Markets

Average retail prices for Japanese rice are more than double those of last year, according to government data. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
More than half of U.S. soybean exports went to China in 2023.
Trade

Japan weighs buying more US soybeans as part of tariff deal

American farmers in a bind after China slashes purchases

A worker picks up a handful of rare-earth concentrate that has been left to dry in the sun before it is packed in Australia.
Commodities

Australia's Albanese proposes critical minerals strategic reserve

Government says stockpiles and off-take deals would address market volatility

24 April 2025
As Donald Trump begins to backpedal on his tariff gambit, stocks in much of Asia are rebounding. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters, Shinya Sawai, and Kosaku Mimura)
Equities

Asian stocks rebound from Trump 'Liberation Day' shock stronger than US

India, South Korea and Japan show resilience while Vietnam remains vulnerable

24 April 2025
Dump trucks at a nickel mine in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, operated by Vale Indonesia. Many industry executives are opposed to a government decision to increase royalties on minerals.
Commodities

Indonesia defends higher mineral royalties from industry criticism

Officials say new regime will give 'optimum benefits' to region's largest economy

24 April 2025
U.S. stocks built on early momentum after President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had "no intention" of firing Fed chief Jerome Powell.
Markets

US stocks end higher on hopes of trade war de-escalation

Bessent calls US-China tariffs unsustainable, Trump open to negotiations

24 April 2025
The dollar has strengthened against the euro, yen and Swiss franc.
Currencies

Dollar rebounds against yen as White House eases on Fed, China trade

Hope for trade deals strengthens greenback against major currencies

24 April 2025
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at a Q&A session with Nikkei and other news outlets in Washington on April 23. (Photo by Kosuke Takami)
Trump tariffs

Bessent: US will not pursue currency target in Japan trade talks

Treasury secretary signals fixing trade imbalance will be main goal

24 April 2025
Japan's steelmakers have reduced capacity to support prices in recent years but may be forced to make additional cuts. (Photo by Sae Kamae)
Materials

Steel cheaper than water in Japan as distributors drive down prices

Cutthroat competition among myriad wholesalers raises calls for consolidation

24 April 2025
The 72 Upper Ground project in London, seen in this artist's rendering, is on the former site of ITV's headquarters and studios. (Mitsubishi Estate)
Property

Mitsubishi Estate tackles London office projects worth $1.75bn

Japanese builder to complete massive developments in British capital by 2029

24 April 2025
The minimum investment amount for stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is higher than many overseas markets and is often seen as a major reason for the limited expansion of individual stock investments. (Photo by Yukinori Okamura)
Equities

Tokyo Stock Exchange plans to make smaller investments easier

Bourse wants lower minimum purchase sizes to encourage younger investors

23 April 2025
The Indonesian rupiah fell earlier this month to an all-time low and exceeding its depreciation during the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Markets

Indonesia maintains key interest rate at 5.75% as rupiah slumps

Inflation remains subdued and below central bank's target range

23 April 2025
The consequences of China's overproduction relative to consumption are evident to everyone except Xi Jinping.
Opinion

Xi didn't listen to economists; now he may have to listen to Trump

US tariffs might force China to finally shift toward demand-side reforms

23 April 2025
Gold jewelry on display in a shop in Lhokseumawe in Indonesia's Aceh province. Gold miners in the country, Southeast Asia's largest producer of the bullion, are expected to post higher profits this year following similar earnings boosts in 2024.
Commodities

Indonesian gold miners eye shinier 2025 as prices shatter new records

Analyst projects $3,700 per ounce by year-end, but output unlikely to keep pace

23 April 2025
Markets this week have been roiled by doubts over the Fed's independence after repeated attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Currencies

Dollar surges then steadies as Trump backs down on Fed attacks

Bessent's optimism over US-China trade negotiations aids sentiment

23 April 2025
A Highlands Coffee store in Hanoi.
DealStreetAsia

Vietnam's largest coffee chain Highlands revives IPO plan

CEO says local stock exchange is the top option for listing

23 April 2025
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato are expected to discuss currency issues. (Source photos by Reuters, Nikkei)
International relations

Japan braces for US forex demands ahead of talks with Bessent

Guesses about Washington's requests range from BOJ rate hikes to Plaza Accord redux

23 April 2025
China's curbs on rare earth exports is shaking global supply chains.
Tech Asia

How China's rare-earth curbs complicate West's diversification push

Demand for non-China magnets is surging but upping capacity is no easy feat

23 April 2025
Nomura Holdings and Macquarie Group plan to bolster their partnership following the deal. (Source photos by Nikkei, Reuters)
Business deals

Nomura gains foothold in US asset management with Macquarie deal

Japanese financial group aims to diversify beyond volatile brokerage operations

23 April 2025
The yen reached a seven-month high against the dollar on Tuesday, briefly touching the 139 range.
Currencies

Dollar bears flee to yen as safe haven currency

Investors lured by possible BOJ rate hikes amid moves to cut in Europe and US

23 April 2025
Gold, viewed as a safe-haven in times of economic uncertainty, has risen nearly 33% so far this year.
Commodities

Gold hits $3,500 as Trump's attacks on Fed chief rattle traders

Economic uncertainty to support demand despite likely pullback, analyst says

22 April 2025
The Japanese yen has become a haven currency since the escalation of the U.S. trade war. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
22 April 2025
Japanese pharmaceutical stocks have been relatively strong performers despite the looming threat of tariffs. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by AP) 
Pharmaceuticals

Japan drug companies offer rare haven amid Trump market jitters

Most big-cap stocks make year-to-date gains even as 25% tariff looms

22 April 2025
All the major U.S. stock indexes declined on April 21.
Markets

US stocks, dollar slide as Trump's attacks on Fed chair fuel anxiety

Dow, S&P 500 drop more than 2% as uncertainty rocks markets

22 April 2025
The average price of a condo in the Tokyo area went up 8% last fiscal year. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Property

New condo supply in Tokyo metro area drops to record low

Rising costs leave small developers struggling to build financially viable properties

22 April 2025
Spot demand for gold as a safe haven among Chinese buyers pushed up prices to new highs in April.
Commodities

China buyers lift 'stateless' gold to new highs amid US tensions

Trade friction drives investors away from traditional safe haven Treasurys

22 April 2025
A view of the MP Materials rare-earth mine in Mountain Pass, California. China's Shenghe accounted for approximately 80% of the U.S. company's consolidated revenue for the year ended December.
Trade war

U.S. miner halts rare-earth exports to China due to tariff war

Importer Shenghe admits shipments 'temporarily stopped,' says it has diversified

21 April 2025
The yen's rally came ahead of the meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers, scheduled to kick off in Washington on Wednesday. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Yen hits seven-month high on expectations of U.S.-Japan talks

More yen strategists turn bullish due to Trump tariffs

21 April 2025
Prices for one room condos, which owners often lease for rental income, are increasingly beyond the means of salaried workers. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yutaka Miyaguchi, Arisa Moriyama and Konosuke Urata)
Trading Asia

One-room condo investments are increasingly out of reach for Japan's salaried workers

Post-retirement income source dries up as Japan returns to 'world with rates'

21 April 2025
Chinese buyers are coming forward to restore "Kyo-machiya" in Kyoto. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Chinese in Japan

Waves of Chinese buyers save Japan's traditional properties

'Machiya,' temples, sake breweries welcome new successors

20 April 2025