A bulk carrier arrives at the Port of Los Angeles on April 28.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 13, 2025
China tariff relief spurs shipping rush and price hike U-turns
The temporary tariff relief means that U.S. companies will try to quickly ship out products that were being held in factory warehouses in China.
People stand in front of a big screen displaying the Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo late last month.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 12, 2025
Japan’s Topix extends rally to 12th day as tariff worries ease
The Topix closed 0.3% higher at 2742.08, giving it its longest winning streak since 2017.
Capsules of Takeda Pharmaceutical's Prevacid heartburn drug. The company's share price dropped by over 5% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to order a cut in U.S. prescription drug costs.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 12, 2025
Asian pharma stocks tumble on Trump signal to cut U.S. drug prices
The U.S. president's social media post put pressure on drug-related stocks on worries their profits will take a hit if they have to reduce prices in the U.S.
A sign for battery manufacturer CATL is seen at the Auto China 2024 exhibition in Beijing on April 25, 2024.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 12, 2025
CATL starts taking investor orders for world’s biggest listing this year
The Chinese electric vehicle battery giant is seeking to raise as much as HK$41 billion ($5.3 billion).
South Korean 50,000 won banknotes are prepared at the Bank of Korea headquarters ahead of the Lunar New Year in Seoul on Jan. 14.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 12, 2025
Seeking emerging currency bargains, investors take fresh look at Asia
Asian currencies are finding their cheapness has become an asset as traders seek to capitalize on the dollar’s eroding premium status.
Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Investors are cautiously optimistic that U.S.-China trade talks underway in Switzerland will ease tensions and market volatility, though few expect a major breakthrough amid deep-rooted disputes and high tariffs.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 11, 2025
Wary investors hope U.S.-China talks cool high-stakes trade war
The highly anticipated meeting in Switzerland could mark one of the biggest developments since U.S. President Donald Trump launched sweeping tariffs on April 2.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the greenback is down more than 9% against a basket of major currencies as investors pull back from owning U.S. assets.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 8, 2025
Ukraine considers shift from dollar to euro amid geopolitical realignments
"This work is complex and requires high-quality, versatile preparation," Central Bank Gov. Andriy Pyshnyi said.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb