Showing 1 - 10 of 20
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Currencies slump, funds flee emerging markets
Business, Published on 08/09/2018
» Recap: Emerging stock markets, especially those in Asia, experienced heavy fund outflows as concerns mounted over the health of emerging economies in general, and contagion impact from the likes of Argentina and Turkey. The Indonesian rupiah hit a two-decade low and the Indian rupee also lost more ground. US-China trade tensions continue to cast a pall over markets as well.
Down the rabbit hole
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/02/2018
» Help me, somebody, I think I must have fallen down a rabbit hole and found myself in a world as crazy as Alice did. In this strange, topsy-turvy world the people who ousted an elected government, an action usually considered more serious than sedition is now arresting protesters and dissidents for actions and speech inciting people to rebel against their government.
Delivering success
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 11/12/2017
» Asia's first driverless trucks began operating in October at the ExxonMobil plant on Jurong Island in Singapore, while fleets of autonomous delivery vehicles are expected to get rolling on Great Britain's motorways next year. These are just some of the headline-making developments in the brave new world of transport being promoted by the likes of Google, Tesla, Uber and major vehicle manufacturers.
Energy-Heavy set slips as equities surge elsewhere
Business, Published on 05/06/2017
» Recap: Asian and European stocks rallied after a record-breaking run on Wall Street, propelled by American hiring data that bolstered confidence in the global economy. Japan's Nikkei ended Friday above 20,000 for the first time since December 2015. Oil headed for a three-week low, however, capping gains on the energy-heavy Thai stock market.
Oil rout drags down shares ahead of fed talks
Business, Published on 19/09/2016
» Recap: Global stock markets plunged last week as investors cashed out ahead of this week's much-awaited US Federal Reserve meeting. Worries over the oil glut also triggered selling of energy stocks, but the Thai market picked up following a recent steep fall.
Charter vote lifts set in good week for stocks
Business, Published on 15/08/2016
» Recap: Asian stock markets advanced last week, buoyed by a big gain in US jobs in July and a slowdown in the decline of Chinese producer prices. The Thai stock market rallied as investors' confidence in political stability improved after voters endorsed the draft constitution by a margin of 61% to 39% in the Aug 7 referendum. The SET was closed on Friday so there has been no market reaction yet to a series of deadly bombings that hit five southern provinces.
Stimulus hopes and chinese gdp cheer stock investors
Business, Published on 18/07/2016
» Recap: Hopes that British and Japanese policymakers would ramp up economic stimulus bolstered risk appetites in global stock markets. China's better-than-expected second-quarter GDP also buoyed sentiment. The Thai market tracked the global trend.
Stocks rally strongly as fed dials back rate hikes
Business, Published on 21/03/2016
» Recap: Global stock markets rallied, propelled by the US Federal Reserve's dovish stance on its policy rate direction. However, the Thai stock market recorded its first weekly loss since Feb 12 as profit-taking capped gains.