Economy & Markets
Asian central banks, currencies, trade flows, commodities and the supply chains wiring the Indo-Pacific.
Space-Based AI Data Centers: A False Solution to Environmental Costs
Elon Musk's SpaceX and other tech giants propose orbital data centers to power AI with solar energy. However, lifecycle analysis reveals sig
Holtec's IPO Bets on Small Modular Reactors to Revive US Nuclear Power
Holtec International, a US nuclear services firm, filed for an IPO to fund its SMR-300 small modular reactors. The company aims to compete w
Kazakhstan Bets on Vanadium as Critical Mineral Demand Surges
Vanadium is gaining strategic importance for energy storage and steel alloys, with China dominating global production. Kazakhstan's untapped
Custom Chips: The New Arms Race in AI Model Making
Major AI model makers are racing to design custom chips, moving beyond general-purpose GPUs. The shift is driven by inference bottlenecks th
Asia's Development Inflection Point: Why Bold Risks Beat Safe Bets
Asia's development leaders are proving that big bets, not safe ones, drive progress. India's first utility-scale battery storage unlocked bi
Yuan Emerges as Asia's Anchor as Yen Weakens, Shifting Regional Dynamics
Indonesia's planned panda bond, denominated in yuan, marks a historic shift as China replaces Japan as Asia's economic hub. The yen's slide
Why the US Economy Defies Trump's Trade War and Iran Conflict
The US economy grew 2.6% in early 2026, far outpacing the EU's 0.7%. Key factors include wider budget deficits, massive AI investment, and l
Asia's AI Ambition Outpaces Execution: The Governance Gap
Asia-Pacific firms plan to invest $245 million on average in AI over the next year, outpacing the Americas and EMEA. Yet IDC forecasts 45% o
Gold's Plunge Tests Asia's Central Bank Reserve Strategy
Gold prices have fallen 27% since January, hitting central banks in China, Japan, and India that have been hoarding the metal. The Iran conf
China's Africa Lending Model: A Split Personality of Keynesian and Neoliberal Logic
China's overseas lending to Africa operates through a dual system: internal state-Keynesianism to vent industrial overcapacity, and external
Gwadar Port's Missing Cargo and the Fast-Closing Window for Pakistan's Strategic Gamble
Pakistan's Gwadar Port has handled just 4,789 containers since 2007, against an annual capacity of 240,000 TEUs. A government report warns t
JD Vance's Anti-GDP Rhetoric Borrows from European Left, Misses Asian Realities
JD Vance's new book attacks GDP as a measure of national well-being, using Japan's quality of life as an example. His arguments echo Europea