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ING

ING: A leading Dutch multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. It offers a comprehensive range of products including retail, direct, commercial, investment, wholesale, and private banking, alongside asset management and insurance services. Serving individuals, SMEs, and large corporates globally, ING is recognised for its digital banking leadership and strong commitment to sustainability. Its overall business focus is on empowering clients financially, leveraging digital innovation. Its chief Greater China economist, Lynn Song, highlighted the property sector’s crucial role for household balance sheets.

An aerial photo shows workers unloading imported fertilisers at the Lianyungang port, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, on April 8. Photo: AFP

China exports

China, the Iran war and the chemical suddenly stoking global supply fears

Food security is one of Beijing’s top policy goals – and that could spell trouble for countries dependent on Chinese sulphuric acid.

13 Apr 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

The Philippines

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

8 Apr 2026 - 3:14PMvideocam

The Philippines

As Philippines battles fuel crisis, will Marcos postpone Asean summit?

27 Mar 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

Hong Kong stock market

Markets brace for rate hikes as prolonged Iran war stokes tightening fears

The European Central Bank has become more hawkish, reverting to wording that analysts say often precedes interest-rate increases.

23 Mar 2026 - 9:46PM

A currency dealer walks past a screen showing South Korea’s KOSPI and the Korean won/US dollar exchange rate in a foreign exchange dealing room in Seoul on Monday. Photo: AFP

Commodities

Gold slides as hawkish Fed and strong US dollar override geopolitical fears

Market watchers point to fading hopes of interest rate cuts and oil-driven inflation concerns as key drivers of the decline.

22 Mar 2026 - 5:01PM

Two Sessions 2026

China to pursue commercial health insurance to ease strain, support innovation

Commercial health insurance enters China’s policy agenda as an ageing population and costs strain basic coverage.

6 Mar 2026 - 6:12PM

Trade

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

India has already paused trade talks with Washington as other Asian nations are left to question the validity of their recent agreements.

23 Feb 2026 - 5:48PM

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Friday. Photo: AFP

China consumption

China overhauls CPI basket, with never-before-seen unveiling of its composition

Beijing’s five-year recalibration aims to better reflect consumption, as policymakers shift weight away from food and housing.

14 Feb 2026 - 10:48AMvideocam

China consumption

China’s consumer price growth cools as inflation outlook remains unclear

Consumer price index rose for a fourth straight month in January, though the increase fell short of market expectations.

11 Feb 2026 - 12:01PM

Interest rates

Spiking yen fuels risk-averse mood as investors take defensive stance

Yen hits two-month high amid fears US and Japan will intervene to prop up the currency ahead of Japan’s election next month.

26 Jan 2026 - 7:00PM

Media reports on Friday said that the New York Federal Reserve had checked dollar-yen rates with dealers, widely seen as a precursor to intervention. Photo: Reuters

Commodities

Gold surge has analysts eyeing new highs after US$5,100 record

Safe-haven demand spikes amid de-dollarisation fears and supply-chain tensions, as gold buyers seek stability against growing macro uncertainties.

26 Jan 2026 - 3:07PMvideocam

Analysts expect the price of gold to continue climbing this year, building on a safe-haven surge. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

Trade reset? China, Canada look to revive ties after US tariffs force rethink

Crude, copper and iron top Canada’s exports to China, as prime minister seeks to mend relationship with Beijing.

13 Jan 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Yuan

Yuan to strengthen to 6.85 per US dollar in first quarter 2026: Morgan Stanley

Strong export growth and US dollar weakness are expected to bolster the currency, the bank says.

9 Jan 2026 - 10:02PM

China-Japan relations

As Beijing targets Tokyo over Taiwan remarks, what levers does Japan have?

Japanese control of chemical used in semiconductors could prove significant, analysts say.

8 Jan 2026 - 10:06AMvideocam

Beijing has maintained a hardline stance against Tokyo since Takaichi said in parliament on November 7 that an attack on Taiwan could be interpreted as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. Photo: Reuters

US-China trade war

‘Maximum pressure’: why China is taking Mexico’s tariff move ‘very seriously’

Beijing sees Mexico’s move as driven by a wider US pressure campaign – and could take retaliatory measures, analysts say.

11 Dec 2025 - 10:55PM

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed tariffs on goods from China and other Asian markets in the name of protecting local industries. Some analysts see the move as a response to US pressure. Photo: TNS

China trade

Explainer | The return of Red Sea shipping: 3 scenarios for Chinese trade

Houthi rebels have signalled a halt in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, allowing a possible end to costly detours.

5 Dec 2025 - 1:04AMvideocam

China trade

Explainer | Tripwire clauses: why is China alarmed by Malaysia’s new trade deal with the US?

Controversial wording seen as a geopolitical trap designed to force neutral countries to uphold Western containment strategies.

28 Nov 2025 - 9:44PMvideocam

Bonds

Weak growth outlook fuels China’s bond market recovery, analysts say

Concerns about inflated valuations of technology stocks are also driving investors towards bonds.

20 Nov 2025 - 7:30AM

The People’s Bank of China building in Beijing. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

US-China trade war

Asean, China, Japan and South Korea hold ‘transformative’ critical minerals opportunity

Director of Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office says some Southeast Asian economies have notable reserves.

17 Nov 2025 - 1:26PM

China exports

Cuts to US ‘fentanyl tariffs’ help Chinese exporters gain on competition

Analysts said the reduction in US tariffs creates space for Chinese producers to gain on Asian competitors – particularly in low-cost goods.

1 Nov 2025 - 8:04AM

US-China trade war

Why US-China trade talks in Malaysia are key to paving way for Xi-Trump summit

Analysts say both sides have leverage to wield, and the cards they play could fuel or de-escalate tensions.

23 Oct 2025 - 11:22PM

A presidential meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping might take place in South Korea next week, but trade talks between senior US and Chinese officials will first take place in Malaysia. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

US government frozen after shutdown, but China talks still in motion: analysts

This week’s shutdown would be unlikely to stall China trade talks, observers said, but could speed up Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts.

2 Oct 2025 - 7:00PM

A US government shutdown this week, while immediately consequential for the domestic economy, will have limited impact on China, analysts said. Photo: Reuters

China property

Will China’s easing of property curbs in 3 big cities help boost consumption?

Analysts say real estate slump is still weighing heavily on household wealth and consumer confidence.

2 Oct 2025 - 9:12AM

US-China trade war

US slaps new tariffs on furniture imports, widens blacklist of Chinese companies

Duties of up to 200 per cent threaten Asian furniture exporters, Washington also expands ‘entity list’ in a move Beijing calls ‘malicious’.

30 Sep 2025 - 9:50AMvideocam

US-China trade war

Peeling into TikTok deal, analysts see layers of leverage, tariffs and soybeans

New framework text over fate of wildly popular app is not expected to be revealed until presidents Xi and Trump chat on Friday, but bilateral impact could be significant.

16 Sep 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

Specific terms of a new TikTok deal between the US and China are expected to be unveiled after an anticipated phone call between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Medicine

Trump plans hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher US prices and shortages

US move is part of a wider effort to secure critical medical supply chains and reduce reliance on countries like China and India.

2 Sep 2025 - 2:23PMvideocam

Medicines produced in Kolkata, India. US President Donald Trump has promised to impose hefty import taxes on pharmaceuticals. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

Why Trump’s furniture tariffs could complicate efforts to reassemble China trade

‘Furniture is not like electronics,’ one analyst warns. ‘You cannot ship in bits and parts and screw it together in North America’.

27 Aug 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

Bonds

China’s stock market bull run turns into a rout for bonds

Futures on 30-year sovereign notes fell as much as 0.7 per cent on Thursday, extending this week’s drop to 1.5 per cent at the low.

14 Aug 2025 - 4:27PM

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ING

China, the Iran war and the chemical suddenly stoking global supply fears

Food security is one of Beijing’s top policy goals – and that could spell trouble for countries dependent on Chinese sulphuric acid.

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

As Philippines battles fuel crisis, will Marcos postpone Asean summit?

Markets brace for rate hikes as prolonged Iran war stokes tightening fears

The European Central Bank has become more hawkish, reverting to wording that analysts say often precedes interest-rate increases.

Gold slides as hawkish Fed and strong US dollar override geopolitical fears

Market watchers point to fading hopes of interest rate cuts and oil-driven inflation concerns as key drivers of the decline.

China to pursue commercial health insurance to ease strain, support innovation

Commercial health insurance enters China’s policy agenda as an ageing population and costs strain basic coverage.

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

India has already paused trade talks with Washington as other Asian nations are left to question the validity of their recent agreements.

China overhauls CPI basket, with never-before-seen unveiling of its composition

Beijing’s five-year recalibration aims to better reflect consumption, as policymakers shift weight away from food and housing.

China’s consumer price growth cools as inflation outlook remains unclear

Consumer price index rose for a fourth straight month in January, though the increase fell short of market expectations.

Spiking yen fuels risk-averse mood as investors take defensive stance

Yen hits two-month high amid fears US and Japan will intervene to prop up the currency ahead of Japan’s election next month.

Gold surge has analysts eyeing new highs after US$5,100 record

Safe-haven demand spikes amid de-dollarisation fears and supply-chain tensions, as gold buyers seek stability against growing macro uncertainties.

Trade reset? China, Canada look to revive ties after US tariffs force rethink

Crude, copper and iron top Canada’s exports to China, as prime minister seeks to mend relationship with Beijing.

Yuan to strengthen to 6.85 per US dollar in first quarter 2026: Morgan Stanley

Strong export growth and US dollar weakness are expected to bolster the currency, the bank says.

As Beijing targets Tokyo over Taiwan remarks, what levers does Japan have?

Japanese control of chemical used in semiconductors could prove significant, analysts say.

‘Maximum pressure’: why China is taking Mexico’s tariff move ‘very seriously’

Beijing sees Mexico’s move as driven by a wider US pressure campaign – and could take retaliatory measures, analysts say.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | The return of Red Sea shipping: 3 scenarios for Chinese trade

Houthi rebels have signalled a halt in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, allowing a possible end to costly detours.

Explainer | Tripwire clauses: why is China alarmed by Malaysia’s new trade deal with the US?

Controversial wording seen as a geopolitical trap designed to force neutral countries to uphold Western containment strategies.

Weak growth outlook fuels China’s bond market recovery, analysts say

Concerns about inflated valuations of technology stocks are also driving investors towards bonds.

Asean, China, Japan and South Korea hold ‘transformative’ critical minerals opportunity

Director of Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office says some Southeast Asian economies have notable reserves.

Cuts to US ‘fentanyl tariffs’ help Chinese exporters gain on competition

Analysts said the reduction in US tariffs creates space for Chinese producers to gain on Asian competitors – particularly in low-cost goods.

Why US-China trade talks in Malaysia are key to paving way for Xi-Trump summit

Analysts say both sides have leverage to wield, and the cards they play could fuel or de-escalate tensions.

US government frozen after shutdown, but China talks still in motion: analysts

This week’s shutdown would be unlikely to stall China trade talks, observers said, but could speed up Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts.

Will China’s easing of property curbs in 3 big cities help boost consumption?

Analysts say real estate slump is still weighing heavily on household wealth and consumer confidence.

US slaps new tariffs on furniture imports, widens blacklist of Chinese companies

Duties of up to 200 per cent threaten Asian furniture exporters, Washington also expands ‘entity list’ in a move Beijing calls ‘malicious’.

Peeling into TikTok deal, analysts see layers of leverage, tariffs and soybeans

New framework text over fate of wildly popular app is not expected to be revealed until presidents Xi and Trump chat on Friday, but bilateral impact could be significant.

Trump plans hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher US prices and shortages

US move is part of a wider effort to secure critical medical supply chains and reduce reliance on countries like China and India.

Why Trump’s furniture tariffs could complicate efforts to reassemble China trade

‘Furniture is not like electronics,’ one analyst warns. ‘You cannot ship in bits and parts and screw it together in North America’.

China’s stock market bull run turns into a rout for bonds

Futures on 30-year sovereign notes fell as much as 0.7 per cent on Thursday, extending this week’s drop to 1.5 per cent at the low.

Explainer | The return of Red Sea shipping: 3 scenarios for Chinese trade