Finance guru Mark Bouris unpacks the federal budget
Products & ServicesOpen Products & Services section
Follow the story
Business & Economy
A focused view of neutral reporting on Business & Economy, brought together across publishers.
Explore all topics →
Neutral reports only
Newest first · UTC+11:00Luang Prabang's World Heritage status at risk over Mekong dam
The dam for the Luang Prabang Hydroelectric Power Plant, 20 km upriver from the city that is Laos' premier tourist attraction, rises from the Mekong River. (All photos by Tom Vater)
· Staff Writer
Seoul shares open sharply lower on US losses, Middle East uncertainties
South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street caused by a drop in blue chip tech shares and a faster-than-estimated rise in US inflation, as well as uncertainties over peace talks between the United States and Iran.
· Yonhap
Seoul shares open sharply lower on U.S. losses, Middle East uncertainties
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street caused by a drop in blue chip tech shares and a faster-than-estimated rise in U.S. inflation, as well as uncertainties over peace talks between the United States and Iran.
· Kim Na-young
New York’s legal weed sales top $5M a day — but illegal market could be 10 times larger
New York State’s daily legal weed sales topped $5 million for the first time in history, new data showed — but experts estimated illicit sales could be a whopping 10 times higher.
· Carl Campanile
Asia markets set to open mixed as investors watch Trump-Xi meeting and Iran tensions
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mixed Wednesday, as investors digest a hotter-than-expected inflation reading for April amid concerns over higher oil prices and the ongoing Middle East conflict.
· Justina Lee
Pro-Iran hacking group targets California tech company in flurry of attacks
San Jose-based eBay was hammered by a massive cyberattack allegedly carried out by a pro-Iran hacking group that’s now threatening some of world’s biggest tech companies.
· Pierce Sharpe
Mexico City's F1 track to get $12M upgrade
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican Grand Prix organizers have announced an investment of 202 million pesos (around $12 million) in the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track.
· Carlos Rodriguez
Takeover of Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy’s Central club postponed by 2 months
Source says delay of merger with Carlyle & Co follows meeting of HKGTA members
· Denise Tsang
Takeover of Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy’s Central club postponed by 2 months
Source says delay of merger with Carlyle & Co follows meeting of HKGTA members
· Denise Tsang
Pop Mart expands IP empire with debut dessert store in Hebei province
In the first three months, revenue in China alone surged 100 to 105 per cent, while growth was 25 to 30 per cent in Asia-Pacific
· Zhu Wenqian
Pop Mart expands IP empire with debut dessert store in Hebei province
In the first three months, revenue in China alone surged 100 to 105 per cent, while growth was 25 to 30 per cent in Asia-Pacific
· Zhu Wenqian
[Graphic News] Young Koreans in their 20s giving up on employment
Recent analyses show that about 1 in 5 discouraged job seekers are in their 20s, pointing to a growing number of young people abandoning the job search even before entering the labor market.
· Nam Kyung-don
Fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low, alleged mastermind of 1MDB scandal, seeks Trump pardon: report
Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, widely known as Jho Low and now a fugitive, has sought a pardon from President Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
· Reuters
Man injured while allegedly blowing up ATM at Queen Victoria Market
Police said three people used explosives to access an ATM near Victoria Market. (ABC News)
Business owner says budget a 'sugar hit'
Products & ServicesOpen Products & Services section
Gulf investments and economic interests motivate Beijing to help Trump end war
US President Donald Trump is set to meet his counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Thursday in Beijing for a two-day visit. Business and trade deals are at the top of the agenda for the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, but Iran will loom large in the background.
· Middleeasteye
Japan Inc., households step up overseas investment despite weak yen
Sumitomo Forestry has decided to acquire U.S. homebuilder Tri Pointe as it sees growth overseas. (Sumitomo Forestry)
· Staff Writer
China loves food deliveries. Restaurants are starving as a result
Revenue and profit at Peking duck chain Quanjude fell for a second consecutive year. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura)
· Staff Writer
Amid war with Iran, Trump pushes for federal gas tax suspension
Gas prices are displayed at a Westar gas station in Miami, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
· Wyatte Grantham Philips
Trump insists inflation surge 'short term,' policies working
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted that his policies were working and that surging inflation was merely temporary due to the US and Israeli war against Iran.
· Agence France-Presse
US Unleashes Another Wave Of Crude From Strategic Reserve As Gas Prices Soar
The U.S. government will loan 53 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to petroleum companies in a bid to relieve elevated gas and oil prices amid the conflict with Iran.
· Tyler Durden
EU moves to block imports of Brazilian animal products, ministry says
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil said Tuesday that the European Union has moved to block its animal product exports from September, just days after a mega deal between the South American trade bloc Mercosur and the EU on a trans-Atlantic market estimated at $22 trillion went into effect, at least provisionally.
US-UAE investment surged in year since Trump visit, report says | The National
Trade and investment between the US and UAE has significantly increased after President Donald Trump's visit to the Emirates last year, according to a report from the US-UAE Business Council.
· The National
Live: ASX set to edge lower in first session after budget, Wall Street mixed
As the nation digests last night's budget, Australian shares are set for another day of losses, with the SPI futures pointing to 0.1 per cent fall by the ASX 200.
· Jason Dasey
Trump Says Americans’ Economic Pain Is Not a Consideration for the Iran War
Asked whether Americans’ financial situation was motivating him to make a deal, President Trump said bluntly, “Not even a little bit.”
· Erica L Green
Egypt, Russia, and France: The Emerging Geopolitical Axis Reshaping Global Trade Routes
Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.
Merz booed during speech about social spending cuts (VIDEO)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was booed and mocked during a speech on Tuesday to one of the country’s biggest trade union groups as he tried to sell his welfare cut plans.
· RT
Merz booed during speech about social spending cuts (VIDEO)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was booed and mocked during a speech on Tuesday to one of the country’s biggest trade union groups as he tried to sell his welfare cut plans.
· RT
Millions of student borrowers fall into default as payment collection resumes
Millions of student loan borrowers fell into default earlier this year — and a second wave of delinquencies could be on its way, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.
· Taylor Herzlich
How Paige DeSorbo turned her passion for ‘bed-rotting’ into a ‘cute and elevated’ fashion brand
Curious about the forces behind Hollywood’s favorite fashion and beauty companies? Welcome to On Brand, where we talk shop with the founders of the most star-approved (and in some cases, star-founded!) brands in the business. Retail therapy incoming …
· Hannah Southwick
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday 5/12/2026
A sudden halt for technology stocks put the brakes on Wall Street’s record-setting run.
· The Associated Press
China's status as Iran's top oil customer in focus before Trump-Xi meeting | The National
The US is putting increasing pressure on Iranian oil sales before President Donald Trump's high-stakes visit to China, the world's largest crude importer.
· Kyle Fitzgerald
Beijing calls Paraguay leaders willing ‘chess pieces’ after disputed Taiwan trip
Beijing’s anger over President Santiago Pena’s Taipei trade visit comes as Taiwan issue looms large at this week’s Trump-Xi summit
· Igor Patrick
Beijing calls Paraguay leaders willing ‘chess pieces’ after disputed Taiwan trip
Beijing’s anger over President Santiago Pena’s Taipei trade visit comes as Taiwan issue looms large at this week’s Trump-Xi summit
· Igor Patrick
Japan's Murata rewards in-house innovators to keep global capacitor lead
Multilayer ceramic capacitors are tiny parts that are essential for circuits in electronic devices. (Murata Manufacturing)
· Staff Writer
How does the Parliament control public finance?
Does control over public finance indicate the treasury is legally bound to report day-to-day operations to Parliament? This is where a confusion seems to have arisen among some Members of Parliament including the Leader of the Opposition who claim the treasury should have reported the misplacement of funds to Parlia…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Electricity price hike Where lies the problem?
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has prescribed cost-reflective energy prices under its programme. It is a logical conclusion because cost-reflective pricing is needed for long-term sustainability. But, in the meantime, what is needed is to take measures for the reduction of electricity generation costs so that…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Expressions of Interest called for MRIA
The Ministry of Ports & Civil Aviation, through Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from investors to utilize resources at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Hambantota. Submissions are due by June 9, 2026, with a pre-proposal bri…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Brazil’s government launches $2 billion anti-organized crime program
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the end of the German-Brazilian intergovernmental consultations at Herrenhausen Palace, in Hannover, northern Germany, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
· Mauricio Savarese
DFCC Bank demonstrates disciplined performance in Q1, 2026
DFCC Bank delivered a strong financial performance for the period ended 31 March 2026, underscoring the robustness of its strategy, disciplined execution, and the resilience of its balance sheet. Loan and deposit portfolios recorded sustained growth of 5% and7%, respectively, compared to December 31, 2025, reflectin…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Port of Colombo records 22% growth in container throughput for April 2026 - DailyNews
The Port of Colombo (POC) the leading maritime and transshipment hubs in South Asia has recorded a significant increase in container handling volumes during the first four months of 2026.
· Gayan Abeykoon
‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation’ in Iran war, Trump says
New York: US President Donald Trump dismissed a surge in inflation due to the Iran war and declared he does not think about Americans’ financial situation when deciding whether to make a deal with the regime to end the conflict.
· Michael Koziol
MIFL records LKR 818 Mn PBT in FY 2025-26, up 193% YoY - DailyNews
Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd. (MIFL) reported its strongest ever financial performance in the year ended 31 March 2026, recording significant growth across profitability, lending volumes, and operational efficiency.
· Gayan Abeykoon
Starbucks billionaire Howard Schultz rips Seattle’s ‘socialist’ mayor, claims city and state ‘hostile’ to business
Howard Schultz, the billionaire executive who turned Starbucks from a boutique Seattle-area coffee chain into a global behemoth spanning thousands of stores, says his former hometown has grown “hostile” to business under a “socialist” mayor.
· Ariel Zilber
Ceylon Chamber delegation holds discussions with Indian biz, Govt. leaders
On the sidelines of the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi, the Ceylon Chamber’s Chairperson Krishan Balendra, Deputy Vice Chairperson Vinod Hirdaramani, and Secretary General and CEO Shiran Fernando engaged in a series of high-level discussions with senior Indian business and government leaders, including…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Sri Lanka Expo rescheduled for January 14–17, 2027
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has announced that Sri Lanka Expo 2026, originally scheduled to be held in 2026, has been rescheduled to 14–17 January 2027. The international trade exhibition will take place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo. The decision to r…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Colombo–Hanoi ties turn economic
The Sri Lanka–Viet Nam Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum held in Colombo recently marked far more than a ceremonial diplomatic engagement. It represented a strategic effort by two Asian nations to transform longstanding political goodwill into a modern economic partnership centred on trade, connectivit…
· Gayan Abeykoon
Prices for 6 grocery store staples are increasing right now as affordability spirals
The cost of food has been increasingly volatile due to inflation, as evidenced by some cartons of organic pasture-raised eggs costing an offensive $13.
· Kyra Breslin