South Korean stocks rise 2% to lead gains in Asia after opposition leader wins presidential election

Landscape of Songdo International City. Incheon, South Korea. Photograph By Kangheewan. | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets advanced Wednesday after Wall Street rose on the back of a tech rally, led by chipmaker Nvidia, with South Korean stocks leading gains. Shares in the artificial intelligence darling advanced nearly 3%, extending Monday’s gains and driving…

Australia’s first-quarter economic growth misses estimates, expanding 1.3% from a year earlier

Sydney Harbour and the skyline of the central business district (CBD) in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australia’s economy grew less than expected in the first quarter this year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said in a statement Wednesday, as growth stalled amid the simmering global trade…

China’s May factory activity unexpectedly shrinks as tariffs bite — worst drop since 2022

JIMO, CHINA – MAY 21: Car bodies are assembled at a factory of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd Qingdao Branch on May 21, 2025 in Jimo, Qingdao City, Shandong Province of China. Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s manufacturing activity in May shrank at its fastest pace since September 2022, a private survey showed Tuesday,…

Asia-Pacific markets rise after Wall Street looks past global trade frictions

Aaron Foster | The Image Bank | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets rose Tuesday following gains on all three Wall Street benchmarks overnight, despite mounting global trade frictions. China pushed back against the U.S.’ accusations that it had violated a temporary trade agreement. Instead, the Asian powerhouse blamed Washington for failing to uphold the deal — a…

China counters Trump’s accusations of Geneva trade deal violations, says U.S. undermining consensus

Conflict between USA and China, male fists – governments conflict concept Yaorusheng | Moment | Getty Images China on Monday refuted Washington’s claims that it had broken the Geneva trade agreement, instead accusing the U.S. for breaching deal terms, signaling talks between the worlds top two economies have taken a turn for the worse. Trade…

Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Trump says he plans to double steel tariffs to 50%

People walking through the neon lit night streets of Sinchon in the heart of Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital city. Fotovoyager | E+ | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed after President Donald Trump told U.S. steelworkers late Friday that he will double tariffs on steel imports to 50%, effective from Wednesday. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei…

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba mulls Trump trade meeting before G7, says Yomiuri newspaper

Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering visiting Washington to meet President Donald Trump before a mid-month summit of the Group of Seven nations as he seeks a trade deal, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday. Japanese officials see signs of progress on easing…

China’s industrial profits rise at faster pace in April despite trade tensions, deflationary pressures

An employee works on a vehicle crankshaft production line at a factory which produces engine parts in Binzhou, in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 14, 2025. Str | Afp | Getty Images China’s industrial profits rose for a second straight month in April, official data showed Tuesday, with their growth improving despite prohibitive U.S….

Asia-Pacific markets set for muted open as investors assess Trump’s tariff plans

Overlooking the city with Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park. Nampo-dong, Busan, South Korea. Jungang Yan | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets are set to have a muted open Tuesday, as investors assessed U.S. President Donald Trump’s postponement of 50% tariffs on European Union imports. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open slightly higher, with the futures…