Economy — 187 insights
ICC confirms arrest warrant issued for Duterte ally over drug war
Economy

ICC confirms arrest warrant issued for Duterte ally over drug war

Lawmaker Dela Rosa currently under Senate's protective custody Supporters of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, ​the chief enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly "war on drugs," hold a protest as Dela Rosa is placed under the protective custody of the Senate in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on May 11. © Reuters MANILA -- The International Criminal Court confirmed Monday night that it has issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, accusing him of acting as a co-perpetrator in ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's antidrug campaign.

May 12, 2026
Bay of Bengal cooperation is critical amid the global crisis: BIMSTEC chief
Economy

Bay of Bengal cooperation is critical amid the global crisis: BIMSTEC chief

Seven-state bloc involving India and Thailand deepen power grid, port connectivity BIMSTEC Secretary-General Indra Mani Pandey. The veteran Indian diplomat says the Bay of Bengal bloc is gaining momentum. (Photo by Toru Takahashi) DHAKA -- Rising global geopolitical tensions underscore the need for stronger regional cooperation to address economic and security challenges, the chief of a bloc involving seven South and Southeast Asian countries said.

May 12, 2026
Japanese expats being sent home from Thailand as employers cut costs
Economy

Japanese expats being sent home from Thailand as employers cut costs

Recent exodus spurred by increased Chinese presence and rocky economy Isuzu is a major investor in Thailand and remains committed as other Japanese companies scale back their expatriate staff in the Southeast Asian country. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Rie Ishii) BANGKOK/TOKYO -- Japan in recent years has dramatically reduced its expatriate presence in Thailand as it strives to remain competitive in an economy made tougher by China's growing presence, the strong baht and slow growth.

May 12, 2026
Indonesian state banks surge, private rivals sag over Prabowo’s policies
Economy

Indonesian state banks surge, private rivals sag over Prabowo’s policies

Government-backed lenders face rising asset and loan risks after stellar Q1 profits Bank Mandiri, Indonesia's largest lender by assets, is among state-owned banks that enjoyed double-digit profit growth in the January-March quarter. But analysts expect risks from government policies to surmount the windfall over a longer period. © AP JAKARTA -- Indonesia's banking industry was a tale of two subsectors in the first three months of 2026, as major state-owned banks rode government programs to log double-digit profit growth while their private rivals slowed.

May 11, 2026
China’s yuan hits three-year high days before Xi-Trump summit
Economy

China’s yuan hits three-year high days before Xi-Trump summit

Rally comes amid criticism of reliance on depreciation to fuel exports China's onshore yuan touched 6.79 per dollar in morning trading on May 11, its highest point since February 2023. © Reuters SHANGHAI -- China's currency on Monday hit a fresh three-year high against the dollar, underscoring the yuan's momentum ahead of a key summit between President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, later this week.

May 11, 2026
Kioxia’s rising shares signal Japan market shift from autos to chips
Economy

Kioxia’s rising shares signal Japan market shift from autos to chips

Kioxia Iwate's Kitakami plant in northern Japan is seen here in March 2024. The maker of memory chips has seen its share price jump 24 times, year on year. (Photo by Koji Uema) TOKYO -- Japanese memory chip maker Kioxia has come to symbolize a potential shift in Japan's industry leadership as its share price has rocketed by a factor of 24, year on year, and nearly fivefold so far in 2026.

May 11, 2026
Philippine rice farmers bear brunt of expensive fuel and El Nino
Economy

Philippine rice farmers bear brunt of expensive fuel and El Nino

Output could halve this year if government does not act: Agriculture Department A Filipino farmer sprays fertilizer on his rice crop. Many farmers fear the energy crisis and the looming El Nino will leave them out of pocket. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Getty Images) NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines -- Elvira Fadriquelan, 60, has spent more than half her life farming rice on nearly a hectare of land in Lubao, Pampanga. In this town, some 100 kilometers north of Manila, farmers' fields are in their backyards. That proximity once promised security, but now serves as a daily reminder of mounting debts.

May 11, 2026
Trump-Xi meeting keeps Taiwan on edge, eyeing subtle US shifts
Economy

Trump-Xi meeting keeps Taiwan on edge, eyeing subtle US shifts

Offhand remarks a key risk; European grandee offers reassurance during Taipei visit Anti-landing spikes on Taiwan's Kinmen, across from the Chinese city of Xiamen: Anything U.S. President Donald Trump tells China's Xi Jinping about Taiwan will be scrutinized. (Anadolu via Getty Images) TAIPEI/NEW YORK -- Taiwan is bracing for the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, later this week. The best-case scenario for Taipei, some experts say, would be not being mentioned at all.

May 11, 2026
Chinese automaker Chery to launch EV brand with Japan’s Autobacs Seven
Economy

Chinese automaker Chery to launch EV brand with Japan’s Autobacs Seven

Companies seek to expand Japan's EV market; Japanese production under consideration Autobacs operates approximately 1,200 stores around the world, selling automotive accessories as well as used cars. Chery ranked 12th globally in new vehicle sales in 2025. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters) TOKYO -- Chinese automaker Chery and Japanese auto parts retailer Autobacs Seven will jointly sell electric vehicles in Japan beginning in 2027.

May 11, 2026
Japan’s SoftBank enters battery business to power AI data centers
Economy

Japan’s SoftBank enters battery business to power AI data centers

Telecom ties up with two South Korean startups, targets annual sales of over $640m SoftBank plans to develop and manufacture battery cells and battery energy storage systems that will first be used for its own AI data centers. TOKYO -- SoftBank Corp. has launched a battery business in Japan to help meet growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers, with plans to eventually expand overseas.

May 11, 2026
Hynix shares jump 11%, driving KOSPI to record high
Economy

Hynix shares jump 11%, driving KOSPI to record high

AI-linked semiconductor stocks raise benchmark index over 85%, year to date Relentless global rush into artificial intelligence-linked semiconductor stocks continues to propel Seoul's market. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) SEOUL -- South Korea's benchmark stock index hit a record high on Monday, as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, the market's two biggest stocks, ride the artificial intelligence boom.

May 11, 2026
Asian private equity fund MBK to acquire Japanese aluminum components maker
Economy

Asian private equity fund MBK to acquire Japanese aluminum components maker

Deal secured after authorities had rejected plan to buy machine tool company Asian private equity firm MBK Partners is set to acquire a Japanese aluminum components maker after it failed to buy Makino Milling Machine due to rejection by authorities. TOKYO -- Asian private equity firm MBK Partners is set to acquire major Japanese aluminum components manufacturer Altemira Holdings, Nikkei has learned.

May 11, 2026