Economy

Japan, Hong Kong See Gains as U.S. Indexes Hit Record Finishes

May 20, 2013
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The market reopened this week with the Hang Seng Index 1.6% higher than it was before the holiday. The Nikkei Stock Average also climbed 1.4% in Tokyo, reaching one of its highest levels in over five years. The increases may be the result of a record finish for the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 as U.S. economic data looks up. “The share-market rally across the world is putting the ‘don’t chase a rally’ adage to the test, as...

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Asia Leads Investments in Watershed Projects

January 24, 2013
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A new report has revealed that Asia is the leading entity when it comes to investing in and protecting drinking water and other natural resources. The report states that all the region’s countries invested over $8 billion to enhance water security back in 2011. Conducted by US non-government organization Forest Trends, the “State of Watershed Payments of 2012” study was released last Thursday. It reveals that $7.46 billion were invested in 83 watershed projects in Asia alone. This approach,...

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Asia and Europe Discuss Economic Crises

October 16, 2012
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As the threat of global economic fallout looms nearer, Asian and European leaders meet to discuss their options. The meetings, which began in Bangkok this week, come as Asia’s economies begin to buckle under strains from the European debt crisis. Previously viewed as the strong points in a global crisis, the region’s concerns are deepening. “With the ongoing economic difficulties of some countries in the Eurozone, I believe that our cooperation is even more crucial than ever,” said Kittiratt...

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Asset Managers Flock to Singapore and Asia

September 13, 2012
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The recent capital flow to Asia is pushing leading asset managers to hire analysts and bond traders in the region. BlackRock Inc., for example, has made Singapore its home base for trading regional debt and currencies. Manulife Asset Management, Aberdeen Asset Management and Western Asset Management have also made plans to expand their staff and focus in the region. BlackRock Asia-Pacific chairman Mark McCombe explained: “Quite recently, our Asian fixed-income capability was quite underdeveloped and so the decision was...

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Asian Investors Increase Caution as Economies Falter

August 2, 2012
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Asia’s leading investors are continuing to pull back on their riskier assets as global economic concerns worsen. Sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors, with control of more than $1 trillion, have minimized investments in both stocks and bonds and begun boosting their cash resources. According to Barry Bosworth of the Brooklyn Institution, the change “reflects a growing perception that the problems in Europe and the U.S. will not be resolved any time soon. The risks of a large negative...

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Burma’s Ties with China as Sanctions Lift

July 15, 2012
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Now that U.S. and European sanctions on Burma have been removed, the country is open to foreign trade and investment. The move will likely effect the country’s ties with China. Scott Stearns, a VOA State Department correspondent, reports.  

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China’s Economy Weakens as Global Crisis Lingers

June 3, 2012
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China’s slowdown in manufacturing activity and other vulnerabilities throughout Asia have weakened the region in the face of the European crisis. Its position as the stronghold against Europe’s devastating situation and the U.S.’s disappointing recovery is fading away. Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization said Asia is becoming more and more “interconnected with the rest of the planet and I don’t think this relative immunity will be forever. “I would expect, given what is happening in other parts...

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Lenovo Catches Up to HP

May 15, 2012
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Lenovo Group has revealed that the gap in market share between Hewlett-Packard and the other Chinese company has been reduced to 2 percent, a significant difference from 2010’s 9 percent. International Data Corp reports that Lenovo reached record sales in the third quarter of last year, as well as a global market share of 14 percent. These developments make the company one of the greatest PC makers by market share. Lenovo claims its success is linked to its smartphone...

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Asian Demand Boosts Gold Market

February 13, 2012
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Amid EU debt crisis woes and increasing demand in Asia, gold has reached a one month high, attracting investors as a safe haven despite the dollar’s recent momentum. Though the economic situation is sub-optimal, this turn of events is encouraging for companies like APMEX. Reviews of the recent developments revealed that traders believe that “short covering after gold breached above the key 200-day moving average” was also a likely contributor to the new prices, according to Reuters. “While the...

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Businesses See Potential in Chinese Markets

February 13, 2012
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As markets remain shaky around the world, foreign businesses have begun to see the potentials of China’s market. As a result, foreign firms are launching China-focused products and brands in hopes of wooing the nation. Apple’s “Designed in California, Made in China” T-shirt is a perfect example. When a new store opened in Shanghai, they changed the slogan to “Designed in California, Made for China.” “This Made-for-China phenomenon is just one of the many sub-trends spawned by the macro...

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