For many years, Asia has seen the dawn break at the start of a new year on a land of relative peace and prosperity. This year, however, the morning sky is clouded with ominous signs of uncertainty and perhaps coming storms.This is unusual for a...
On Saturday, Taiwan will fire the starting gun on a succession of elections in the majority of the world’s most important economies and financial markets. To say the 2024 global electoral calendar is a busy one would be an understatement.More than 4 billion people...
Apple will soon make its classical music app available in mainland China, expanding the US tech giant’s digital services offering in the world’s largest smartphone market where sales of the iPhone are seeing a deepening decline.The Apple Music Classical app,...
Chinese carmakers are expected to sell 5 million vehicles overseas in 2024, with much of the demand coming from developing markets such as Southeast Asia and firmly establishing China as the world’s No 1 exporter, according to the latest forecast by UBS.The Swiss bank...
Among the trends and themes to watch this year, four warrant close attention. First, it is worth keeping an eye on Australia’s housing market. Not only did prices in the capital cities bounce back 8.1 per cent last year following a nearly 5 per...
China’s economic performance over the last year has been disappointing, so much so that some observers argue that growth has already peaked and that it is all downhill from here. But it is far too soon to write off China’s economic resilience.As 2023 began, the...
Hongkongers’ number one choice of destination for skiing trips is Japan, according to the survey by Club Med, which describes itself as a global leader in snow holidays.Club Med Sahoro, an all-inclusive resort in Hokkaido, Japan. Photo: Club MedThe survey, conducted in September 2023, found...
Yet, it is the performance of emerging-market equities that is more striking. The MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index, which monitors stocks in developing economies other than China, surged 17 per cent last year despite mounting concerns about China’s economy.What is more, the assets held...