eChina.news

Economy

Yen continues rise to 155 range on speculation of carry trade reversal

Market sees Japan pension fund's rare August meeting as likelihood of increased yen asset buying The sharp appreciation in the yen might indicate signs of a reversed carry trade. (Photo by Takashi Miyazaki) TOKYO -- The yen traded in the upper 155 range against the dollar on Friday morning, continuing to strengthen from the previous day's 157 yen, amid speculation that the Bank of Japan could increase the pace of interest rate hikes faster than previously anticipated.

September 4, 2026

Economy

UK urged to overhaul military procurement to remove China-made parts

Britain must eliminate any Chinese spying risks in defense kit, experts say Britain should tighten its procurement process to ensure the country's military hardware and kit contain no Chinese-made parts -- including the uniforms -- experts say. © Reuters LONDON -- Britain must tighten military procurement rules to cut an "unhealthy dependency" on Chinese suppliers and stop focusing on choosing the "cheapest option," experts say.

September 4, 2026

Economy

Heineken pours Asia-Pacific beer efforts into Vietnam expansion

Dutch brewer also prioritizes growth in Malaysia, Indonesia and India Beers such as 'Tiger Crystal' and 'Heineken Silver' -- lighter beers with less bitterness -- have been developed in Asia to suit local tastes © Heineken TOKYO -- Dutch beermaker Heineken is stepping up investments in Vietnam with plans for the largest brewery in Asia and expanding beyond its premium Tiger brand into the mainstream beer market.

September 4, 2026

Economy

Top British state school opens branch near Delhi and in Dubai

QE Barnet hopes to attract best with A-level results, music, sport offerings Queen Elizabeth's School Gurugram Founding Principal Craig Cook, right, with Head of Prep Sonal Chatrath, left. (Screenshot from the school's LinkedIn page) LONDON -- A top British state-funded school has opened fee-paying branches near New Delhi and in Dubai, hoping to draw wealthy families with its impeccable academic record and "superpremium" programs like soccer coaching links to Spain's Real Madrid football club.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Hong Kong’s Cardinal Zen loses appeal over protest fund

High-profile appellants sought to help people injured and arrested in 2019 demonstrations Cardinal Joseph Zen, known as an outspoken advocate for civil liberties and political freedom, attends the sentencing of media mogul Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong in February, with Lai's wife, Teresa. Zen lost an appeal on Sept. 3 in a case over a fund he helped set up to support protesters in 2019. © Reuters TOKYO/HONG KONG -- A Hong Kong court on Thursday upheld the conviction of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun in a high-profile case over a humanitarian fund he helped establish to support people hurt during citywide pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Vietnam exports and imports soar to record levels on AI boom

Data center demand and China-US trade friction benefit the country Ferries transport vehicles and cargo at Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City on April 6. While Vietnam's exports boomed in the first eight months of the year, so did imports, nudging the country into a trade deficit. © Getty Images HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vietnam's eight-month trade volume reached a record $770 billion, the statistics office said Thursday, as the country benefited from artificial intelligence-driven demand for data centers and other goods.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Solvay to double chip chemical output in Taiwan amid AI boom: CEO

Belgian producer localizes more production as customers seek supply chain security Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren speaks to Nikkei Asia in Taipei on Sept. 3. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) TAIPEI -- Belgian chemical maker Solvay is set to more than double production capacity in Taiwan for its high-purity chipmaking chemical by 2026, eyeing the massive growth opportunity from booming demand for artificial intelligence chips, the company's CEO told Nikkei Asia.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Very strong El Nino to run through February as Asia impacts build

WMO forecasts temperatures far above normal for much of the region Pedestrians hold parasols to cope with a heat wave in Tokyo on July 15: Forecasters are predicting the El Nino weather phenomenon will intensify, pushing up temperatures in much of Asia. © Reuters TOKYO -- The current El Nino climate phenomenon is almost 100% likely to persist through February 2027, bringing drought and elevated temperatures to much of Asia, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said with an unprecedented level of confidence on Thursday in its latest update.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Nobody likes data centers and chips, chips, chips

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times Hope everyone's autumn is off to a chilly good start. This is Yifan, sending this week's #techAsia from Silicon Valley. I just came back from a reporting trip to Indiana where I got to preview SK Hynix's first advanced chip packaging plant in the U.S., which will come online in late 2028 and assemble highly sought-after high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. I've visited a fair amount of plants and construction sites in recent years to document America's effort to reshore manufacturing, but I was still surprised when I saw how close the SK Hynix chip plant is to the townhouses and apartments right across the street. While local residents have protested and even sued the South Korean memory chip giant for putting this massive chip facility near residential areas, SK Hynix said the noise and pollution from such an advanced manufacturing site will be minimal, while the economic benefits will be huge, with 7,000 jobs created in the area.

September 3, 2026

Economy

World Bank urges Thailand to lure Korean, Japanese EV suppliers

Diversified supply chain critical to becoming export hub: report Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks at the Bangkok Business Summit on Sept. 3. (Photo by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat) BANGKOK -- Thailand should work to attract more battery and other suppliers from South Korea and Japan to become a regional export hub for electric vehicles, the World Bank said in a report released Thursday. The multilateral lender urged the Southeast Asian nation to build more diversified supply chains to support its economic growth.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Japan’s Itochu chairman ‘welcomes’ more capital from Berkshire

CEO of US investor meets with heads of trading houses, insurer Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel, left, poses with Itochu President and CEO Masahiro Okafuji in Tokyo on Sept. 2. (Photo by Keiichi Furukawa) TOKYO -- Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel met this week with the heads of five Japanese trading houses the U.S. investment company has bet on, as well as with insurer Tokio Marine Holdings. Abel spoke with them separately in Tokyo, discussing a wide range of topics, including business strategies and potential areas of cooperation.

September 3, 2026

Economy

Berkshire eyes bigger stakes in Japan trading houses: CEO Abel

US conglomerate pushes deeper collaboration in global deals and investments In his first visit to Tokyo since becoming Berkshire Hathaway's CEO in January, Greg Abel met with Japanese trading houses, receiving updates on their performance and exploring opportunities for joint initiatives. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura) TOKYO -- Berkshire Hathaway is considering increasing its stakes in Japan's five biggest trading houses -- Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu, Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni -- while pursuing more joint investments and mergers and acquisitions with the companies around the world, CEO Greg Abel said on Thursday.

September 3, 2026