Economy & Markets
Asian central banks, currencies, trade flows, commodities and the supply chains wiring the Indo-Pacific.
Friendshoring Offers Developing Asia a Lifeline as Global Trade Fractures
Global trade is slowing as the US and China decouple, but friendshoring—shifting imports to trusted partners—offers developing economies a p
Iran Conflict Strains Asian Currencies as Rupee and Rupiah Lead Declines
India's rupee and Indonesia's rupiah have fallen to historic lows as the Iran war pushes oil above $120 per barrel. Central banks in Mumbai
UAE's OPEC Exit Opens Door for Asian Currency Shift in Oil Trade
The UAE left OPEC on May 1, 2026, ending nearly six decades of membership. The move frees Murban crude from cartel pricing, enabling yuan, r
Bangladesh's Power Sector: A Monument to Misplaced Ambition
Bangladesh's installed capacity has surged sixfold since 2009, but the power sector is hemorrhaging billions in subsidies. The Rooppur nucle
UAE's OPEC Exit: A Fracturing Gulf and New Risks for Asian Energy Importers
The United Arab Emirates has left OPEC after nearly six decades, driven by economic and geopolitical strains. The move weakens the cartel's
UAE's OPEC Exit Signals a Fracturing Gulf and New Risks for Asian Energy Importers
The UAE's decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+ marks a strategic shift away from collective production discipline. Gulf states are increasingly
Gulf States Seek Dollar Lifelines as US Currency Dominance Persists
Gulf monarchies, long seen as symbols of inexhaustible wealth, are seeking emergency dollar liquidity from Washington. Currency swap lines w
ASML: The Last Polite Monopolist in a World of Chip Ambitions
TSMC's unusual complaint about ASML's EUV pricing highlights the clash between near-monopoly and near-monopsony. While ASML's tools are esse
China to Issue Sovereign Bonds in Indonesia, Deepening Regional Financial Ties
China and Indonesia have signed a reciprocal sovereign bond issuance agreement, enabling China to sell yuan-denominated bonds in Indonesia's
Bangladesh's Money Printing Risks Rekindling Inflation
Bangladesh Bank's reserve money growth surged to 13.35% in February, more than double the previous year. Economists warn that printing money
Bangladesh's Fuel Crisis: Government Mismanagement, Not Panic Buying
Bangladesh's fuel crisis is primarily due to government mismanagement, not panic buying. Delayed price adjustments in March created supply d
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Threaten Asia's Fertilizer Supply and Food Prices
Blockades at the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting shipments of sulfur and sulfuric acid, key inputs for fertilizer production. Asian economie