Economy — 1,112 insights
China’s property developers face fresh liquidity crunch
Economy

China’s property developers face fresh liquidity crunch

Previous debt restructuring fails to ease cash flow pressures A worker stands outside a construction site of China's Aoyuan Group in Hong Kong in November 2021. The country's property developers embarked on a wave of debt restructuring deals after the market slipped into a crisis that year. © Reuters SHANGHAI -- Chinese private property developers that have restructured their debt are facing a fresh liquidity squeeze this year as the property market downturn continues to strain their finances.

July 13, 2026
Suntory PepsiCo opens biggest Asian factory amid shift from soda
Economy

Suntory PepsiCo opens biggest Asian factory amid shift from soda

Vietnam's growing thirst for healthier beverages underpins $300m investment US-Japanese joint venture Suntory PepsiCo opened a $300 million factory in southern Vietnam as it bets on rising demand for healthier drinks. The facility includes the company's first fully automated warehouse in Asia. (Lien Hoang) TAY NINH, Vietnam -- Suntory PepsiCo has opened its largest factory in Asia, in southern Vietnam, betting that rising incomes and demand for healthier beverages will continue to fuel growth even as consumption of traditional soft drinks slows.

July 13, 2026
US emerges as helium winner amid Iran war and China restrictions
Economy

US emerges as helium winner amid Iran war and China restrictions

Nikkei analysis finds Taiwan, Japan, South Korea turning to America for chipmaking gas The U.S. has emerged as the top supplier of helium to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where tech companies rely on the gas to churn out chips. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Kyodo) TAIPEI -- The U.S. has become the top source of helium for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and could gain even more market share as the Iran war and Chinese export restrictions squeeze global supplies of the key chipmaking gas, a Nikkei Asia analysis of customs data shows.

July 13, 2026
SK Hynix loses more than 15% after successful Nasdaq debut
Economy

SK Hynix loses more than 15% after successful Nasdaq debut

KOSPI also tumbles on concerns that memory chip stocks might have peaked The tumble comes a few days after SK Hynix rose about 13% on its first trading day in New York. (Photo courtesy of SK Hynix) SEOUL -- Shares of SK Hynix closed down more than 15% on Monday after the South Korean chipmaker successfully debuted on Nasdaq at the end of last week, as worries emerge that the memory chip industry's uptrend might have peaked.

July 13, 2026
Johor landslide win boosts Malaysia’s BN, raising pressure on Anwar
Economy

Johor landslide win boosts Malaysia’s BN, raising pressure on Anwar

Another state election in August seen as next test of federal alliance power balance Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, center, deputy prime minister and chairman of Barisan Nasional, celebrates its landslide victory in the Johor state election on July 11. The state's chief minister, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, is at right. (Photo by Norman Goh) JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia -- A landslide victory by Barisan Nasional (BN) in Saturday's Johor state election has provided momentum to the junior partner in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's federal coalition, sharpening tensions inside Malaysia's national-ruling alliance.

July 13, 2026
More foreign workers push Japan’s overseas remittances to record high
Economy

More foreign workers push Japan’s overseas remittances to record high

Fiscal 2025 figure up 11.5% from year before, with Vietnam receiving nearly 30% of total An Indonesian worker operates farm equipment in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo. Indonesia was the second biggest destination for overseas remittances from Japan in fiscal 2025. (Photo by Yuji Murakami) TOKYO -- Overseas remittances from Japan grew to a record high of 1.004 trillion yen ($6.2 billion) in the fiscal year ended in March, up by 11.5% compared to the previous year, reflecting an increase in foreign workers.

July 13, 2026
Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan to build $1.4bn rental lab complex in central London
Economy

Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan to build $1.4bn rental lab complex in central London

Developer aims to win demand from drug discovery companies by supplying R&D space A rendering of the facility that Mitsui Fudosan plans to construct as a part of the British Library redevelopment. (Mitsui Fudosan) TOKYO -- Japanese real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan will build its first rental laboratory facility in Europe as a major part of the British Library redevelopment project in London, part of an effort to tap into growth in the life sciences sector.

July 13, 2026
More people in Japan to skip summer travel as rising costs pinch budgets
Economy

More people in Japan to skip summer travel as rising costs pinch budgets

Summer bonuses reportedly rise but fail to keep up with accommodation costs People crowd a shopping arcade in Naha, the capital of Japan's Okinawa prefecture. (Photo by Akihiro Sano) TOKYO -- Domestic travelers this summer vacation season are expected to decline for the first time in six years, with rising prices and higher hotel costs weighing on demand.

July 13, 2026
Japan’s smaller businesses exit China on economic, political risks
Economy

Japan’s smaller businesses exit China on economic, political risks

Overall tally of Japanese firms in country down about 10% from 2012 peak Staffing services provider Quick has left China and is instead spending resources to strengthen its U.S. and European operations, such as its London office shown here. (Quick) OSAKA -- A growing number of small and midsize Japanese companies are leaving China over such risks as prolonged Sino-American tensions, slowing economic growth and the country's espionage law.

July 13, 2026
Cambodia’s democracy died slowly after Kem Ley’s murder
Economy

Cambodia’s democracy died slowly after Kem Ley’s murder

A decade on, the opposition is crushed and the media silenced Prominent Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley smiles at an event in Phnom Penh in June 2016 to mark the 67th anniversary of the return of territory to Vietnam by the French government. He was assassinated just a few weeks later, sending shock waves through Southeast Asia. © AP Mu Sochua is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former Cambodian politician now living in exile. She is the president of the Khmer Movement for Democracy.

July 13, 2026
Thailand’s oldest bank turns to virtual banking for growth
Economy

Thailand’s oldest bank turns to virtual banking for growth

CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya says SCB X's virtual bank will be a strategic pillar for the Thai financial group. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi) SCB X CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya eyes 3m customers for AI-powered platform BANGKOK -- Thailand's oldest commercial bank is venturing into virtual banking, hoping to reach new customers and spur growth as it navigates a slow domestic economy.

July 13, 2026
Malaysia to start initial production of homegrown EV battery in July
Economy

Malaysia to start initial production of homegrown EV battery in July

Country aims for exports to Indonesia, South Korea, India and Pakistan NanoMalaysia CEO Rezal Khairi Ahmad described the company's battery project as "likely the first of its kind in ASEAN." (Photo courtesy of NanoMalaysia) KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia plans to start small-scale production of a homegrown graphene-enhanced lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles this month, marking a milestone in the country's efforts to move up the tech manufacturing value chain.

July 13, 2026