Merck to buy Terns Pharmaceuticals for about $6.7B in cash
The logo for Merck appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
· Michelle Chapman
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Newest first · UTC+11:00ECB ready to hike rates even if expected inflation surge is short-lived, Lagarde says
The head of the European Central Bank said Wednesday that policymakers stand ready to hike interest rates even if an expected jump in euro zone inflation proves temporary.
· Holly Ellyatt
China says Mexico’s tariff hikes constitute ‘trade barriers’ after probe
The tariff increases – made in part to appease demands from Washington – have been designated a breach of trade rules by Beijing
· Xinyi Wu
New 200-berth marina, clubhouse planned in Hong Kong revamp of Aberdeen site
Development Bureau aims to launch first tender for a marina in nearly 40 years in 2027
· Edith Lin
Nota AI and SiMa.ai Sign Strategic Partnership for Physical AI Technology Collaboration
"Combining AI Optimization with High Performance and Efficiency MLSoCs to Lead the Physical AI Market"
· PRNEWSWIRE
Senegal denies secret €650M borrowing allegations
Debt-laden Senegal has denied a report in the Financial Times that it covertly borrowed 650 million euros ($754 million) to avoid a default, saying it acted in line with "market transparency rules".
· AfricaNews
Large Polymarket, Wall Street bets on Trump’s war news under scrutiny
From cryptocurrency-based online platforms to oil futures and the United States S&P 500 stock benchmark, traders have made bets worth hundreds of millions of dollars since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran with suspiciously well-timed trades that suggest knowledge of key White House decision-making.
· Erin Hale
Portugal cuts growth forecast as Israeli-US war drives energy prices higher
Portugal’s central bank has sharply lowered its 2026 growth forecast, warning that the war in Iran and recent storm damage will weigh on economic activity.
· Middleeasteye
Merck to buy Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion to boost cancer pipeline
Pharma giant Merck is buying U.S. biotech firm Terns Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, the company said Wednesday.
· Elsa Ohlen, Angelica Peebles
GAC's First Overseas Service Brand Launches at Bangkok Motor Show, Thailand Action 2.0 Commences
BANGKOK, March 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 23, the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show officially opened. Centered on "service upgrading", GAC INTERNATIONAL launched GAC CARE – its first overseas service brand – at the show, fully unveiled its upgrade "Thailand Action 2.0" strategy, and debuted the new AION …
· PRNEWSWIRE
Arm jumps 13% in premarket after saying first in-house chip set to generate $15 billion in revenue
Arm jumped in early market trading Wednesday after the company said its newly released in-house chip would generate $15 billion in revenue alone by 2031.
· Sawdah Bhaimiya
Garuda Indonesia trapped in a relentless financial tailspin
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· Ronny P Sasmita
Recession odds climb on Wall Street as economy shows cracks beneath the surface
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell last week pushed back when asked whether stagflation posed a threat to the U.S. economy. His successor may face a tougher challenge, as Wall Street forecasters raise their expectations of recession, brought on in part by the Iran war and potential for higher prices.
· Jeff Cox
ECB head Lagarde thinks businesses may be quick to raise prices due to Iran war
The sun has set behind the buildings of the banking district in Frankfurt, Germany, late Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
· David Mchugh
UK inflation steady before Iran war; oil price dips on Trump comments – business live
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.
· Juliakollewe, Phillipinman
Revealed: The Australian universities boasting some of the best courses in the world
Four Australian universities boast engineering courses in the world’s top 10, and 13 data science and AI courses are in the global top 100, as experts call for greater investment in STEM to shore up national security and diversify the economy.
· Sally Rawsthorne
Korea Inc. curbs vehicle, power use on oil spike
South Korea’s largest conglomerates are introducing new energy-saving measures in line with government policy, as a surge in oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict increases pressure on Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
· Jo He-rim
Volkswagen mulling Israeli arms deal – FT
German auto giant Volkswagen could repurpose one of its struggling plants to produce components for an Israeli arms company, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
· RT
Amid struggles at home, 80% of Chinese companies in EU plan more investment
Chinese firms operating in Europe have very different view to European firms with investments in China, survey finds
· Xiaofei Xu
China-owned vessel secures rare Strait of Hormuz transit as Iran war grinds on
China’s Cosco Shipping Lines has also reopened Middle East bookings, signalling a tentative return while warning instability may still disrupt services
· Mia Nurmamat
Hybe expands global push with India audition
K-pop methodology heads to world’s largest youth market under ‘multihome, multigenre’ strategy
· Kim Jae-heun
Private credit’s ‘zero-loss fantasy’ is coming to an end as defaults and fund exits rise
Deteriorating asset quality, collateral markdowns and a growing rush for the exits are rattling private credit markets and prompting comparisons to the Global Financial Crisis.
· Hugh Leask
Dreams of survival: How war has restructured Gaza’s job market
Gaza City – On a street corner in Gaza City’s Remal market, Abdulrahman al-Awadi stands inside a small tarpaulin-made tent that he set up as a mobile phone charging station, a job that emerged during the war and has since become his livelihood.
· Maram Humaid
It’s not just oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuz blockage is rattling another vital commodity
Farmers in the northern hemisphere are heading into the crucial spring months, during which major fieldwork must begin. Their peers in the south, meanwhile, are busy harvesting crops before the winter sets in.
· Chloe Taylor, Sam Meredith
Huons partners with Sanofi to enter vaccine market
Huons said Wednesday it has signed a distribution and co-promotion agreement with Sanofi Korea, marking its entry into the vaccine market.
· Jeon Ji-woo
Australian shares soar on Middle East ceasefire hopes
The ASX has responded positively to softer inflation figures and talk about a ceasefire in the Middle East. (AAP: Steven Markham)
UK inflation unchanged at 3% in February — the last print before the Iran war
The U.K. inflation rate stood firm at 3% in February, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which marked the last reading before the start of the Iran war.
· Holly Ellyatt
Israeli forces turn Palestinian homes into military bases
Khalid Jamal, a middle-aged Palestinian father, is describing the moment Israeli soldiers took over his home in al-Rehiyya, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
· Middleeasteye
North Korean leader thanks Putin, vows to ‘always be with Moscow’
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
CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter: Why UK bonds bore the brunt of the Iran sell-off
This report is from this week's CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter, which brings you expert insights on the most critical business stories in Britain. You can subscribe here.
· Ian King
BTS’ strong comeback fuels hopes of K-pop market rebound
BTS has demonstrated enduring market power following its full-group comeback, raising expectations for a revival in the K-pop album market.
· Lee Jung-joo
‘Political Band-aid’: cutting Australia’s fuel excise could make petrol shortages worse, economists say
Fuel tax cuts also risk adding to inflation by enabling some households with enough income to spend more
· Luca Ittimani
FM Cho heads to G7 meeting as Seoul navigates Hormuz pressure
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
China’s consumer goods factories cut output as Iran war sends costs soaring
Some Chinese producers are already feeling ‘intense’ strain as the conflict sends energy, logistics and raw material costs soaring
· Mia Nurmamat
Meta boosts top executives’ pay with stock options as AI race heats up
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· Victor Barreiro Jr.
AmCham urges reforms to position Korea as global financial hub
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea said Wednesday it has released a special report outlining policy recommendations to boost regulatory competitiveness and support the country’s ambition to become a global financial center.
· Jeon Ji-woo
Cross-border fintech Hanpass surges on Kosdaq debut
Hanpass, a South Korean fintech firm specializing in overseas remittances for foreign residents, soared on the tech-heavy Kosdaq upon its market debut Wednesday, paving the way for global expansion.
· Im Eun-byel
No Israel prosecutions for killing Palestinian civilians in occupied West Bank since start of decade
Dozens of former Israeli military, police and spy chiefs describe situation as ‘organised Jewish terrorism’
· Emma Graham Harrison
Iran to allow 'non-hostile' ships through Hormuz, excludes US-linked vessels
Iran has told the International Maritime Organisation it will allow “non-hostile” shipping to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while excluding vessels linked to the United States, Israel and other countries it accuses of aggression, the Financial Times reported.
· Middleeasteye
US stocks give back some of the rally sparked by Trump's talk of negotiations with Iran
NEW YORK — US stock indexes slipped Tuesday and gave back some of their rallies from the day before, while oil prices got back to rising as uncertainty continues about how long the war with Iran will last.
· Associated Press
House prices are at a tipping point. It’s time for buyers to negotiate
March 25, 2026 — 3:17pm
· Elizabeth Knight
Antony Catalano’s Melbourne penthouse back on the market
Not long after news broke earlier this month that former Domain chief executive and Australian Community Media chairman Antony Catalano had been charged with assaulting a woman, his real estate agent quietly de-listed the media operator’s six-bedroom Melbourne penthouse.
· John Buckley
World facing biggest disruption to energy supplies in history, Canadian minister says
Canadian energy minister Tim Hodgson on Wednesday said that the world is facing the biggest disruption to energy supplies in history, the Financial Times newspaper reported.
· Middleeasteye
Oil falls and Asian shares gain over possible Iran war de-escalation
Michael Capolino works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
· Chan Ho Him
Meta makes 'big bet' on top leaders with stock options as pressure builds to catch up in AI
Meta is granting stock options to key leaders in an effort to retain talent as pressure intensifies on the company to bolster its position in artificial intelligence.
· Jonathan Vanian
Gold jumps over 2% as oil slump eases inflation fears amid Trump Iran talks
Gold prices climbed on Wednesday as declining oil prices helped temper worries about persistent inflation, following reports that Washington is working on a proposal to end the Middle East conflict.
· Lee Ying Shan
Turkey’s biggest private bank plans Hong Kong entry amid Middle East tensions: sources
Turkiye Is Bankasi eyes corporate-focused Hong Kong branch, citing the city’s hub role, to complete its China coverage, sources say
· Peggy Ye
BOJ debated need for more rate hikes, weak yen impact on prices
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Many Bank of Japan policymakers saw the need to keep raising interest rates, with some calling for timely action on mounting inflationary pressures, minutes of their January meeting showed, highlighting their hawkish bias even before the Iran war boosted oil prices.
· Reuters
Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison expands Panama ports claim as losses ‘surpass’ US$2 billion
Subsidiary Panama Ports Company slams Panamanian government’s ‘attack campaign’ as it expands international arbitration claim over damages
· Theodora Yu
Commonwealth Bank raises home rates for the second time this month
Auto news: These are Australia's safest roads.
· Yashee Sharma