Electric Cars Dominate Singapore’s New Registrations
Electric vehicles captured 57.6% of Singapore’s new car registrations in Q1 2026, overtaking combustion‑engine and hybrid models for the first time. BYD led the market with 3,239 units, representing a 24% share, while three other Chinese brands broke into the top‑10. Tesla surged to third place with an 11.4% share, and Toyota held second with 14.5%. Generous government rebates of up to US$30,000 for EVs and penalties of up to US$35,000 for high‑emission cars are accelerating the shift.
Pho Shop Raises Prices over Fuel Costs, but Keeps Them High After Fuel Drops
A Vietnamese pho shop lifted its bowl price from VND 35,000 ($1.33) to VND 45,000 ($1.75) after fuel prices surged past VND 31,000 per liter (≈$1.16). Even after fuel fell 30‑40% to below VND 24,000 per liter (≈$0.90), the shop kept the higher price,...
Malaysia's Durian Season Starts Early with Stronger-Tasting, Creamier Fruits
Malaysia’s durian harvest kicked off early this year, delivering creamier, more intensely flavored fruit across Penang’s street stalls. The drier weather has boosted taste quality, but a tight supply has pushed prices up roughly 20%, with the D604 hybrid selling...
Singaporean Billionaire Asok Kumar Hiranandani’s Royal Group Picks Thai Hospitality Giant for First London Hotel
Singapore’s Royal Group, owned by billionaire Asok Kumar Hiranandani, has signed Thai operator Minor Hotels to run its first European property, the WestDill Mayfair Hotel London. The five‑star, 50‑room hotel will open in the fourth quarter of 2026 under Minor’s...
Nam Long ADC, Japan's Nishi-Nippon Railroad Form JV, Target 80% Growth by 2030
Nam Long ADC and Japan's Nishi‑Nippon Railroad have signed a joint‑venture agreement, with Nam Long holding 51% and Nishi‑Nippon 49%. The partnership aims to boost Vietnam's affordable‑housing output by 80% by 2030 and deliver more than 22,000 units by 2035....
HCMC, Hanoi Rank Among World's 5 Fastest-Growing Cities
Savills’ Growth Hubs Index ranks Ho Chi Minh City as the world’s second‑fastest‑growing city and Hanoi as fifth through 2035. The ranking reflects Vietnam’s surge in foreign direct investment, a booming manufacturing shift driven by the “China + 1” strategy, and a massive $129 billion...
HDBank Sets 2026 Profit Target Above $1.1B, Outlines Growth Strategy
HDBank announced a pre‑tax profit target of over VND 30.1 trillion (about $1.14 billion) for 2026, following a 26.7% profit rise in 2025. The bank’s total assets reached VND 931.1 trillion ($35.4 billion), up 34% YoY, and it plans to boost charter capital beyond VND 59 trillion ($2.5 billion)....
Stavian Vinh Phuc Industrial Park Sees Increased Investment Activity with New Projects
Stavian Vinh Phuc Industrial Park entered a rapid development phase in early 2026, signing multiple land‑lease agreements and launching new projects. The flagship Hai Long animal‑feed plant, backed by Lanking Nano, will invest over $39 million on a 4‑hectare site to produce...
Lawyer Denies Involvement in Alleged ‘Suspicious Circumstances’ in $410M Inheritance Dispute Within Late Malaysian Billionaire Lim Goh Tong’s Family
A Malaysian court heard a dispute over the $410.4 million estate of Lim Siew Kim, the youngest daughter of late Genting founder Lim Goh Tong. Lawyer Low Beng Choo, who drafted three successive wills, denied any wrongdoing and asserted the final April 2022 will reflects the deceased’s wishes....
Philippine Billionaire Jaime Zobel De Ayala’s Firm Halts Luxury Tower Construction, to Refund Buyers
Ayala Land, the real‑estate arm of the Ayala family, has halted construction and sales of the 67‑story Laurean Residences in Makati after generating more than PHP 10 billion (≈$170 million) in pre‑sales. The pause stems from soaring construction costs and timeline uncertainty linked...
From Local Stall to One of Southeast Asia’s Largest Coffee Chains: The Story Behind Indonesia's Kopi Kenangan
Kopi Kenangan, launched from a Jakarta stall in 2017, has become Indonesia’s largest coffee chain and the sixth‑largest in Southeast Asia with 1,324 outlets across six markets by the end of 2025. The company posted its first group‑level net profit last...
Singapore’s ‘Shoebox King’ Ching Chiat Kwong Seeks $1B in Lawsuit over Failed Australian Satellite Firm
Singapore property magnate Ching Chiat Kwong is pursuing a US$1 billion claim against a consortium of lenders over the collapse of Australian satellite venture NewSat. Kwong invested US$100 million in NewSat and has already spent US$20 million on legal costs. The lawsuit alleges...
Hong Kong Movie Star Chow Yun Fat Fetches $960,000 From Selling Flat Bought over 30 Years Ago
Hong Kong film icon Chow Yun‑fat sold his three‑bedroom, 50‑sqm flat in Central for HK$7.5 million (≈$960,000), delivering a 91% profit over the 1995 purchase price of roughly $500,000. The property, listed at HK$8.99 million before a 16.6% price cut, marks Chow’s...
Remittances to HCMC Decline in Q1 Amid Global Headwinds
Remittances to Ho Chi Minh City fell 16.9% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, dropping to $2 billion, after a 15.6% decline from the previous quarter. The State Bank of Vietnam attributes the slide to global economic uncertainty, high inflation, monetary tightening, and geopolitical tensions....
Local Understanding Key to Growth in Vietnam: Wipro Chairman
Wipro Consumer Care marks Vietnam as a strategic growth engine after more than two decades of presence, citing the country’s $500 billion market size and a youthful, digitally‑savvy population. The company plans to expand its Vietnam business three to five times,...
Q1 Growth Lays Strong Foundation, but High Energy Prices a Threat: HSBC
Vietnam posted 7.8% GDP growth in Q1 2026, the fastest expansion in 16 years, driven by a 23% trade surge to $249.5 billion and record tourism. The electronics sector and private consumption boosted growth, while services rose 8.18% on strong Lunar...
VPBank Partners Western Union to Launch Real-Time Remittance Payouts in Vietnam
Vietnam's VPBank has deepened its alliance with Western Union to roll out real‑time remittance payouts to e‑wallets and bank accounts across the country. The service lets senders in over 200 jurisdictions transfer funds instantly, with recipients receiving Vietnamese dong without...
Mangosteen Prices Surpass Durian in Malaysia Amid Farming Shift
In Malaysia, mangosteen prices have risen to about RM20 ($4.40) per kilogram, overtaking the Musang King durian, which fell to RM16.80 ($3.70) per kilogram. The shift is driven by expanding durian plantations—up from 163,000 acres in 2016 to over 227,000...
Former Huawei Executive Xu Yingtong Becomes Billionaire Amid Energy Storage Boom
Former Huawei executive Xu Yingtong has become a billionaire after his energy‑storage firm Sigenergy Technology saw its shares double on debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, pushing the company’s market value to about $11.5 billion. The IPO raised roughly $560 million, attracting...
Vietnam Gains Approval for Pomelo, Lemon Exports to China
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and China’s General Administration of Customs signed a phytosanitary protocol that clears Vietnamese pomelos and lemons for export to China. The agreement, finalized during President To Lam’s state visit, requires all growing areas and packing...
South Korea’s Healthcare Boom Creates New Billionaires
South Korea’s healthcare sector is rapidly generating wealth, propelling several pharma executives onto the nation’s richest list. Sam Chun Dang Pharm’s weight‑loss partnership with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo lifted chairman Yoon Dae‑in to a $5.9 billion net worth, while ABL Bio and Voronoi secured multibillion‑dollar deals that...
AI Threats Push Businesses to Rethink Cybersecurity Strategies: Kaspersky
AI is reshaping cyber threats, enabling both seasoned hackers and novices to launch sophisticated attacks with generative tools. Kaspersky warns that 72% of firms are deeply concerned as AI‑driven phishing, deepfakes, and automated malware surge. A deepfake video call cost...
Dollar Slips Against Dong
The U.S. dollar slipped against the Vietnamese dong on April 15, with Vietcombank selling at VND 26,358 (≈$1) and the black‑market rate slipping to VND 26,728 (≈$1.02). The State Bank of Vietnam lowered its reference rate to VND 25,103 (≈$0.96). Globally, the dollar index...
How 3 Sisters Turn Indonesian Brand Peggy Hartanto Into Global Fashion Name
Peggy Hartanto, founded in 2012 by sisters Peggy, Petty and Lydia, has grown from a Surabaya workshop into a globally recognized Indonesian fashion label. Backed early by Singapore retailers, the brand now ships to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and...
Chinese Milk Tea Brands Expand in US, South Korea as Southeast Asia Grows Crowded
Chinese milk‑tea chains are moving beyond the crowded Southeast Asian market, targeting South Korea and the United States. Over 60 brands operate more than 6,100 outlets in the region, but saturation is prompting a shift from rapid expansion to tighter...
Vietnam Cuts All Fuel Taxes to Zero Through June
Vietnam's National Assembly approved a zero‑tax regime for gasoline, diesel, kerosene, mazut and aviation fuel from April 16 through June 30, eliminating VAT, environmental protection tax and special consumption tax. The move cuts state‑budget revenues by roughly VND 7.3 trillion (about $277 million) each month...
Thailand Revises Growth Outlook with 4 Scenarios Amid Middle East Tensions
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) released four growth scenarios for 2026 as the Middle East conflict threatens oil markets. In the most optimistic case, limited fighting keeps oil at $85‑95 a barrel and GDP growth at 1.4%...
Worker Wins Nearly $4,500 as Singapore Court Rejects Company’s Bid to Pay Overtime with Allowance
Singapore's High Court overturned a tribunal ruling and ordered Lim Joo Huat Enterprise to pay Indian worker Gena Hulash Ram the full overtime amount of SGD 5,711.11 (about US $4,474). The court rejected the employer’s claim that a fixed SGD 300 monthly "others"...
Why I Keep Working at Almost 70 Despite Earning Enough to Retire Early
Vietnamese executive Nguyen Thai Hung, nearly 70, has long surpassed his original retirement goal of $760 a month in passive income. After a career that began at a state‑owned firm and later shifted to private sector roles, he accumulated two...
Prudential Vietnam Reports Resilient 2025 Performance
Prudential Vietnam announced its 2025 results, posting total insurance revenue of roughly $800 million and investment revenue of $493 million. Profit before tax jumped 48% to about $202 million, while the solvency ratio stayed above 200%, underscoring robust capital strength. The insurer served...
Singapore to Give Out $155 Cash to Eligible Platform Workers, Taxi Drivers
Singapore's government will give eligible platform workers and taxi drivers a one‑time cash payment of S$200 (about US$155). To qualify, platform workers must have earned more than S$500 per month from any platform between December 2025 and February 2026, while...
Hanoi French Hospital, Viet Duc University Hospital Sign Cooperation Deal to Enhance Patient Care
Hanoi French Hospital and Viet Duc University Hospital signed a professional medical support agreement to boost patient care through joint training, consultations, and staff exchanges. The partnership highlighted Vietnam's first combined heart‑liver transplant for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, demonstrating coordinated diagnostics...
Car Dealers Must Raise $53M to Stay at Singapore's Biggest Used-Car Hub
All 76 unit owners of Automobile Megamart, Singapore’s largest used‑car hub, must collectively raise SGD 68 million (≈US $53 million) by May 15 to extend the land lease to 2040. The lease, originally granted in 1996 for 30 years, expires this year and a unanimous vote is...
Vietnam’s Medical Tourism Services Eye Nearly $4B in Revenue by 2033
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health aims to grow its medical‑tourism market from roughly $700 million in 2024 to nearly $4 billion by 2033, an 18% compound annual growth rate. Five cities – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa – will pilot integrated hospital‑hotel‑travel...
Taiwanese Restaurant Pushes to Reinstate Banned Stinky Tofu in Los Angeles
Golden Leaf, a Taiwanese restaurant in San Gabriel, stopped serving its signature stinky tofu after repeated odor complaints and city violations. The dish accounted for roughly 10‑20% of the eatery’s revenue, and fines exceeded $1,000. Owner David Liao is seeking public...
From Ruins to Opportunity: Why Foreigners Are Buying Japan’s Abandoned Houses
Foreign buyers from the U.S., Canada and Australia are snapping up Japan’s abandoned "akiya" homes as domestic housing costs soar. AkiyaMart, a platform founded by two early adopters, now serves over 60,000 users and has facilitated more than 150...
Vietnam Secures Fuel Supply Through April as Middle East Crisis Surpasses 1970s Oil Shocks
Vietnam announced that its domestic fuel stocks will meet demand through the end of April 2026, despite heightened global oil market turbulence caused by the escalating Middle East conflict. The government activated a long‑term fuel‑supply scenario, boosting refinery output and...
GDP Rises 7.83% in Q1, Highest in 16 Years
Vietnam’s economy expanded 7.83% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, the strongest pace in 16 years. Services drove growth, contributing 50.32% of added value, while industry‑construction posted a 9.01% rise and manufacturing surged 9.73%. Trade activity reached $249.5 billion, up 23%, and 96,000...
Companies Turn to Remote Work in Response to Surging Fuel Prices
Rising fuel prices in Vietnam, driven by the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have prompted a wave of remote‑work initiatives across tech, media, and manufacturing firms. Companies such as Thanh Giong Computer, Sacombank, and...
Malaysian Billionaire Jeffrey Cheah Urges IJM’s Shareholders to Assess Sunway’s $2.7B Takeover Bid Objectively
Sunway Group, led by billionaire Jeffrey Cheah, has lodged a RM11 billion (≈US$2.7 billion) cash‑and‑share offer to acquire builder IJM. The proposal values each IJM share at RM3.15 (≈US$0.68), with 10% paid in cash and the remainder in newly issued Sunway shares. So...
Malaysia’s Food Prices May Spike 50% Amid Fuel Surge
Malaysia’s food prices could surge as much as 50% after an energy shock tied to the Iran war drives fuel costs higher. Traders report raw ingredient prices already up 20‑30% before the fuel jump, forcing hawkers and restaurants to consider...
Watson-Marlow Highlights Hygienic Pumping Solutions for Brewing Industry
Watson‑Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions showcased its peristaltic and sinusoidal pump portfolio at Drinktech Vietnam, emphasizing hygienic handling for the brewing sector. The Certa Sine line can slash power consumption by up to 50% when moving viscous fluids, while the Certa Compact range...
WB Approves $1B Loan to Support Philippine Agriculture
The World Bank approved a $1 billion loan for the Philippines Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project, targeting productivity and climate resilience. The financing will support sector‑wide reforms, modernize practices, and introduce a digital voucher system to deliver inputs efficiently. It aims to...
Vietnam Becomes Southeast Asia’s 2nd-Largest Importer of European Poultry
Vietnam imported over 56,500 tonnes of European poultry in 2025, becoming Southeast Asia’s second‑largest buyer after the Philippines. Poland dominated the supply chain, delivering more than 37,300 tonnes, while France, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands contributed the remainder. Imports have...
Philippine Billionaire Family Gokongwei to Buy Out Supermarket Operator Robinsons Retail at $850M Valuation
The Gokongwei family, through JE Holdings, has proposed a tender offer to acquire the remaining shares of Robinsons Retail, valuing the supermarket chain at PHP 51.7 billion (about $850 million). The offer price of PHP 48.30 per share represents a 32.2% premium over the...
Vietnam Pitches International Financial Center to San Francisco Investors
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh urged San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to back the Vietnam International Financial Center (VIFC), seeking U.S. investors for the flagship project in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The initiative aligns with Vietnam’s goal of becoming...
OnPoint, Byte Media Sign Partnership to Expand TikTok Shop Services
OnPoint and Byte Media have signed an MoU to jointly expand TikTok Shop services, focusing on livestream, affiliate networks, and AI‑driven content production. The partnership will deliver automated media‑buying solutions for small‑ and medium‑sized businesses, aiming to boost cost efficiency...
Gold Prices Bounce Back After Morning Drop
Vietnam's Saigon Jewelry Company saw its gold‑bar price rebound 0.59% to VND 171.6 million (≈$6,517) per tael after a morning dip, while gold‑ring prices also edged higher. Globally, spot gold surged 2% to $4,466 per ounce, driven by a softer U.S. dollar...
Hong Kong Home Prices Jump to Near 2-Year Peak
Hong Kong’s second‑hand home price index rose 1.6% in February, reaching a 22‑month peak and extending an 11‑month streak of gains. The rally comes amid tightening supply, with private residential completions projected to fall 35% from the 2024 peak by...
6 Asia-Pacific Financial Centers Rank Among World's Top 10, with Singapore Leading Southeast Asia
The 39th Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) placed six Asia‑Pacific locations among the world’s top ten, with Hong Kong at third and Singapore at fourth, the only Southeast Asian city in the elite group. Shanghai and Shenzhen secured ninth and...