SoftBank raising US$11.1 billion in world’s biggest high-yield corporate bond sale

The Business Times - Sep 24, 2026

Heavy debt issuance is aimed at funding OpenAI stake and other AI bets

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Bangkok flood protection comes at a heavy rural cost in thailand

Oct 19, 2026

Bangkok flood protection comes at a heavy rural cost in thailand

For six straight monsoon seasons, Kamonach has had to navigate to her central Thailand home by boat, even though her house stands elevated more than three meters off the ground

China’s investors flock to dividend stocks as returns double those of state bonds

Oct 19, 2026

China’s investors flock to dividend stocks as returns double those of state bonds

Chinese investors have been flocking to dividend stocks, taking shelter from market turmoil spurred by sell-offs in technology companies and K-shaped economic growth in the Asian nation. Two key gauges of the mainland-listed companies with the highest dividend yield ratios outpaced the benchmark heading into October, when fears of financial tightening in the US and China’s flagging domestic demand weighed on investors’ risk appetite. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Dividend Index of the 50 selected...

Bitcoin is making a comeback, but the risk of more ‘sharp pullbacks’ is real

Oct 18, 2026

Bitcoin is making a comeback, but the risk of more ‘sharp pullbacks’ is real

Bitcoin may extend its rebound but is unlikely to break above US$100,000 before the end of the year, as rising interest rates and the Iran conflict continue to weigh on crypto assets, according to analysts. The crypto asset class is likely to end the year higher than it is today, but below the peak reached last October, according to Alice Liu, head of research at crypto data platform CoinMarketCap. “The worst of this year’s downturn is behind us, but the recovery will be uneven and led almost...

SET and Chulalongkorn University partner to advance Thai family businesses education

Oct 18, 2026

SET and Chulalongkorn University partner to advance Thai family businesses education

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Chulalongkorn University have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on enhancing education, research, and the development of human capital for Thai family businesses.

Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European nations

Oct 18, 2026

Vietnam signs free trade deal with four European nations

HANOI — Vietnam and four European nations outside the EU signed a free trade agreement in Hanoi on Sunday, seeking to diversify their markets as US tariffs disrupt global commerce. The deal, between Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, eliminates or reduces customs

The AI promise was automation. The reality? Managing digital workers

Oct 18, 2026

The AI promise was automation. The reality? Managing digital workers

When artificial intelligence agents first arrived, they came with a tantalising promise: autonomous “digital workers” that would finally free humans from corporate drudgery. As businesses across Asia are discovering, however, the reality is quite the opposite – more work, new friction and a whole new layer of management. When Xiao Mengjie, an AI product marketing manager at a Big Tech firm in Shanghai, recently assigned two AI agents what she described as a simple task, she expected efficiency....

Hong Kong’s primary residential market sees wave of launches, successful sales

Oct 18, 2026

Hong Kong’s primary residential market sees wave of launches, successful sales

Hong Kong homebuyers are poised to see new residential launches in the coming days and weeks following a sell-out weekend of more than 360 flats in two major projects in the city. Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), one of Hong Kong’s major developers and landlords, was set to hold a second round of sales for Sierra Sea Phase 2C(2) in Shap Sze Heung, which is between Sai Kung and Ma On Shan, with 152 flats on offer on Wednesday, it said in a statement. Among them, 128 flats would be sold via a...

Rokid launches ‘no man’s land’ retail experience with Hong Kong flagship store opening

Oct 18, 2026

Rokid launches ‘no man’s land’ retail experience with Hong Kong flagship store opening

When shoppers step into Rokid’s brand new flagship store in Hong Kong, they are greeted not by eager sales associates, but by glowing monitor screens and a robotic system waiting at the exit. In what the Chinese augmented reality (AR) gadget pioneer called an experiment in “no man’s land” retail, customers navigate the entire journey independently: testing artificial intelligence smart glasses, making payments on a screen and receiving their new devices directly from an automated system on their...

Germany, France to tighten ‘Made in Europe’ stance, pressuring China’s auto industry

Oct 18, 2026

Germany, France to tighten ‘Made in Europe’ stance, pressuring China’s auto industry

France and Germany have unveiled a joint position on Europe’s automotive package, with a tighter geographic definition of “Made in Europe” and a research and development requirement for cars to qualify for subsidies or public procurement, which industry insiders say would put further pressure on Chinese carmakers to invest in production within the bloc. The automotive sector’s “Made in Europe” classification would include only the 27 member states of the European Union, with an opt-in to include...

For investors, there are now just 2 kinds of offices: the best and the rest

Oct 18, 2026

For investors, there are now just 2 kinds of offices: the best and the rest

From Hong Kong to New York, a deep divide is opening up in office markets around the world, as tenants compete for space in prime buildings while other properties face falling rents, low occupancy and financing pressures. The divergence reflects a global flight to quality, but also a disconnect between improving leasing fundamentals and a recovery in property values, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley and JLL. The divide is being reinforced by limited new supply in prime locations,...

PT PMA or sector-specific entity: which structure is the best choice for foreign investors in Indonesia?

Oct 18, 2026

PT PMA or sector-specific entity: which structure is the best choice for foreign investors in Indonesia?

Foreign investors must understand if their activities need a PT PMA or sector-specific approval with licenses, ownership, and regulatory requirements.

New property purchase disclosure rule in Japan sparks fears it may curb foreign investment

Oct 18, 2026

New property purchase disclosure rule in Japan sparks fears it may curb foreign investment

Tokyo’s implementation of a rule that requires all property buyers to declare their nationality is raising concerns among investors, according to analysts. Japan’s shift from an ultra-loose monetary policy to gradual normalisation of its interest rates was also likely to force investors to reconsider whether real estate assets were still attractive, they added. “Japan has had a really strong run for the last seven or eight years,” said Neil Brookes, head of Asia-Pacific capital markets at...

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