Asia First - Thu 26 Jun 2025
02:29:30 Min
From the opening bell across markets in Southeast Asia and China, to the biggest business interviews and top financial stories, tune in to Asia First to kick-start your business day.
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Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Trump says ‘getting along well' with China, downplays hostile acts
[WASHINGTON] President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed the importance of aggressive actions linked to Beijing including recent arrests of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous pathogen into the United States, saying 'that's the way the world works.' Trump told Fox News that Washington behaves in a similar way. 'You don't think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things,' he said on the Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo show. 'That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world.' Trump was responding to a question about how he viewed Chinese intellectual property theft, hacking of the US telecoms system and controversy around the Covid-19 pandemic. He likewise dismissed concerns over a case in which two Chinese nationals were accused last month of smuggling in a toxic fungus. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. The US Justice Department said the pair conspired to smuggle into the United States a fungus called Fusarium graminearum that causes 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize and rice. Trump downplayed this saying, 'you don't know where that came from, though. I mean, did that come from the country, or is that three wackos that happened to carry something?' Referring to the ongoing US-China trade war, Trump appeared to signal he was satisfied, saying 'We're getting along well with China.' He added: 'I think getting along with China is a very good thing, but they are paying substantial tariffs.' This past week, the White House signalled trade progress with China with an official saying both sides have reached an understanding on issues including expediting rare earth shipments to the United States. After talks in Geneva in May, Washington and Beijing agreed to temporarily lower steep tit-for-tat tariffs on each other's products. AFP
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Trump says there's a buyer for TikTok but won't divulge name
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump said he has identified a buyer for the US operations of the TikTok social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, but he will not provide details for two weeks. 'We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. I think I will need probably China approval and I think President Xi will probably do it,' he said, referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in an interview on Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. 'It's a group of very wealthy people.' The interview, which aired on Sunday (Jun 29), was taped on Friday. Trump earlier said he would extend for the third time a deadline for Bytedance to sell the US portions of TikTok, which would give the company 90 days beyond Jun 19. Congress passed a law last year requiring the divestiture, citing national security concerns. Under the law, the president was allowed to invoke one extension. Movement on a deal has largely stalled with US-China trade relations swept up in larger tensions over tariff negotiations. Before Trump announced widespread tariffs in April, a deal was reportedly close, advanced by a consortium of US investors including Oracle, Blackstone and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. The White House did not respond to a request for more details on Trump's latest remarks. BLOOMBERG
Business Times
2 hours ago
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BT Money Hacks: Why gold is glimmering again in an uncertain world
When inflation is sticky, policy is fuzzy, and no one seems quite sure where the global economy is headed, gold starts looking less like a relic and more like a rational choice. You've likely heard the pitch before: 'Gold is a safe haven.' But in 2025, it's not just fear driving gold's comeback—it's strategy. In this episode of Money Hacks by The Business Times, host Howie Lim gets into the nitty-gritty with Fan Shaokai from The World Gold Council, Stephanie Leung from StashAway and Robin Tsui from State Street Global Advisors to unpack why gold is having a moment, how to think about it in your portfolio, and whether it's too late to get in on the action. Why listen? Because gold isn't just glinting in vaults. It's quietly being stockpiled by central banks. That should make you pause. Because diversifying isn't just about adding a shiny asset. It's about understanding why gold behaves the way it does when everything else is on fire. Because the price has gone up but that doesn't mean you've missed the boat. Timing might be overrated; allocation isn't. And because thinking of gold as a quick-hit investment? That's how people end up disappointed. This episode helps you see it for what it is: a stabiliser, not a saviour. Forget the gold fever of old, this is a calm, clear-headed look at how the metal fits into a modern portfolio. From dollar-cost averaging to the declining faith in the US dollar, this conversation gives you what you need to decide whether gold deserves space in your own mix. Listen to the full episode of Money Hacks now because in a time of global uncertainty, a little glint of clarity goes a long way. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up And as always, host Howie Lim invites your feedback or suggestions at btpodcasts@ --- Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@ With Stephanie Leung, chief investment officer, StashAway; Robin Tsui, APAC gold strategist, State Street Global Advisors; and Fan Shaokai, head of Asia-Pacific (ex-China) & global head of Central Banks, World Gold Council Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media --- Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday: Channel: Amazon: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube Music: Website: Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party's products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Correspondents: BT Market Focus at: BT Podcasts at: BT Branded Podcasts at: BT Lens On:
