Indonesia bauxite ban drops a trade war gauntlet

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In: Asia

JAKARTA – Doubling down on Indonesia’s value-added mineral policy which has drawn fire from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and European importers, a defiant President Joko Widodo insists his administration will go ahead with its plan to ban bauxite exports in June next year. Widodo made the announcement only days after returning from a visit […]Continue Reading

BOJ fires shot across US Treasury market’s bow

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In: Asia

The Bank of Japan’s surprise policy tweak sent US government bonds down sharply, but US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen probably hasn’t seen anything yet. As the BOJ allows the yen to appreciate at long last, Yellen’s team may soon find itself short of buyers for US Treasuries in Asia and beyond. As Japanese government bond […]Continue Reading

Singapore’s 2023 hinges on smooth China reopening

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In: Asia, Business

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s export-reliant bellwether economy is bracing for tough times in 2023 with trade expected to shrink or record no growth amid weakening global demand, tighter liquidity and persistent inflation. Accordingly, many economists foresee a possible technical recession in the first half of next year. Though the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) does […]Continue Reading

How this fintech is leading the charge for financial inclusion across Southeast Asia

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In: Technology

  Advantage Boost with its incumbency & proven capability to operate at scale
Almost US$451mil loans disbursed to MSMEs across Malaysia and Indonesia Access to financing has long been a point of contention for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), even before the pandemic. According to industry studies over half of MSMEs…Continue Reading

The ABCs of China’s GDI

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In: Asia

In 1949, former US president Harry Truman launched the first US global aid program, declaring that “all nations [should] work together through the United Nations” in “a worldwide effort for the achievement of peace, plenty and freedom.” At the 76th United Nations General Assembly in 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the global community […]Continue Reading

How structural growth and stable funding anchor Indian and Indonesian financiers' resilience

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In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

India’ s domestically-driven economy and Indonesia’ h commodity-led exports should provide some strength despite a more difficult operating environment characterised by higher global inflation, rising rates of interest and liquidity tightening. Elaine Koh, senior director for Asia-Pacific non-bank financial institutions from Fitch Ratings talks about the prospects meant for India and Indonesia’ s finance and leasing sector in the current economic environment.Continue Reading

Markets hear BOJ roar but China has little to fear

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In: Asia
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is listening closely and watching the financial markets and the yen's strength. Photo: AFP/The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Bank of Japan shook world markets on Tuesday in a monetary move that at the least reminded everyone the entity still exists. It’s been a long, long while since Governor Haruhiko Kuroda logged into global markets. Seeing that the green light next to his avatar had switched on was enough to send the yen […]Continue Reading

New Year govt gift bonanza

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In: South-East Asia

The government will roll out a package of stimulus measures as “New Year gifts”, including tax rebates for shoppers, reductions in land and building taxes, and property transaction fees to boost public consumption and the economy over the coming year.Continue Reading