Economy & Markets
Asian central banks, currencies, trade flows, commodities and the supply chains wiring the Indo-Pacific.
Chinese Capital Circles Trump's School Voucher Gold Rush
Hong Kong private equity firm Primavera Capital, through its subsidiary Spring Education Group, operates over 200 US private schools. As sta
Geopolitical Tensions in the Middle East Reinforce the US Dollar's Global Dominance
Investors are seeking safety in US dollar assets amid heightened tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States. This flight to safety
Energy Shock Looms as Strait of Hormuz Closure Removes 10% of Global Oil Supply
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers has removed roughly 11 million barrels per day from global supply. This supply
Geopolitical Turmoil Tests Gold's Safe Haven Status as Prices Retreat
Gold prices have retreated sharply despite escalating conflict in the Middle East, challenging its reputation as a crisis-proof asset. The d
Huawei Pushes AI Agents as Next Frontier for Mobile Telecom at MWC 2026
Huawei, Nokia, and Ericsson unveiled AI-powered telecom technologies at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, with nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 nation
Middle East Conflict Accelerates Global Shift from Oil, Positioning China as Energy Security Anchor
Recent Middle East conflict has shattered confidence in oil markets, forcing importing nations to urgently diversify their energy sources. C
Iran Tensions Revive Fears of 1997 and 2008 Financial Crises in Asia
Rising tensions with Iran are squeezing credit markets, recalling the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global meltdown. Economists w
China's Zero-Tariff Africa Deal: Boon for Regional Trade, Risk for Weakest Economies
China's zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries, effective May 2026, aims to reduce Africa's trade deficit. It could spur cross-border c
Trump's Iran Conflict Undermines Dollar Dominance Across Asia
The US-Iran conflict has already inflicted lasting damage on the dollar's global standing. Asian economies are accelerating de-dollarization
South Korea's Market Rout Signals Broader Asian Exposure to Iran Conflict Fallout
South Korea's stock markets tumbled this week as US-Israeli attacks on Iran rattled investors. The sell-off may foreshadow broader disruptio
Trump's 15% Tariff Plan Injects New Volatility into Asia's Trade-Dependent Economies
A new 15% US tariff proposal signals heightened volatility in American trade policy, forcing Asian economies to reassess long-term supply ch
Asian Economies Assess Fallout as US Supreme Court Rejects Trump Tariff Authority
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the president unilateral tariff auth