Economy — 1,119 insights
Asian exchanges call for regional connectivity to capture capital inflows
Economy

Asian exchanges call for regional connectivity to capture capital inflows

Cross-border cooperation expands the pie for all, SGX president says From right: Masanori Yoshida, senior executive officer and global chief at Japan Exchange Group; Asadej Kongsiri, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand; and Michael Syn, president of Singapore Exchange, take part in a panel discussion at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 in Bangkok on July 16. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura) BANGKOK -- Stronger regional connectivity is essential to capturing investment inflows and sustaining growth for Asia's capital markets, top executives from the region's stock exchanges said at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 here Thursday.

July 16, 2026
Bangladesh to build 108-km fence along Myanmar border
Economy

Bangladesh to build 108-km fence along Myanmar border

Officials cite concerns over increased instability in Rakhine state A Myanmar border guard force camp and border fence, in Maungdaw, Myanmar, pictured in 2014. © Reuters DHAKA -- Bangladesh has decided to fence off parts of its 271-kilometer border with Myanmar to combat transnational crime as the volatile situation in Rakhine state of the neighboring country deepens security concerns for Dhaka.

July 16, 2026
Affordable alternatives to Nvidia servers crop up for Japan AI players
Economy

Affordable alternatives to Nvidia servers crop up for Japan AI players

NPUs and cache servers seen as more cost-effective than just increasing GPUs This AI data center server is equipped with Rebellions' NPU semiconductors. (Photo by Hitomi Izawa) TOKYO -- With many AI-related companies in Japan finding servers with Nvidia's graphics processing units too expensive, efforts are underway to offer less pricey options.

July 16, 2026
Nvidia, Kawasaki Heavy to build robot-equipped AI shipyard in Japan
Economy

Nvidia, Kawasaki Heavy to build robot-equipped AI shipyard in Japan

Japanese company aims to boost efficiency, solve labor shortage through technology Kawasaki Heavy and Nvidia will also team up on the development of autonomous robots that can perform work such as welding at shipyards. (Source photos by Nikkei) TOKYO -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nvidia will work together to develop a next-generation shipyard powered by artificial intelligence, as the Japanese company looks to boost productivity by using the U.S. chipmaker's digital twin technology.

July 16, 2026
Japan Coast Guard boosts cyber capabilities to combat digital crime rings
Economy

Japan Coast Guard boosts cyber capabilities to combat digital crime rings

Anonymous groups use social media to recruit members, organize operations A Japan Coast Guard officer seizes illegal drugs from the hull of a ship. (Japan Coast Guard) TOKYO -- The Japan Coast Guard has set up a dedicated cyber investigation team to counter drug smuggling by groups connected through social media, as the law enforcement agency looks to protect maritime security in the face of increasingly sophisticated criminal methods.

July 16, 2026
Rural Japan tries to draw wealthy tourists with $40,000 custom swords
Economy

Rural Japan tries to draw wealthy tourists with $40,000 custom swords

High-end travelers seen as way to breathe new life into local economies Japanticket brings tourists to visit this sword workshop in Japan's Gifu prefecture. (Japanticket) TOKYO -- Custom-made samurai swords have become a weapon of choice for bringing big-spending travelers to one of Japan's less-traveled areas.

July 16, 2026
Yamaha becomes target as Fender defends Stratocaster guitar design
Economy

Yamaha becomes target as Fender defends Stratocaster guitar design

Fender's Stratocaster is one of the world's most recognizable electric guitar designs. © Reuters HAMAMATSU, Japan -- U.S. musical instrument maker Fender has warned Japan's Yamaha to abide by copyright protections for its guitar designs, it was revealed this week, in what appears to be a widening of its efforts to defend its iconic brand.

July 16, 2026
Japan drone stocks soar as investors look beyond AI, traditional defense
Economy

Japan drone stocks soar as investors look beyond AI, traditional defense

Japanese companies that make drones and their components are seeing a surge of investor money. (Illustration by Nikkei) TOKYO -- Money is flowing into Japanese drone companies amid rising military demand for unmanned systems, as investors seeking diversification options away from artificial intelligence stocks look beyond the traditional defense stocks that surged last year.

July 16, 2026
India’s services exports growth highlights limits of manufacturing push
Economy

India’s services exports growth highlights limits of manufacturing push

IT moves services near No. 1 spot as merchandise exports stall despite support While India's services exports have grown at a compound annual rate of 9.3% over the past 12 years, goods exports have increased at barely a third of that pace. (Source photos by Reuters) © Reuters BENGALURU -- India's services exports are on the cusp of overtaking merchandise exports for the first time, underscoring how the country is increasingly dependent on information technology for growth even as policymakers push to transform the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse.

July 16, 2026
Nissan pins Japan revival hopes on new Elgrand premium minivan
Economy

Nissan pins Japan revival hopes on new Elgrand premium minivan

First major redesign in 16 years seen as key test of automaker's turnaround strategy Nissan Motor unveils the new Elgrand in Yokohama, Japan on July 16. (Photo by Marie Yoshimura) YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Nissan Motor on Thursday launched a fully redesigned Elgrand premium minivan in the Japanese market -- the model's first major overhaul in 16 years -- as part of the automaker's strategy to revive domestic sales as it tries to achieve a business turnaround.

July 16, 2026
South Korean central bank raises rates as economy shows strength
Economy

South Korean central bank raises rates as economy shows strength

With the economic boom concentrated among chipmakers, central moves to address inflation BANGKOK -- South Korea's central bank raised its key rate for the first time in more than three years on Thursday as it grapples with inflationary pressure at least partially stemming from quickening growth.

July 16, 2026
Nvidia partners with Toyota’s Woven City on physical AI tech
Economy

Nvidia partners with Toyota’s Woven City on physical AI tech

US chipmaker to supply technologies to be used in traffic management Nvidia will team with Woven by Toyota, which operates Toyota's smart city, Woven City. (Source photos by Nikkei and Woven by Toyota) TOKYO -- Nvidia is working with Toyota Motor's Woven City, a smart city conducting demonstration experiments in Shizuoka prefecture, central Japan, as the U.S. chipmaker looks to speed up the spread of artificial intelligence in Japan by providing foundational technologies.

July 16, 2026