Japan’s Record Sales of Euro Bonds Show Historic Funding Shift
Japanese issuers sold a record €18.5 billion (≈ $21.6 billion) of euro‑denominated bonds in 2026, more than five times the amount sold a year earlier. Dollar issuance grew modestly to about $45 billion, while yen‑denominated funding slipped 3.6% to roughly $45.7 billion. The shift reflects tighter Bank of Japan policy and uncertainty around U.S. fiscal direction, prompting borrowers to seek a third funding option beyond the dollar and yen. Companies such as SoftBank, Mitsubishi and Mitsui Sumitomo are leading the euro‑bond surge.
U.S. Ends Investigation Into Claims WhatsApp Chats Aren’t Private
The U.S. Commerce Department abruptly ended a 10‑month investigation into allegations that Meta Platforms can access and store unencrypted WhatsApp messages. The probe, led by an export‑control agent who claimed Meta viewed all content, was shut down at senior agency...
Google Inks Deal Allowing Pentagon to Use AI Models for Classified Work
Alphabet’s Google has entered a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense that permits the Pentagon to deploy the company’s artificial‑intelligence models for classified missions. The deal, reported by The Information, allows the use of Google’s AI for any lawful...
How Asia-Pacific Is Fighting a Fuel Shock that Could Get Worse
Asian economies are scrambling to blunt a fuel shock triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict that has largely shut the Strait of Hormuz. Governments have deployed subsidies, export curbs and work‑from‑home mandates while hunting alternative oil and gas sources,...
AI Boom Drowns Out War Fears to Fuel Asia’s Great Market Divide
Asian equity markets are splitting along a north‑south divide as AI‑driven chipmakers lift South Korea, Taiwan and Japan while higher oil prices depress India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The AI boom has propelled the Kospi and Taiex to record highs,...
Laps of Icy Roads in China Show Sodium Batteries Making an EV Breakthrough
Chinese automaker Changan, in partnership with battery giant CATL, demonstrated mass‑produced electric SUVs and a coupe powered by sodium‑ion batteries on icy tracks in Inner Mongolia. The tests highlighted that sodium‑ion cells can deliver roughly 350 km of range and operate...
Big Bet on Orban’s Exit Came From Center of His Family’s Empire
Equilor Asset Management, part‑owned by Viktor Orban’s son‑in‑law, built a heavy overweight in Hungarian government bonds and equities ahead of the April 12 election. The fund’s bet paid off when the opposition Tisza party won decisively, sending the BUX index to record...
Delicate Extraction: Malaysia Offers Rare Earths Alternative to China
Australian miner Lynas is expanding its rare‑earth processing hub in Gebeng, Malaysia, aiming to grow its roughly 10% share of a market dominated 90% by China. The plant, the world’s largest single‑site processor, now handles 11 of the 17 rare...
Musk’s SpaceX Tries to Woo Wall Street with Analyst Meetings This Week, Sources Say
SpaceX is staging a three‑day analyst roadshow in Texas and Tennessee as it prepares a $75 billion initial public offering slated for late June. The briefings will showcase the Starbase launch site and the Colossus data centre, while a later modeling...
The Forces of Scarcity Hitting Asia May Soon Spread Across the World
The United States and Israel’s war on Iran has triggered a rapid, region‑wide scarcity shock across the Asia‑Pacific. Jet fuel prices have doubled and air traffic has fallen by roughly a third, while manufacturers face fuel‑driven cuts to output, from...
China Flashes New Tech Swagger to World Markets Convulsed by War
At this year’s Canton Fair, China showcased a surge in high‑tech exports despite the ongoing Middle East war disrupting traditional trade routes. Companies like Guangdong‑based X‑Human predict a 300% jump in overseas revenue, while overall high‑tech shipments rose nearly 30%...
Bessent’s Busy Week Clashes with Global Thirst for U.S. Attention
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s packed schedule during the IMF‑World Bank spring meetings drew sharp criticism from European allies who felt the United States was disengaging from key multilateral forums. While Bessent attended a brief G20 session, he missed the...
What Happens when $90 Billion of Data Centers Come to Town
The AI‑driven data‑center boom in Spain’s Aragon region has attracted over €80 billion ($94 bn) in investments from Amazon, Microsoft and other tech giants, spurring a fast‑track legal framework (PIGA) that can override local zoning and force land sales. Regional officials tout...
IMF Cuts Growth Outlook and Warns World Drifting Toward 'Adverse Scenario'
The IMF lowered its 2026 global growth forecast to 2.9% amid Middle East war‑driven oil price spikes, while warning the world is drifting toward an adverse scenario that could cut growth to 2.5%. The reference scenario assumes oil averaging $82...
Chinese Payment Apps Raise Questions in Japan
Japanese lawmakers and the Financial Services Agency have raised alarms that Chinese mobile‑payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay can settle transactions outside Japan’s banking system. They fear the practice could hide revenue from tax authorities and create avenues...