Asian oil shock response measures are being introduced as governments attempt to limit the impact of Middle East conflict on fuel supplies and prices. South Korea plans to impose a domestic fuel price cap for the first time in nearly three decades, while Myanmar has begun rationing fuel for private vehicles following supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about one‑fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, has experienced severe disruption. Policymakers say th

Japan GDP growth Q4 2025 was revised higher as stronger capital expenditure and private consumption supported domestic demand. Revised figures showed annualised growth of 1.3%, compared with a preliminary estimate of 0.2%. Capital expenditure rose 1.3%, marking the strongest increase in a year, while private consumption was revised to a 0.3% gain. Separate data showed household spending fell 1.0% in January from a year earlier. Analysts warned the improved Japan GDP growth Q4

Technology for Change Asia summit organisers said the event will shift from artificial intelligence hype to practical deployment across industries. More than 600 business and government leaders attended the 2025 conference organised by Economist Impact. The 2026 programme will explore regulatory differences across Asia, scaling autonomous agents, the Greater Bay Area innovation ecosystem and smart mobility’s influence on global supply chains. Technology for Change Asia summit

Asia family office philanthropy is being urged to mobilise larger pools of capital as the United Nations faces growing funding pressure. Commentators say fragmented giving can no longer address the widening SDG funding gap. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has warned of an imminent financial collapse as unpaid dues and peacekeeping arrears increase. The OECD estimates the annual global SDG funding gap at USD3tr to USD4tr. With 74% of Asia‑Pacific family offices already e

Korea business environment guide published by the Korea Enterprises Federation aims to help foreign institutions and investors better understand the country’s regulatory and economic landscape. The English-language booklet titled 2026 Business Environment and Labor Market in Korea outlines major economic policies, labour regulations and recent statistics. KEF said the Korea business environment guide has been distributed to about 250 organisations worldwide including the OECD

China GDP growth target 2026 was set at 4.5% to 5% in Premier Li Qiang’s annual work report to parliament, signalling policymakers’ readiness to accept slower expansion amid economic headwinds. The target is slightly below the around 5% goal used in the past three years as officials confront weak domestic demand, a prolonged property downturn and external uncertainty. Analysts said the China GDP growth target 2026 reflects a shift toward more realistic medium-term growth mana

Chinese lenders Middle East exposure is being reduced as financial firms curb lending risks linked to the escalating Iran conflict, Bloomberg News reported citing people familiar with the matter. One major Chinese bank has restricted drawdowns on a bilateral loan to an Abu Dhabi government-linked financial institution, while a mid-sized lender is seeking buyers for parts of syndicated loans to Middle Eastern borrowers. Asian and Chinese banks extended more than USD15bn of loa

Hong Kong and Macau financial infrastructure cooperation has expanded after the two regions’ monetary authorities signed a revised memorandum of understanding covering broader collaboration. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the updated pact extends beyond banking supervision to include financial infrastructure linkages, information exchange on currency and statistics, and industry training. HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue said the agreement deepens collaboration as both c

Indonesia outlook negative Fitch decision reflects rising concerns about policy credibility and fiscal risks even as the rating agency affirmed the country’s BBB long-term foreign-currency rating. Fitch said increasing policy uncertainty and more centralised decision-making could weaken fiscal guardrails, including the 3% of GDP deficit cap. The agency also highlighted risks from a review of the State Finance Law in the government’s 2026 legislative priorities. The Indonesia

South Korea banks emergency support programmes were activated after escalating Middle East tensions increased risks for financial markets and companies. Hana Financial Group said it would provide KRW12tr (USD8.2bn) in assistance including emergency liquidity of up to KRW500m per firm, loan-maturity extensions, grace periods and rate reductions. Woori Financial also tightened monitoring and strengthened cybersecurity checks. Regulators said broader market stabilisation steps w

China tax crackdown unified market efforts intensified in 2025 as the State Taxation Administration investigated 389 leads related to illegal tax practices linked to local investment incentives and corrected confirmed violations. Authorities also strengthened tax information reporting rules for internet platforms, with more than 8,000 platforms now complying in a move aimed at improving competition between online and offline businesses. The China tax crackdown unified market

Asian banks Gulf lending exposure is facing renewed uncertainty as escalating tensions linked to Iran raise risks for financing activity in the Middle East, Bloomberg reported. Asian and Chinese banks extended more than USD15bn of loans to the region last year, triple the previous year, with most funding directed to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analysts said some lenders may take a wait‑and‑see approach or demand higher pricing rather than exit deals if tensions remain contained

Singapore South Korea FTA upgrade talks will begin as both countries deepen cooperation on supply‑chain resilience, digital trade and the green transition, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. The Singapore South Korea FTA upgrade will modernise the 2006 agreement and strengthen collaboration in areas including artificial intelligence and civil nuclear energy. Leaders also witnessed the signing of memorandums covering technology and

Hong Kong will transfer about HKD52.8bn(USD6.8bn) back to government accounts in 2026-27 to better fund its capital account amid heavy infrastructure spending, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The Hong Kong fiscal transfer includes about HKD15.8bn from funds set up outside government accounts after reviewing 36 purpose-specific funds, with some vehicles to be closed or consolidated. Another HKD37bn of accumulated surplus from the Bond Fund, created in 2009 to support Silve

Singapore dividends 2025 reached a record USD18.7bn, up 19.1% from a year earlier, helped by bank special dividends and higher payouts, Capital Group said in its Global Equity Study. Global dividends also rose 7% to a record USD2.09tr, the report said. Capital Group noted Singapore’s top-line growth was lifted by one-offs, while core growth was more modest, and said banks’ special dividends reflected strong capital positions. Jeik Sohn, head of client group for Southeast Asia

Hong Kong will inject more capital into the Hong Kong Investment Corporation after it largely allocated its initial HKD62bn (USD7.9bn), as the government widens the fund’s role to draw long-term money into high-quality commercial property projects, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The Hong Kong Investment Corporation has invested in more than 190 projects, with 10 portfolio companies already listed and another 20 preparing to list this year, he said. Chan also said the fun

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has eased IPO free-float rules for large listings, introducing a tiered public ownership framework aimed at unlocking mega-IPOs as the market struggles to absorb big deals. Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 11, issuers expecting market capitalisation above PHP50bn (USD890m) at listing must sell at least 15% to the public, subject to a minimum offer size of PHP10bn, versus the previous flat 20% requirement. For firms valued at

China urged the US to scrap unilateral US tariffs after the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, struck down many of President Donald Trump’s levies as beyond his authority under a 1977 emergency-powers law. Trump responded by unveiling a flat duty on imports worldwide, lifting the rate from 10% to 15% under a separate legal provision. China’s commerce ministry said it was conducting a comprehensive assessment of the decision and called on Washington to quickly end tariff measures

Asia-Pacific CRE investment hit USD40.3bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 15% from a year earlier, as full-year volumes rose 12% to USD147.6bn, their strongest showing since 2021, helped by sale-and-leaseback deals and industrial exits, JLL said. Japan remained the region’s busiest market, logging USD9.8bn in Q4 and USD41.4bn for 2025, while South Korea’s Q4 volumes jumped 41% to USD7.7bn, lifting the annual total to USD28.1bn on demand for core offices and logistics. The l

The IMF issued an IMF warning on China economic policies, urging Beijing to pivot toward domestic consumer spending and saying a shift to a consumption-led growth model should be the top priority, as the fund warned China’s large current-account surplus is creating adverse spillovers for trading partners, according to an IMF board statement alongside its annual Article IV review. The IMF said part of the external imbalance reflects export support from a real depreciation of t