China’s economic slowdown deepens in August with retail sales, industrial output missing expectations

Shanghai Bund skyline panorama Yangna | E+ | Getty Images China’s economic slowdown deepened in August with a raft of key indicators missing expectations, as weak domestic demand persisted and Beijing’s campaign against industrial overcapacity curbed output. Retail sales last month rose 3.4% from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed…

Japan’s Nikkei 225 hits a new high as SoftBank surges nearly 10%

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 led gains in Asia Thursday to notch a record high of 44,251.65, mirroring gains on Wall Street overnight on Fed-rate cut hopes and positive inflation data. One of Nikkei 255’s heavyweights, tech investment firm SoftBank Group, jumped nearly 10% to notch a second straight day of gains. Other top movers were…

China’s consumer prices fall more than expected in August as deflation woes persist

People visit the US luxury brand Coach store at a shopping mall in Beijing. Adek Berry | Afp | Getty Images China’s consumer prices fell more than expected in August while deflation in wholesale prices persisted, as calls mounted for Beijing to ramp up measures to bolster sluggish domestic demand and cushion weakening exports growth. The…

Asia markets set to open mostly higher ahead of key China inflation data

The city skyline of Lujiazui Shanghai Center in China, on March 13, 2024. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mostly higher Wednesday ahead of key August inflation data from China. The mainland’s August consumer price index is expected to fall 0.2% from the previous year, according to economists…

China’s U.S. shipments plunge 33% in August as overall exports growth hits a 6-month low

A cargo ship is loading and unloading foreign trade containers at Qingdao Port in Qingdao Port, Shandong Province, China on June 9, 2025. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images China’s shipments to the U.S. plunged 33% in August while overall exports growth slowed to its weakest level in six months, as President Donald Trump’s…

China’s August factory activity beats estimates, expanding at fastest pace in five months: private survey

An employee packages garments for the online Chinese e-commerce company Temu at a clothing factory in Guangzhou, in southern China’s Guangdong province on April 16, 2025. Jade Gao | Afp | Getty Images China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly returned to growth in August on the back of rising new orders and export business recovery, a private…

Bank of Korea keeps rates unchanged on Seoul’s housing market risks; upgrades GDP and inflation forecasts

Aerial view of Seoul downtown city skyline with vehicle on expressway and bridge cross over Han river in Seoul city, South Korea. Mongkol Chuewong | Moment | Getty Images South Korea’s central bank kept its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% for its second straight meeting to assess housing prices in the capital further, after prices…

China’s industrial profits slip 1.5% in July, slowest pace of decline in five months

Robots manufacture auto parts at a factory in Ningde, China, on Oct. 17, 2024. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images China’s industrial profits slipped 1.5% from a year earlier in July, marking a notable recovery following months of steeper declines as Beijing’s campaign against price wars helped improve companies’ margins. Profits at major industrial firms…