautam Adani attends the 51st Gems and Jewellery Awards in Jaipur, India Nov. 30, 2024. © Reuters MUMBAI -- Indian billionaire Gautam Adani on Thursday settled a civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission two years ago, scoring his first legal victory against an alleged bribery case worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

May 15, 2026
A global competitor to the F-35 is slowly emerging
Economy

A global competitor to the F-35 is slowly emerging

Canada and Germany could transform the Japan-UK-Italy fighter jet project into a 3-continent coalition A concept model of the GCAP fighter jet is displayed during the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan arms fair in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on May 21, 2025. © Reuters Eoin Drea is senior researcher at the Belgium-based Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

May 15, 2026
Alphabet announces record 576bn yen bond issuance in Japan
Economy

Alphabet announces record 576bn yen bond issuance in Japan

Google parent's multi-tranche deal tops Berkshire Hathaway's previous high Landmark issuance underscores demand from overseas companies in the Japanese market. (Nikkei montage) TOKYO -- Google parent Alphabet will issue close to 600 billion yen worth of yen-denominated bonds, the largest-ever bond offering in the Japanese currency by a foreign company, surpassing a previous record set by the U.S. investment firm Berkshire Hathaway.

May 15, 2026
Japan and South Korea tech stocks swoon and bond yields soar
Economy

Japan and South Korea tech stocks swoon and bond yields soar

The sudden stock market sell-off comes on the back of soaring bond yields globally. (File photo by Tomoki Mera) TOKYO -- Japanese and South Korean stocks fell sharply on Friday, led by a tech sell-off, as investors repriced their risks in the face of rising oil prices and higher bond yields stemming from the ongoing Iran war.

May 15, 2026
Subaru postpones planned 2028 launch of its own EVs
Economy

Subaru postpones planned 2028 launch of its own EVs

Japanese automaker shifts focus to hybrid and gasoline-powered cars Facing waning demand, Japanese automaker Subaru announced on May 15 that it will postpone the rollout of EVs developed in house. (Photo by Kantaro Fushiki) TOKYO -- Subaru will postpone the launch of its own electric vehicles, which was previously scheduled for 2028, as demand for EVs is dwindling, the company announced Friday.

May 15, 2026
India raises regular fuel prices for 1st time in 4 years on Iran war
Economy

India raises regular fuel prices for 1st time in 4 years on Iran war

Prices were unchanged in March and April even as global crude prices shot up Newly increased fuel prices are displayed at a petrol pump in Malvan, India, on May 15. © Reuters MUMBAI -- Indian drivers on Friday morning encountered higher prices for regular gasoline and diesel for the first time in four years as government-owned oil retailers began partially passing on their rising crude oil bills.

May 15, 2026
Trump says he gave Xi ‘no commitment’ on Taiwan at summit
Economy

Trump says he gave Xi ‘no commitment’ on Taiwan at summit

US president says he will decide on arms sale to Taipei, 'not asking for favors' on Iran U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before leaving after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15. © Reuters SHANGHAI -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he made "no commitment" on the Taiwan issue during his talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, and that he will determine an arms sale for Taipei in the "next fairly short period."

May 15, 2026
Boeing faces long haul in China as Trump touts expected sale of 200 jets
Economy

Boeing faces long haul in China as Trump touts expected sale of 200 jets

Proposed order smaller than anticipated; president also cites 'promise' of 750 A 737 MAX airplane sits on the final assembly production line during a media tour of the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, on April 15. © Reuters HONG KONG -- U.S. aviation giant Boeing is poised to benefit from U.S. President Donald Trump's Beijing trip, but a smaller-than-expected proposed order highlights the company's ongoing struggle to regain momentum in the world's No. 2 economy.

May 15, 2026
BRICS meeting ends in India without joint statement amid Iran crisis
Economy

BRICS meeting ends in India without joint statement amid Iran crisis

New Delhi issues chair's statement after foreign ministers fail to resolve differences over war Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on May 14. © Reuters NEW DELHI -- The BRICS foreign ministers' meeting under India's chairmanship concluded on Friday without a joint statement, with New Delhi saying that there were "differing views among some members" regarding the Middle East situation, a day after Iran accused the United Arab Emirates of involvement in the U.S.-Israeli strikes against it.

May 15, 2026