Singapore's nature getaways and takeaways from Japan's election
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Nikkei Asia
14 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Thailand and Cambodia step back from the brink
Hello from Tokyo. A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, following an escalation in clashes that began on Thursday last week, took effect at 0:00 a.m. on Tuesday. At Nikkei Asia, we provided continuous coverage throughout the weekend via live blogs and breaking news updates. When reports emerged that Thailand had deployed F-16 fighter jets against Cambodia, our newsroom braced for the worst: the possibility of full-scale war between the two nations. Fortunately, the conflict -- which claimed more than 40 lives and displaced around 300,000 people -- was halted through mediation by Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN. Although sporadic violence continued in places even after the ceasefire, the truce -- fragile as it may seem -- has taken hold. For a detailed look at the ceasefire and behind-the-scenes analysis of the two militaries, please read our coverage here. This episode has underscored the fragility of ties among some Southeast Asian nations. Had tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated further -- especially amid the ongoing civil war in Myanmar -- it would have delivered a serious blow to the region's economy and political stability. That the crisis was contained within the ASEAN framework is significant. Maintaining regional peace is essential for the bloc at a time when it faces challenges such as intensifying U.S.-China tensions and high tariffs from the Trump administration. Nikkei Asia has a major editorial bureau in Bangkok, and contributing writers in Cambodia helped drive our coverage of the recent events. As editor-in-chief, I am deeply concerned about rising tensions in the region. At the same time, I also take great pride in how our journalists continue to deliver timely, responsible and impartial reporting during crises -- one of our greatest strengths. I invite you to log in to Nikkei Asia and explore our reporting on the turbulent period that unfolded. Nikkei Forum in Melbourne Lastly, I have an announcement. On Aug. 18, Nikkei will host the Nikkei Forum in Melbourne, where experts and our Sydney-based reporters will explore the deepening business and economic ties between Japan and Australia. Online viewing is free, so please register to join the discussion! My suggested reads 1. Australia's auto market is one of the most competitive in the world, and Chinese makers want a bigger slice of it. Our reporter in Sydney visited the imposing off-road track known as Beer O'Clock Hill to see how companies like GWM aim to prove they have both the tech and toughness to muscle out rival brands. 2. Tourism-related stocks in Thailand -- from airlines to hotels and retailers -- have slumped amid falling foreign visitor numbers, particularly from China, making the country's equity market one of the region's worst performers. As our reporter in Bangkok notes, ongoing tensions with Cambodia, despite a ceasefire agreement, may further dampen travel demand and pressure the sector. 3. Faith-based businesses in Malaysia are staging events attracting thousands of people from across the region as demand rises for accessible spiritual inspiration. With tickets, sponsors, merch and vendor booths, these gatherings -- held for both Muslims and Christians -- could easily be mistaken for pop concerts or cultural festivals, just with a higher purpose. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Akito Tanaka Sign up for the weekly Editor-in-chief's picks newsletter here. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Japan Today
16 hours ago
- Japan Today
Asian shares retreat after Trump's order imposing new tariffs on 68 countries and the EU
People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Tokyo. By TERESA CEROJANO Asian shares retreated Friday following choppy trading on Wall Street that saw more losses as investors assess President Donald Trump's order imposing new tariffs on 68 countries and the European Union starting in seven days. Trump's order, which pushed back the tariff deadline earlier set on Aug. 1, has injected a new dose of uncertainty in an already uncertain process. Japan's Nikkei 225 slid 0.7 % to 40,797.96 while South Korea's Kospi tumbled 3.5% to 3,132.12. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index trimmed earlier losses, shedding 0.8% to 24,584.86, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.5% to 3,554.67. Australia's S&P ASX 200 shed 0.9% to 8,666.70, India's BSE Sensex rose less than 0.1% to 81,208.37 and Taiwan's TAIEX slid 0.5% to 23,434.38. "US and European equity futures are pointing negative, Asian stocks are taking a beating and the DXY index is still rising,' Benjamin Picton, senior market strategist at Rabo Bank, said in a commentary about Trump's new order updating reciprocal tariff rates. "The USA is cherry-picking high value-add industry for its own economy while forcing trading partners to grant preferential market access for its exports and supply it with cheap imports. Make no mistake, this is imperial trade,' he added. Mizuho Bank noted in "somewhat a turn of the tables, Asia (and in particular Southeast Asia) which was harder hit post-'Liberation Day' now appear to be in a better position by virtue of tariffs differentials though intra-regional differences remain small.' On Wall Street on Thursday, stocks capped the trading day with more losses after an early big tech rally faded and a health care sector pullback led the market lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, its third straight decline. The benchmark index, which is just below the record high it set Monday, notched a 2.2% gain for the month of July and is up 7.8% so far this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.7% and the Nasdaq composite closed less than 0.1% lower. Roughly 70% of stocks in the S&P 500 lost ground, with health care companies accounting for the biggest drag on the market. Health care stocks sank after the White House released letters asking big pharmaceutical companies to cut prices and make other changes in the next 60 days. Eli Lilly & Co. fell 2.6%, UnitedHealth Group slid 6.2% and Bristol-Myers Squibb dropped 5.8%. Gains by some big technology stocks with hefty values helped temper the impact of the broader market's decline. Meta Platforms surged 11.3% after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram crushed Wall Street's sales and profit targets even as the company continues to pour billions of dollars into artificial intelligence. Microsoft climbed 3.9% after posting better results than analysts expected. The software pioneer also gave investors an encouraging update on its Azure cloud computing platform, which is a centerpiece of the company's artificial intelligence efforts. Big Tech companies have regularly been the driving force behind much of the market's gains over enthusiasm for the future of artificial intelligence. In other dealings Friday, U.S. benchmark crude oil added 14 cents to $69.40 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, rose 12 cents to $71.82 per barrel. The U.S. dollar fell to 150.47 Japanese yen from 150.67 yen. The euro rose to $1.1431 from $1.1421. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Nikkei Asia
18 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Bhutan wrestles with professional brain drain
In the latest episode of Nikkei Asia News Roundup, hosts Jada Nagumo and Brian Chapman discuss Bhutan's wave of emigration which is risking the tiny country's economic growth. The episode consists of: A selection of news headlines A glimpse into a notable story for deeper understanding A highlight of our best stories Please subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review to let us know what you thought about this episode. And for other Asian business, politics, economy and tech stories, subscribe to Nikkei Asia here. Thank you for listening!
