Asia M&A and investment review
Malaysia plans social media ban for children under 13, following Singapore's lead
Under Kuala Lumpur’s proposal, all social media platforms will be required to implement mandatory identity verification systems to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
Indonesia’s $80bn giant seawall
Indonesia’s ambition to build a colossal seawall along the northern coastline of Java has ignited both hope and heated debate. Valued at around $80bn, the project aims to safeguard the island’s coastal cities from tidal floods and erosion.
India is not looking to dethrone the US dollar
The Reserve Bank of India, is reducing its US dollar exposure, repatriating gold from overseas vaults, and strengthening domestic control of its bullion reserves.
Singapore is now Asia's tech-job powerhouse
Singapore’s emergence as a tech hub is no accident. Over the past decade, the government has rolled out multiple targeted initiatives to accelerate digital adoption.
World Bank warns of rising informal employment across East Asia, with Indonesia most affected
The World Bank has raised concerns over worsening employment quality across East Asia and the Pacific, warning that the growing shift towards informal and low-productivity jobs threatens the region’s economic resilience.
Malaysia’s fuel recalibration: balancing fiscal discipline and public relief
In late September 2025, the Malaysian government unveiled a recalibrated approach to its long-running petrol subsidy, lowering the price of RON95 for citizens to $0.47 per litre.
Indonesia’s World Bank debt and the price of a green transition
Indonesia is routinely listed among the World Bank’s largest borrowers, second only to India in some recent tallies, reflecting an outstanding balance with the Bank running into the tens of billions and placing Indonesia among the top 10 debtors
Why India tops the World Bank debtors list in 2025
Through decades of external borrowing, fiscal crises and ambitious development programmes, India has emerged as a case study of both regional vulnerability and the complex promise of sustainable growth.
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Japan’s Nikkei hits record high as LDP leadership race starts
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index closed at a historic high on September 22, supported by expectations of economic stimulus as the contest for leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party formally got underway.
US fee on H-1B visas rattles Indian tech stocks
Reports said US based companies like Microsoft and JPMorgan advised employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas to return to the US before the deadline and avoid international travel until further guidance.
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Indonesia’s Raja Ampat - tourism hub or den of corruption?
In recent years, Indonesia has doubled down on promoting Raja Ampat, a remote archipelago in West Papua famed for its biodiversity, as a global eco-tourism icon.
Bank Indonesia’s credibility at risk as markets watch and wait
Indonesia’s central bank is finding itself under sharper investor scrutiny after Governor Perry Warjiyo confirmed a new “burden-sharing” arrangement with the government.
Nepal’s market weakens as violence grips country
Nepal’s equity market slumped on September 8, 2025, as the NEPSE index fell 35.99 points, or 1.32%, to close at 2,672.25, extending losses from the previous week’s 30.05 point decline.
Indonesia readies seven IPOs as mining, property units eye market debuts
The Indonesia Stock Exchange said seven companies are preparing to go public, adding momentum to what has already been a busy year for equity fundraising
Indonesia’s foreign minister steps in for Prabowo at SCO Summit amid nationwide unrest
The president had been scheduled to attend the summit and later observe China’s Victory Day Parade in Beijing at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
Controversy over exorbitant housing allowances: Indonesian parliament's clarification proves nothing
As inequality persists and trust in institutions remains fragile, spending billions on allowances risks exacerbating the rift between political elites and the citizens they represent.
Is India being forced closer to China and other BRICS nations by US tarrifs?
According to a new report, bilateral trade grew from $17bn in 2005 to nearly $120bn by 2024, with China becoming India’s largest trading partner and the trade deficit swelling to almost $100bn.
Malaysia blocks rare earth exports to attract downstream investment
Malaysia will prohibit the export of unprocessed rare earth minerals as part of a strategy to retain greater value domestically by drawing investment into downstream industries.
Indonesia and Malaysia seek peaceful path in Ambalat Sea standoff
The Ambalat region, located in the Sulawesi Sea, has long been contested due to overlapping claims and its strategic importance for oil and gas exploration.
South Korea’s tax reform triggers investor concerns
What was once a buoyant rally under President Lee Jae Myung’s pledge to lift the Kospi to 5,000 points is now shadowed by concerns over the economic implications of sweeping tax changes.