Hong Kong sets August debut for long-awaited offshore yuan bond futures
Beijing to strengthen the city’s status as a global hub for offshore yuan as it moves to internationalise the currency
· Zhang Shidong
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Interpol issues red notice vs MFT Group CEO over investment scam
MANILA, Philippines — Interpol has issued a red notice against Maria Francesca Tan, chief executive officer of MFT Group of Companies Inc., marking a major escalation in the cross-border pursuit of the embattled executive over an alleged large-scale investment scam.
· Nazylen Joy Mabanglo
Philippines central bank hikes rate to contain inflation
Recent inflation in the Philippines is driven largely by high fuel prices brought on by the Iran war. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
· Staff Writer
Bangko Sentral raises key rate to 4.75% as inflation overshoots gov’t target
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· Tati Maligro
OpenAI to launch ChatGPT advertising service targeting users in Japan
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at a session with Japanese companies in Tokyo in February 2025. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
· Staff Writer
Hong Kong to use 21 indicators to define poor after dropping income metric
Government also raises concept of ‘social transfer values’, reflecting amount of public spending allocated to support households
· Emily Hung
Hong Kong to use 21 indicators to define poor after dropping income metric
Government also raises concept of ‘social transfer values’, reflecting amount of public spending allocated to support households
· Emily Hung
Intel rises 9% after Trump says company will partner with Apple on U.S. chip design
Intel's stock rose around 9% in premarket trading on Thursday, after President Donald Trump said the semiconductor company had agreed to a deal with Apple to design and build chips in the U.S.
· Kai Nicol-Schwarz
True North bags neighbouring deposit to supercharge QLD copper play
True North Copper has consolidated the groundholding at its flagship Cloncurry copper project in northwest Queensland, securing the adjacent Mongoose resource after Glencore opted not to exercise its right of first refusal.
· Andrew Todd
SpaceX shares hold steady after three-day rally loses steam
SpaceX shares held steady in premarket trading on Thursday, after the stock's recent rally showed signs of cooling following a record-breaking IPO last week.
· Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Hawks not limiting trade chase to just Merrett. They believe they can land multiple stars
Hawthorn will continue their pursuit of multiple players from rival clubs rather than confining their effort and trade capital to Essendon veteran Zach Merrett, as they did last year.
· Jake Niall
Middle East reroutes its energy networks as region navigates shifting sands - analysis
The Middle East and wider region have positive expectations regarding the new agreement between the US and Iran. As this develops, it is clear that many countries and companies will now be seeking to take advantage of the potential reduction in conflict to secure new trade deals.
· SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Watch: Moment Trump signs US-Iran agreement at Versailles
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the ceremony shortly after the G7 summit, underlining France's role in encouraging dialogue between the parties. The agreement takes immediate effect and launches a 60-day negotiation process, with a formal follow-up ceremony scheduled in Switzerland on 19 June. Officials said…
· AfricaNews
Gina Rinehart says Australia should give Elon Musk islands to launch satellites into space
Billionaire also tells summit land could be given to skilled Israelis to build ‘advanced war drones’, according to Hancock Prospecting notes
· Sarah Basford Canales
Aureka swells Vic gold bounty above 450,000 ounces
Aureka has added more ounces to its Victorian gold story after lifting its global inferred JORC resource 26 per cent to 454,800 ounces, driven by a strong upgrade at its flagship Irvine project in the historic and richly endowed Stawell gold corridor.
· Doug Bright
Gig workers are endlessly exploited. AI could make more of us share their fate
As companies integrate AI and hire fewer employees, a shift toward a ‘gig economy’ will commence
· Arielle Pardes
‘He’s a legend’: Sandilands reveals he has united with Hanson
Controversial broadcaster Kyle Sandilands has revealed he has spoken with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and helped spread her message, but the party has rejected claims the one-time KIIS star has been working with the party in a formal capacity.
· Nick Bonyhady, Kishor Napier-Raman
Court cancels regulator's fine on Kakao over music streaming service notices
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul High Court on Thursday canceled a 98 million-won (US$64,200) fine imposed on Kakao Corp. by the fair trade watchdog over inadequate user notices on how to terminate music streaming service subscriptions.
· Chae Yun-hwan
Trump signs deal in Versailles to end war with Iran
Iran and the United States have signed the preliminary agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the two countries, initially announced Sunday.
· Ferdinand Knapp
HSBC cops $35m penalty over scam call failings that left a toll on customers
Global banking giant HSBC has agreed to pay a $35 million penalty to settle a landmark court case after admitting members of its executive team knew the bank was failing to protect its customers from scam phone calls and did nothing about it.
· Sarah Danckert
Europe tries to take on China without launching a new trade war
The Group of Seven industrial nations this week pledged an ambitious target to diversify away from China, adding momentum to the European Union’s own push to counter a growing trade imbalance with the world’s biggest export engine.
· No Author
Korea rises to 21st in IMD competitiveness ranking
Business efficiency, infrastructure gains drive rise despite weaker economic performance
· Choi Ji-won
Hong Kong ranks No 2 in global competitiveness with best showing in 7 years
City trails first-place Singapore out of 70 economies surveyed by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development
· Cannix Yau
Hong Kong ranks No 2 in global competitiveness with best showing in 7 years
City trails first-place Singapore out of 70 economies surveyed by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development
· Cannix Yau
Trade watchdog imposes antidumping tariffs on Thai seamless copper pipes
SEJONG, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade watchdog on Thursday decided to impose antidumping tariffs on Thai seamless copper pipes after its probe found that the imports had caused damage to the domestic industry.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Lenovo targets US$2 billion bond to repurchase debt amid robust AI infrastructure growth
World’s largest PC maker plans to use the proceeds to buy back shares and strengthen its financial position amid sustained growth
· Zhu Wenqian
Lenovo targets US$2 billion bond to repurchase debt amid robust AI infrastructure growth
World’s largest PC maker plans to use the proceeds to buy back shares and strengthen its financial position amid sustained growth
· Zhu Wenqian
Which is really bigger, G7 or Brics? | The National
World leaders gathered in Evian this week for the G7 summit, representing some of the world's biggest economies. The largest among them by far is the United States, which produces $30.8 trillion in annual output. The G7 collectively accounts for $52 trillion, nearly two-thirds more than the Brics group, at $31 trill…
· Fadah Jassem
(LEAD) New entity tasked with implementing Seoul's investment pledge to U.S. sets sail
(ATTN: CHANGES photos; ADDS details in paras 9-10)By Kang Yoon-seung
· Kang Yoon-seung
Nidec investors vent frustrations over scandal at annual meeting
Angry shareholders confronted Nidec’s board at the motor manufacturer’s annual meeting on Thursday, following a tumultuous year marred by accounting scandals, manufacturing defects and the ouster of its charismatic founder.
· Mari Kiyohara
(News Focus) AI-driven chip rally, U.S.-Iran deal drive KOSPI to unprecedented new heights
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged past 9,000 points for the first time ever Thursday, buoyed by a technology rally driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and led by Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix.
· Deok-Hyun Kim
Nikkei closes above 70,000 and KOSPI eclipses 9,000 for first time
Stock markets in Japan and South Korea closed at record highs on June 18, buoyed by the signing of a deal to end the war in Iran and AI-fueled optimism. (Nikkei montage)
· Staff Writer
Afternoon Update: CGT exemptions for small business; ebike thefts soar; and Australia’s top university named
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· Luca Ittimani
Philippines central bank hike rates to contain inflation
Recent inflation in the Philippines is driven largely by high fuel prices brought on by the Iran war. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
· Staff Writer
Mainland China climbs 4 points to its highest ranking in global competitiveness since 2022
China ranked 12th on the list, despite a decline in economic performance, weak domestic demand and concern over foreign market access
· Xiaofei Xu
Mainland China climbs 4 points to its highest ranking in global competitiveness since 2022
China ranked 12th on the list, despite a decline in economic performance, weak domestic demand and concern over foreign market access
· Xiaofei Xu
S. Korea's global competitiveness up 6 notches in 2026: report
SEJONG, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's global competitiveness rose six notches from a year earlier in 2026, supported by improvements in business efficiency and infrastructure, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) said Thursday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
New entity tasked with implementing Seoul's investment pledge to U.S. sets sail
SEJONG, June 18 (Yonhap) -- State-run Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Corp. (KUIC) officially set sail Thursday with the task of implementing South Korea's US$350 billion investment pledge to the United States in return for lower tariffs, the finance ministry said.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Trump signals renewed interest in North Korea, but Tehran playbook may not apply: experts
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Litchfield maps out new NT copper-nickel search zone
Litchfield Minerals says its BHP Xplor-backed technical work has changed the way it looks at its Harts Range ground in Australia’s Northern Territory, shifting the story from a handful of separate copper and nickel prospects to a potentially much bigger belt-scale mineral system.
· Doug Bright
Opposition calls out government's small business carve-outs
Products & ServicesOpen Products & Services section
Forrestania stakes claim as next emerging gold force in WA
By almost any measure, Forrestania Resources’ transformation from a small-cap explorer into a major emerging gold producer with a sprawling multi-hub footprint across Western Australia’s premier mining belts in barely three years represents an extraordinary evolution.
· Murray Ward
Kuniko hits high-grade gold-silver in old NSW workings
Kuniko Limited has turned up the heat at its Commonwealth-Silica Hill project in New South Wales, unveiling more high-grade gold and silver from two old-timer prospects just one kilometre from its recent eye-catching bonanza silver discovery.
· Andrew Todd
Confidence collapses as businesses push for support in Queensland budget
Queensland businesses are now more pessimistic about the national economy than they were during the 2008 financial crisis following the sharpest confidence collapse in two decades, a major lobby group says, as it pushes for relief in the upcoming state budget.
· William Davis
How the $5.4trn wealth transfer is reshaping retirement and investing
Australians are on the cusp of inheriting trillions of dollars over coming decades. The catch: many are likely to receive that wealth a lot later in life than previous generations, often while planning their own retirement, supporting children and juggling ongoing commitments.
Critical strengthens technology case with battery scale-up milestone
Critical Resources has scaled up its solid-state lithium-ion battery evaluation program, moving from laboratory coin cells to full-format, larger-scale pouch cells.
· Murray Ward
CSOP launches Hong Kong's first Kospi 200 ETF
Trading volume tops 30 billion won within minutes as investors seek broader exposure to Korea's AI-driven stock rally
· Choi Yeon-jae
Malaysian gold retailers squeezed on capital to acquire precious metal
Jewelry company forced to ramp up production efforts to create "stronger, lighter, affordable" items
· Staff Writer
US Fed's hawkish shift pressures BOK
Korean central bank expected to pivot to tame inflation, shore up won
· Im Eun-byel
China unveils ‘employment-first’ plan that includes developing new AI-related jobs
State Council plan also prioritises stabilisation of employment in labour-intensive industries
· Huizhao Huang