[go: up one dir, main page]

North America

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, left, shakes hands with Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in Yokosuka on Jan. 30. (Pool via Reuters)
President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shake hands at a meeting in South Korea in October.
Trump tariffs

South Korea's investment delay, tech rules draw Trump's ire

Automobiles, other products see tariffs raised from 15% to 25%

A view of Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. The state is asking Gotion to return $23.7 million after the Chinese company last year abandoned a plan to build a factory to produce key materials for electric vehicle batteries.
Electric vehicles

Chinese battery maker Gotion asked to return $23.7m to US state

Michigan attorney general requests money back after company abandons plant

Comments by officials in the U.S. and Japan have heightened volatility in the yen-dollar exchange rates recently. (Photo by Kazuho Fujiwara)
Currencies

Japan says no intervention behind yen run-up

Rate check seen as trigger for sharp rise against the dollar

31 January 2026
Kioxia and Sandisk extended their joint production agreement at the Yokkaichi plant, seen here, by five years through 2034. (Kioxia)
Semiconductors

Japan's Kioxia extends memory chip JV with Sandisk, receiving $1bn

US partner's access to Yokkaichi plant to last 5 more years through 2034

31 January 2026
Gold prices remain on track in January for their sixth consecutive monthly increase, while silver has surged over 30% as the precious metal heads for its best monthly performance since July 2020.
Commodities

Gold slips nearly 8% after Trump's Fed chair choice firms dollar

But precious metals including silver remain headed for big monthly gains

31 January 2026
China argued in its March 2024 complaint to the WTO that the proceedings were necessary to safeguard the interests of the Chinese electric-vehicle industry.
Trade war

WTO panel backs China in case against US clean energy subsidies

Beijing said government aid discriminated against imports

31 January 2026
As a former Fed governor, Warsh acted as a key liaison with Wall Street while voicing notably hawkish views on monetary easing.
Trump administration

Trump to nominate Kevin Warsh as next Fed chair

Former governor known for hawkish monetary stance will face pressure to cut rates

31 January 2026
Investors have continued to bet on at least two 25 basis-points interest-rate cuts by the end of 2026.
Markets

Wall Street slips after Trump picks Fed critic Warsh to succeed Powell

'Fear gauge' rises as investors view chair pick as hawkish

31 January 2026
A Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft at Bombardier's private jet completion center in Montreal in February 2025.
Trump tariffs

Trump threatens Canada with aircraft tariffs, Bombardier decertification

Amid Gulfstream row, White House says president not suggesting decertifying planes in operation

30 January 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump listens during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 29.
Trump administration

Trump to announce pick for Fed chief on Friday

All candidates to replace Powell support lower interest rates

30 January 2026
New iPhone 17 smartphones displayed at an Apple store in Beijing's Sanlitun district as they go on sale in September 2025.
Supply Chain

Apple returns to growth in China with nearly 40% sales jump

iPhone supply constrained by TSMC 3-nm capacity, memory crunch weighs on margins

30 January 2026
A farmer pushes a wheelbarrow in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur: The U.S. sees Malaysia as an entry point to Southeast Asia's agricultural market. 
Trade

U.S. positions Malaysia as key market for agricultural trade

Kuala Lumpur weighs export opportunities against protecting local interests

30 January 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledges Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Board of Peace ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22. 
Trump administration

US seeks to pull 'Board of Peace' states into Pax Silica chip coalition

Vietnam, Indonesia among countries Washington eyes to add to strategic supply chain

30 January 2026
Guan Heng applied for asylum in the U.S. after releasing footage of alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. (Photo by Luo Yun via AP)
Immigration

US grants asylum to detained Chinese man who filmed Uyghur camps

Guan Heng could stay in ICE custody for 30 more days awaiting possible DHS appeal

30 January 2026
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The country's B3 exchange has seen net purchases by foreign investors surge since Jan. 1.
Markets

Brazil, South Africa markets boom as investors question US policy

MSCI Emerging Markets Index beats Nikkei 225, S&P gains since start of year

30 January 2026
Demand for gold bars and coins was up 16% last year amid a shift away from gold jewelry, especially in China.
Commodities

Gold sees investment demand grow 80%, hitting 60% of mining output

Global investors flocked last year to safe-haven asset amid US tariffs, geopolitical risks

30 January 2026
The U.S. consumes more Asian goods than it exports across the Pacific, even with costly tariffs.
Trade

US trade deficit with Asia expands despite Trump tariffs

November imports from China fall, but offset by higher inflows from rest of region

30 January 2026
Stream article image
#techAsia

Tesla's car-lite shift and an app to die for

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

29 January 2026
A Starbucks inside Shanghai's international airport. The U.S. coffee chain, which agreed to sell a majority stake in its Chinese operations last year, has turned optimistic about the market. (Photo by Wataru Suzuki)
Companies

Starbucks turns bullish on China after deal to sell majority stake to Boyu

Country to host half of net openings outside North America this year as metrics brighten

29 January 2026
The Toyota logo is displayed on a Hilux pickup truck during an event in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 10, 2025. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Automobiles

Toyota hits record high 10.5m vehicle sales in 2025 despite Trump tariffs

Japanese auto giant keeps global crown as Chinese rivals increase presence

29 January 2026
Tesla said during an earnings announcement on Jan. 28 that it will build humanoid robots at its California factory instead of some electric vehicle models.
Electric vehicles

Tesla to end Model S and X production as focus shifts to robotics

Elon Musk warns China will be a tough competitor in humanoid robots

29 January 2026
Dalton Chief Investment Officer James Rosenwald, right, is urging Fuji Media Holdings, led by President Kenji Shimizu, to improve corporate governance. (Source photos by Nikkei)
Interview

US activist Dalton to propose 10% share buyback by Fuji Media: executive

Shareholder also will press broadcaster again to spin off real estate ops, Rosenwald says

29 January 2026
Federal Reserve policymakers voted 10-2 to hold the U.S. central bank's benchmark interest rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range.
Economy

Fed holds rates steady, sees 'elevated' inflation and stable job market

Board votes 10-2 to keep benchmark interest rate in 3.50%-3.75% range

29 January 2026
Japan and the U.S. are negotiating investments by Japanese companies in America under Tokyo's $550 billion pledge in a 2025 tariff deal. (Nikkei montage)
International relations

Japan, US eye synthetic diamonds to kick off $550bn investment plan

Hitachi power transmission project also on table for 1st batch to be announced by spring

29 January 2026
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has denied that Washington is intervening in currency markets to support the Japanese yen.
Currencies

Yen slips after Bessent says US 'absolutely not' intervening

Treasury chief denies supporting Japan's currency, saying 'we have a strong dollar policy'

29 January 2026
Toyota Industries is a key supplier for Toyota Motor and fellow group member Denso. (Photo by Kazumi Saito)
Automobiles

Activist fund Elliott considers counteroffer for Toyota Industries

US investor opposes Toyota group's buyout, saying offer is too low

29 January 2026
Mira Rapp-Hooper, a former National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania, speaks in a panel discussion at the Mount Fuji Dialogue in Tokyo on Oct. 25.  (Photo by Shintaro Ino)
Politics

Washington's Asia experts shift from think tanks to private power firms

Biden-era officials find faster pace and bigger influence in strategic advisories

28 January 2026
"The dollar is doing great," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday when asked whether he was concerned about a weakening dollar. The yen has risen on speculation that Japanese authorities were poised to step into the currency market. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) 
Currencies

Trump says dollar 'doing great' as Asian currencies jump

Japanese currency strengthens to 152 range for first time since November

28 January 2026
An employee at a meatpacking plant in Nebraska for more than two decades waits on Jan. 14 at a community center that provides assistance to laid-off workers, days before the plant's final shutdown. U.S. consumer confidence slumped to the lowest level in over 11 years in January amid mounting anxiety over a sluggish labor market.
Economy

US consumer confidence dives to a more than 11-1/2-year low

Worries mount over labor market, housing affordability

28 January 2026