Category: Business

Business

Stocks and Bonds Are Rallying Again — But One US Jobs Number Could Trigger the Fed’s Next Big Move

TOKYO — Global financial markets found some relief Thursday, with Asian stocks and government bonds rebounding from a bruising selloff. But underneath the rally, investors are preparing for a potentially decisive few days that could determine whether the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates later this month. Asian equities moved higher while bond yields retreated from recent peaks, as investors waited for fresh US economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials. The MSCI index of

September 3, 2026

Business

Taiwan’s Economy Gets a Major Upgrade as AI Boom Drives 11.5% Growth Forecast

Taiwan’s economy is on track for one of its strongest expansions in decades, with Standard Chartered raising its 2026 growth forecast to 11.5% from 9.5%. The upgrade reflects stronger-than-expected second-quarter growth, booming demand for artificial intelligence technology and increasing investment across Taiwan’s semiconductor and AI supply chains. Standard Chartered also lifted its 2027 forecast to 6.5%, up from 5%. That remains above Taiwan’s government projection of 6.04%. The AI boom is

September 3, 2026

Business

Samsung Asked to Prepay $15 Billion in Power Bills as South Korea Races to Build Semiconductor Grid

SEOUL — South Korea’s state-run electricity giant is seeking a massive upfront payment from Samsung Electronics as the country scrambles to finance the power infrastructure needed for its expanding semiconductor and artificial-intelligence industries. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has proposed that Samsung Electronics prepay about 20 trillion won — roughly US$15 billion — for electricity through 2031, according to a report cited by Channel News Asia and South Korean media. KEPCO has also

September 3, 2026

Business

HO CHING DEFENDS TEMASEK’S AIR INDIA BET AS LOSSES MOUNT

Former Temasek CEO Ho Ching has defended Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India as scrutiny grows over the Indian carrier’s mounting losses and request for fresh funding. In a Facebook post, Ho argued that Air India’s difficult history shows why rebuilding a major airline is a long-term challenge. She said running an airline is complicated because the industry is heavily regulated and influenced by factors beyond normal market forces. The debate intensified after Air India reportedly soug

September 3, 2026

Business

Oil Prices Slip After US-Iran Strikes — But the Strait of Hormuz Could Decide What Happens Next

Oil prices edged lower in Asian trading on Thursday, September 3, but the relatively modest retreat offered little evidence that the latest Middle East risk premium is disappearing. Brent crude futures fell 43 cents, or 0.45%, to $95.20 a barrel at 0029 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 24 cents, or 0.26%, to $90.77, according to Reuters data carried by CNA. The pullback came after an extraordinarily volatile Wednesday session in which both benchmarks moved between gains of ro

September 3, 2026

Business

China Thought It Was Beating Deflation — Then These Numbers Exposed a Much Deeper Problem

BEIJING — China appeared to be finally putting years of deflationary pressure behind it. Then the latest numbers arrived. Consumer prices rose just 0.5% year on year in July 2026, slowing sharply from the previous month, while prices actually slipped 0.1% from June. Food prices were 1.5% lower than a year earlier, and prices of consumer goods increased only 0.2%, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics. The figures reinforce a troubling reality for Beijing: China may have succeeded

September 3, 2026

Business

ASIA’S AI BOOM IS HIDING A BIGGER ECONOMIC PROBLEM — THE WARNING SIGNS ARE ALREADY SHOWING

Asia is riding one of the biggest technology investment waves in years, with artificial intelligence driving unprecedented demand for semiconductors, data centers and advanced electronics. But beneath the spectacular growth in AI-related industries, economists are warning that parts of the region’s traditional economy remain considerably weaker than the headline numbers suggest. The concern is becoming increasingly visible across major Asian economies: AI-linked exports are booming while domes

September 3, 2026

Business

Nscale Is Pitching $103 Billion in AI Contracts Ahead of an IPO — But One Number Could Decide Whether Investors Buy the Story

LONDON — Nscale is heading toward the public markets with a number designed to command attention: $103 billion in contracted revenue. The Nvidia-backed British AI infrastructure company has been telling prospective investors that its signed contracts now represent about $103 billion in potential future revenue, according to investor documents reviewed by The Information and subsequently reported by Reuters and CNA. A potential initial public offering could come as soon as September, although no

September 3, 2026

Business

London’s First AI Robotaxis Are Finally Here—But There’s Still a Human Behind the Wheel

LONDON — The future of ride-hailing has arrived in London—but it is not completely driverless just yet. Uber has launched its first autonomous rides in the British capital using self-driving technology developed by UK-based artificial intelligence startup Wayve, marking a major step in the race to bring robotaxis to European cities. London becomes the second European city where Uber offers autonomous rides, following Zagreb. But there is an important catch: a licensed human operator will initi

September 3, 2026

Business

Japan’s Services Sector Just Hit a 5-Month High—But Rising Prices Could Force the BOJ’s Hand

TOKYO — Japan’s services sector accelerated in August, recording its fastest expansion in five months as stronger domestic demand helped lift business activity and new orders. But beneath the upbeat numbers, rising prices are creating a new challenge for policymakers and could strengthen the case for another Bank of Japan interest-rate hike. The S&P Global final Japan Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.5 in August, up sharply from 51.2 in July. A PMI reading above 50 indica

September 3, 2026