Economy & Markets
Asian central banks, currencies, trade flows, commodities and the supply chains wiring the Indo-Pacific.
Strong Dollar Pummels Asia's Vulnerable Currencies from Tokyo to Jakarta
The yen nears 1986 lows as Japan's economic strategy unravels. Indonesia's rupiah hits an all-time low, threatening a return to crisis-era i
SaaS Faces a Second Death as AI Compute Costs Reshape Software Economics
The first death of SaaS came from AI's capability to execute tasks, not just organize them. Now, a second death looms as AI compute costs cr
Australia's Path to Becoming an Indo-Pacific Energy Superpower
Australia's abundant LNG and clean energy resources position it as a key player in Indo-Pacific energy security. A strategic alliance with a
Is China Repeating Japan's Zombie Economy Mistake?
China's economy shows signs of zombie companies kept alive by cheap bank loans, similar to Japan after 1990. Official NPL figures may unders
G7 Oil Billionaires Gain $23.5 Billion Since Start of Iran Conflict
A new Oxfam report reveals that 41 energy billionaires in G7 nations collectively gained $23.5 billion since the Iran war started in late Fe
SpaceX IPO: A Tale of Privilege and Market Mechanics in the Indo-Pacific
SpaceX's IPO, with a fixed price and tiny float, mirrors the exclusivity of airport lounges. The listing mechanics, including Nasdaq rule ch
Indonesia and China Forge Path for Local Currency Finance in Asia
Bank Indonesia and the People's Bank of China have expanded local currency transactions and cross-border payment links. The agreements, incl
IPO Transparency Could Force AI Giants to Disclose Risks
SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are preparing IPOs that could raise $200 billion. Public listing subjects them to US securities laws, enabling
New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Faces Uphill Battle on Rate Cuts
Kevin Warsh, confirmed as Fed chair on May 13, wants to cut interest rates. But inflation is rising, and the FOMC is leaning toward hikes. W
AI Supremacy's New Frontier: From Silicon to Electricity Grids
The AI race is shifting from chip supremacy to energy abundance. China's massive clean energy infrastructure could provide a decisive advant
The Real AI Threat: Information Control, Not Superintelligence
The most pressing AI risk is not a loss of control to superintelligent systems but the concentration of informational power in a few compani
Beyond Transparency: A Horizontal Model for Sovereign Debt Crises in Asia
Traditional anti-corruption strategies fail in sovereign debt crises. A horizontal enforcement model, tested in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, le