Easter box office takings twice that of 2025 break despite exodus of Hongkongers
Local cinemas earn HK$25.93 million in first four days of holiday, double the figure year on year from the 2025 Easter break
· Theodora Yu
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Best photos of April 8: Giant cat installation at Hong Kong airport to the Masters in Georgia | The National
Previous slideNext slide Travellers pose in front of a giant interactive cat installation in the arrivals hall at Hong Kong International Airport. AFPInfo A Djiboutian flag decorates a market stall in the capital city as residents and traders take advantage of the cooler evening hours, days before presidential elect…
· The National
The tiny Queensland town of Cooladdi, population two, has a pub and a post office. It could be yours for $400,000
The new owner will serve as the Australian town’s postie, publican, cook and shopkeeper
· Ima Caldwell
HSBC’s HK$5 billion headquarters opens in Hong Kong in 1986 – SCMP archive
When it opened 40 years ago, the bank’s new headquarters was the most expensive building in the world
· SCMP
HSBC’s HK$5 billion headquarters opens in Hong Kong in 1986 – SCMP archive
When it opened 40 years ago, the bank’s new headquarters was the most expensive building in the world
· SCMP
China enforces new security rules to defend supply chains from global threats
The new regulation makes protecting China’s supply chains a national security issue – and allows Beijing to punish any entities that threaten them
· Frank Chen
China enforces new security rules to defend supply chains from global threats
The new regulation makes protecting China’s supply chains a national security issue – and allows Beijing to punish any entities that threaten them
· Frank Chen
China’s top diplomat to visit North Korea this week
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
Myanmar’s food security in crisis as fuel, fertiliser shortages threaten fragile economy
Rising fertiliser costs and fuel rationing have affected farmers’ productivity, but Myanmar has little capital to replenish these stocks
· Aidan Jones
Myanmar’s food security in crisis as fuel, fertiliser shortages threaten fragile economy
Rising fertiliser costs and fuel rationing have affected farmers’ productivity, but Myanmar has little capital to replenish these stocks
· Aidan Jones
A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire sparks market relief — but no clear path to lasting peace
A temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire sparked a broad relief rally across assets on Wednesday, but experts warned that any deal concerning lasting peace will be complicated by a major trust deficit.
· Anniek Bao, Sam Meredith
Special counsel seeks 15-year prison term for ex-first lady over church bribery, stock manipulation
A special counsel team on Wednesday sought a 15-year prison term for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appealing a lower court ruling that convicted her of taking bribes from the Unification Church but acquitted her of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and of illegally receiving opinion polling data for free.
· Lee Seung-ku
How AI and geopolitical rivalry are breaking economic orthodoxy
Today’s imbalances go beyond exchange rates; they reflect concentrated technological investment in one economy and uneven risks in others
· Qiyuan Xu
How AI and geopolitical rivalry are breaking economic orthodoxy
Today’s imbalances go beyond exchange rates; they reflect concentrated technological investment in one economy and uneven risks in others
· Qiyuan Xu
24% of Hong Kong firms to widely adopt AI, with smaller headcounts expected: KPMG
Survey by professional services firm shows number of companies expected to widely adopt technology is up from 2025 figure of 8 per cent
· Oscar Liu
24% of Hong Kong firms to widely adopt AI, with smaller headcounts expected: KPMG
Survey by professional services firm shows number of companies expected to widely adopt technology is up from 2025 figure of 8 per cent
· Oscar Liu
Hanwha Corp. backs Hanwha Solutions in W2.4tr rights offering
Hanwha Corp. said Wednesday it will participate in a rights offering by Hanwha Solutions worth about 2.4 trillion won ($1.63 billion), backing the affiliate’s efforts to strengthen its financial position and growth capacity.
· Ahn Sung-mi
Circle CEO eyes Korea partnerships to boost USDC adoption
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire is set to visit South Korea next week for a series of high-level meetings with cryptocurrency exchanges and financial institutions, as the issuer of US coin, or USDC, looks to expand its footprint in the local market, according to a report by Herald Business on Wednesday.
· Lee Han-gyoul
TCL Celebrates its 100 Million Air Conditioner Units Milestone with Launch of New Smart Factory
SHENZHEN, China, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, a leading global technology company, announced the official launch of its new air conditioner smart factory in Guangzhou recently. The event coincides with the company's manufacture of its 100 millionth air conditioner unit since 2021, a milestone highlighting TCL'…
· PRNEWSWIRE
Samsung earnings push group market cap near W1,600tr
Samsung Electronics’ record-breaking first-quarter earnings have lifted the combined market capitalization of its group affiliates to nearly 1,600 trillion won ($1.08 trillion), underscoring the company’s dominant role in Korea’s equity market.
· Im Eun-byel
Lebanon's economy minister seeks clarity on ceasefire 'mixed signals' as Israeli strikes continue
Lebanon is seeking urgent clarity on whether it's part of the ceasefire pausing the Iran war, its economy minister told CNBC, adding it was getting "mixed signals."
· Holly Ellyatt
Rising diesel prices push Filipino farmers to financial breaking point | South China Morning Post
Reliance on imported fuel, much of it sourced from the Middle East, has left the Philippine agricultural sector vulnerable to global price spikes.
Kakao Bank targets Mongolia in next global push
AI push, inclusive finance model drive expansion beyond Southeast Asia
· Choi Yeonjae
UAE stock markets surge after US and Iran agree to ceasefire | The National
Stock markets in the UAE rose on Wednesday, as a dramatic de-escalation in the US-Israeli war on Iran and the growing prospect of permanent peace deal buoyed investor sentiment.
· Sarmad Khan
Seoul welcomes US-Iran ceasefire amid risks to energy, alliance dynamics
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
Liberty take Sabrina Ionescu off open market designating her as a core player
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
· Madeline Kenney
80% of Hong Kong fishing vessels grounded before moratorium due to high fuel prices
Moratorium planned for May 1 but going out to sea already untenable for most fishermen as sector leader warns fish supply likely to fall
· Oscar Liu
80% of Hong Kong fishing vessels grounded before moratorium due to high fuel prices
Moratorium planned for May 1 but going out to sea already untenable for most fishermen as sector leader warns fish supply likely to fall
· Oscar Liu
Shuttlers Viran forges ahead, Ranithma loses in China
Two champion Sri Lankan shuttlers Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage had to make tough battles on the opening day of the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championship which commenced in Ningbo, China yesterday. The tournament will be worked off until April 12.
· shanaka
HD Hyundai to offer raw materials, financial support to biz partners amid Middle East-related disruptions
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- HD Hyundai Co., South Korea's leading shipbuilding conglomerate, said Wednesday it will offer raw materials and financial support to its small and mid-sized partner companies to help them cope with supply disruptions stemming from ongoing Middle East tensions.
· Kim Boram
Oil prices fall sharply after Trump announces two-week Iran war ceasefire
While oil and gas supply issues are set to remain, for now, the stock market reaction has been massive.
· Sarah Taaffe-Maguire
Indian central bank extends pause on key policy rate amid US-Iran crisis
India's key policy rate sits at a near four-year low, as the U.S.-Iran war and rising energy prices cast uncertainty over the country's economy. © Reuters
· SOUMYAJIT SAHA
India's central bank holds benchmark policy rates as Iran war raises inflation risks
India's central bank on Wednesday held benchmark interest rates at 5.25% as strong growth allows it room to keep policy tight at a time when the Iran war has raised inflation risk.
· Priyanka Salve
Asian stocks soar and oil prices plunge on US-Iran ceasefire
Japan's benchmark Nikkei Stock Average surges after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
· JADA NAGUMO
Sigenergy Enters Utility-Scale Market with 506kW Inverter, Delivering Optimized LCOE and Lifecycle Value
SHANGHAI, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the commissioning of its 136,000-square-meter Smart Energy Center, Sigenergy has officially launched its inaugural utility-scale PV inverter. By integrating high-density hardware with millisecond-level control algorithms and AI-driven analytics, the solution addresse…
· PRNEWSWIRE
LX Hausys ramps up global push with trade show blitz
LX Hausys is stepping up its global expansion by showcasing products at major trade shows across Europe, the US and Asia, as it seeks new growth amid rising costs and shifting market conditions.
· Lee Han-gyoul
How China tax crackdown on undeclared overseas income is targeting retail investors
Ministry says 11.5% growth in personal income tax revenue partly driven by ‘significant rise in income from share transfers and dividends’
· Xinyi Wu
How China tax crackdown on undeclared overseas income is targeting retail investors
Ministry says 11.5% growth in personal income tax revenue partly driven by ‘significant rise in income from share transfers and dividends’
· Xinyi Wu
Bond market sentiment improves for May: poll
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's bond market sentiment improved for May amid expectations that inflationary pressures will ease and the Korean won will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, a poll showed Wednesday.
· Kang Jae-eun
Oil prices sink and US stock futures jump as US and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire
NEW YORK — Oil prices plunged below $100 a barrel and Asia markets and US stock futures jumped after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
· Associated Press
Asian shares soar after oil price decline in response to the Iran ceasefire
Ed Curran works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
· Yuri Kageyama
U.S.-Iran ceasefire relief rally lifts global assets as oil plunges below $100
A 2-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran triggered a relief rally across risk assets, sending stocks higher and oil tumbling, while persistent demand for gold and Treasurys pointed to a market still hedging against uncertainty.
· Lee Ying Shan
Korea-led power bank flight rules adopted as global standard
The South Korean government said Wednesday that its proposal to tighten safety rules on portable lithium battery charging devices aboard aircraft has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization and standardized globally, to take effect April 20.
· Yoon Min-sik
Why it's business as usual for the UAE's economy | The National
For many people, the economics of global trade can feel like an abstraction. Memorandums of understanding, comprehensive economic partnership agreements and business verticals – all can seem disconnected from the day-to-day realities of paying rent, buying groceries or filling a petrol tank.
· The National Editorial
Iran, AI, private credit: Is a triple whammy threat looming for markets? | The National
The world’s eyes are on the conflict in Iran. As it drags on, the threat of an energy crisis intensifies by the day. Investors can’t tear their eyes away, with global stock markets plunged into volatility.
· Harvey Jones
Household loans rebound in March on borrowings linked to stock investments
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Household loans extended by South Korean banks rose for the first time in four months in March despite tight regulations, as lending linked to stock investment grew amid a market correction, data showed Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
Vietnam's FTSE stock market upgrade expected to boost price discovery
The upgrade decision by FTSE would put Vietnam on par with China, India, the Philippines and Indonesia. (File photo by Suzu Takahashi)
· Staff Writer
World Bank sees PH growth slump to 3.7% in 2026
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s economic growth is expected to remain subdued this year amid the heightened Middle East conflict, the World Bank said.
· Niña Myka Pauline Arceo
Ex-Japan PM calls for Seoul-Tokyo cooperation at UN level to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday called for South Korea and Japan to work together, such as at the UN level, to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing deepening supply disruptions from the war against Iran that are affecting the global economy.
· Yonhap
Ex-Japan PM calls for Seoul-Tokyo cooperation at U.N. level to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday called for South Korea and Japan to work together, such as at the U.N. level, to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing deepening supply disruptions from the war against Iran that are affecting the global economy.
· Kim Seung-yeon