https://www.scmp.com/rss/523378/feed The latest news and top stories on Raymond Yeung, the Greater China chief economist at ANZ. He was previously the Deputy Head of Asia Economic Research at Swiss Re. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kevin Li Kevin Li Hongkongers may begin to feel the impact of the escalating war in the Middle East in the coming months, as rising global oil prices are expected to push up energy bills and dining costs, according to experts. Analysts said the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, and subsequent retaliation across the region, were also likely to slow the pace of US interest rate cuts and curb the rise in Hong Kong housing prices. As military operations in the Middle East entered their fourth day,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345321/hong-kong-inflation-risks-grow-war-middle-east-escalates-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345321/hong-kong-inflation-risks-grow-war-middle-east-escalates-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Even if market researcher Joey Lau were a millionaire and could devote all her time to her family, she still would not want children. The 34-year-old Singaporean said the risks facing young people today – from social media-driven mental health pressures to climate change – were too high to justify bringing a child into the world. “I feel like the only reason that I would want to have a child is because it’s cute, it would give shape to my life and my parents would be very happy because they want... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345289/why-some-singaporeans-are-saying-no-having-children-amid-existential-fertility-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345289/why-some-singaporeans-are-saying-no-having-children-amid-existential-fertility-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:36 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma With Hong Kong set to unveil its annual budget, economists have said the city should strengthen its role in pushing the internationalisation of the Chinese yuan as Beijing presses ahead with financial opening while keeping stability firmly in view. From expanding offshore yuan products to using its stablecoin regulations as a sandbox for potential cross-border payment channels, the experts said that Hong Kong could help realise the nation’s vision of becoming a “financial powerhouse”, especially... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344264/should-hong-kongs-next-budget-make-room-taking-yuan-global-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344264/should-hong-kongs-next-budget-make-room-taking-yuan-global-experts-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:30 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma For decades, the US dollar has served as the currency of global reserve, the de facto anchor for the vast majority of international exchanges. Consequently, United States government debt – most commonly in the form of Treasury assets such as bonds, notes and bills – has long been regarded as a safe haven by investors, prized for its unmatched liquidity and deep market penetration. That faith has remained strong in the past, even amid global financial crises. But the events of recent weeks... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341391/age-trump-are-safe-haven-us-assets-not-so-safe-any-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341391/age-trump-are-safe-haven-us-assets-not-so-safe-any-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Fiona Sun,Harvey Kong,Themis Chen Fiona Sun,Harvey Kong,Themis Chen Retired Hong Kong civil servant Ng Kook-yiu takes a shuttle bus every day from his transitional housing flat to the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. “I long to see my home, where I spent four decades of my life. It breaks my heart to see it each time, but it is still my home,” the 76-year-old said. Ng lived alone in the housing estate before the city’s deadliest blaze in decades engulfed seven of its eight buildings on November 26, killing at least 161 people. Like other residents who were... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337658/holding-hope-hong-kong-fire-survivors-make-new-year-wish-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337658/holding-hope-hong-kong-fire-survivors-make-new-year-wish-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:51:49 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Frank Chen Sylvia Ma,Frank Chen After witnessing the effects of a tumultuous trade war with the United States this year, China’s top leaders have issued a directive to fortify the domestic economy against persistent or even heightened trade frictions. Following the annual central economic work conference, which concluded on Thursday and set the agenda for 2026, officials emphasised “better coordinating domestic economic work and international economic and trade struggles”, anchoring a pro-growth strategy for the start of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336271/china-digs-trade-struggles-beijing-eyes-dual-strategy-growth-and-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336271/china-digs-trade-struggles-beijing-eyes-dual-strategy-growth-and-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen,Sylvia Ma Frank Chen,Sylvia Ma China is expected to set its fiscal deficit ratio at around 4 per cent of gross domestic product in 2026, analysts said, adding the affirmation of a more prominent role for fiscal policy at this week’s central economic work conference indicates a selective approach to increasing government expenditures. In a statement issued after the annual conference ended on Tuesday, officials called for maintaining a “necessary deficit size, total debt and expenditure volume”. The December meeting of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3336240/china-keep-high-fiscal-deficit-ratio-2026-buoy-spending-plans-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3336240/china-keep-high-fiscal-deficit-ratio-2026-buoy-spending-plans-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:18 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma All eyes are now on Thursday’s meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea. Their first in-person encounter since Trump’s return to office in January will build on several rounds of trade talks between the two sides that have touched on issues ranging from tariffs to export controls. In this explainer, the Post outlines the key pain points between the world’s two largest economies – and whether they are likely to be addressed. What issues may be agreed on by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330739/what-pain-points-are-likely-be-table-xi-trump-meeting-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330739/what-pain-points-are-likely-be-table-xi-trump-meeting-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:30:15 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Once a niche corner of the cryptocurrency world, stablecoins have surged into the global spotlight this year, prompting analysts and industry insiders to declare that the digital asset’s time has come. In July, US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing the first federal regulatory regime for stablecoins – a move many believe could pave the way for mass-market adoption. Shortly after, Hong Kong introduced its own ordinance, which took effect on August 1, requiring... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324322/chinas-stablecoin-dilemma-why-us-dollar-tokens-matter-and-how-beijing-might-respond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324322/chinas-stablecoin-dilemma-why-us-dollar-tokens-matter-and-how-beijing-might-respond?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:00:12 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The passage of a sprawling budget bill has raised concerns over the long-term debt of the United States, which analysts said could compound already heightened worries over the reliability of the country’s currency as a safe-haven asset. Winning a narrow 218-214 vote in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – which raises spending on border security and defence while making the record tax cuts enacted in 2017 permanent – now heads to US President Donald Trump... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316991/did-trump-get-his-big-beautiful-bill-us-dollars-expense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316991/did-trump-get-his-big-beautiful-bill-us-dollars-expense?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:30:13 +0000