20 h. ago Scam and corruption cases spark debate in China over cryptocurrencies’ future

The seizure of enormous cryptocurrency caches in two high-profile criminal cases in China – a former head of the central bank’s digital currency research institute accused of corruption, and an alleged scam centre kingpin linked to about US$15 billion in bitcoin – have sparked questions in the country about the safety and future of virtual money. But analysts said the long-term trend for the assets, especially bitcoin, depended on institutional capital, interest rate expectations and the...

Politics

61 h. ago China 2025 new bank loans lowest in seven years, policy support needed

China 2025 new bank loans lowest in seven years, policy support needed  Reuters

Events

63 h. ago How Chinese corruption busters are tracking down bribes paid in cryptocurrency

Beijing has revealed how its graft busters are investigating bribes paid in hard-to-trace cryptocurrencies by tracking the ways in which corrupt officials have been spending the proceeds. A documentary shown on state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday highlighted the case of Yao Qian, the former director of the digital currency institute at the People’s Bank of China. Investigators became suspicious when Yao bought a villa in Beijing for more than 20 million yuan (around US$2.9 million) under the...

Politics

67 h. ago China’s Central Bank Lowers Rates on Structural Policy Tools

China’s Central Bank Lowers Rates on Structural Policy Tools  The Wall Street Journal

Events

67 h. ago China's December new bank loans beat forecast as stimulus juices credit demand

China's December new bank loans beat forecast as stimulus juices credit demand  Reuters

Politics

68 h. ago China to cut relending rates, widen credit support for private sector and tech

China’s central bank is looking to pump 900 billion yuan (US$129.2 billion) worth of additional funds into private and technology firms, alongside slashing key policy relending rates by a quarter of a percentage point, in a fresh round of monetary easing designed to shore up the economy. The new plan includes an extra 500 billion yuan for agriculture and small businesses, said Zou Lan, a deputy governor of the bank, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. The bank will also expand its...

Politics

69 h. ago Mapping issues in 7 of 8 power bank rental platforms tested by Hong Kong watchdog

Seven out of eight power bank rental platforms tested by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog displayed inaccurate navigation or positioning data on map applications, a problem that may waste users’ time and incur extra charges due to delays. The Consumer Council on Thursday also found a significant variance in rental fees across different stations within the same platforms, with charges for a 30-minute rental differing by nearly 1.3 times and the daily cap on charges differing by more than 2.3...

Politics

3 d. ago Audi and German Auto Peers Face Pressure as China Sales Drop

Audi and German Auto Peers Face Pressure as China Sales Drop  Bloomberg.com

Events

3 d. ago 73% of Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area firms speeding up expansion into Asean: survey

Nearly three-quarters of enterprises from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area cities will speed up their expansion into the Asean market as a primary strategy to mitigate risks from international trade frictions and shifting global supply chains, according to a survey. The survey and research findings, co-published by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Singapore-based United Overseas Bank on Wednesday, also revealed that about 98 per cent of enterprises are planning to keep or expand their...

Politics

3 d. ago Bank of England’s Taylor: Trade with China to drive interest rate cuts

Bank of England’s Taylor: Trade with China to drive interest rate cuts  MSN

Politics

4 d. ago New Zealand central bank chief told to ‘stay in her lane’ after backing US Fed’s Powell

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters rebuked the country’s new Reserve Bank governor, Anna Breman, for wading into US domestic politics after she signed a statement with other global central bankers backing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “The RBNZ has no role, nor should it involve itself, in US domestic politics. We remind the governor to stay in her New Zealand lane and stick to domestic monetary policy,” Peters wrote on social meida. He added that the Ministry of Foreign...

Politics

4 d. ago Germany’s Merz says Iran’s leadership may be in ‘final days’ amid protests

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran’s current leadership may be nearing its end amid mass protests across the country. “If a regime can only stay in power through the use of violence, then it is effectively finished,” Merz said on Tuesday during a visit to Bengaluru in India. “I assume that we may now be witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime.” Merz had already condemned the actions of Iranian security forces against peaceful protesters on Monday, describing them as...

Politics

4 d. ago Germany’s Merz says Iran’s leadership may be in ‘final days’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran’s current leadership may be nearing its end amid mass protests across the country. “If a regime can only stay in power through the use of violence, then it is effectively finished,” Merz said on Tuesday during a visit to Bengaluru in India. “I assume that we may now be witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime.” Merz had already condemned the actions of Iranian security forces against peaceful protesters on Monday, describing them as...

Politics

4 d. ago China’s central bank sets onshore yuan fixing at strongest point in nearly 16 months

China’s central bank strengthened the yuan’s daily fixing for a third consecutive session to a nearly 16-month high, as the currency also held firm in offshore markets despite recent US dollar strength. On Tuesday, the People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s midpoint rate, also known as the daily fixing rate, at 7.0103 to the US dollar – the strongest showing since the end of September 2024, when the rate was set at 7.0074. That official midpoint rate, however, was still weaker than that of the...

Politics

4 d. ago India overtakes Japan, Bali mulls bank check requirement: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. India overtakes Japan in economic size – while prosperity trails far behind India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. 2. Nearly 94% of Malaysians who...

Politics

5 d. ago China's PV retail sales exceed 23.74 million units in 2025, is 2026 under heavy pressure?

China's PV retail sales exceed 23.74 million units in 2025, is 2026 under heavy pressure?  Gasgoo

Economics

5 d. ago Hong Kong property: Citi lifts forecast after Morgan Stanley’s upgrade

Major financial institutions, including Citi and Bank of America, are increasingly optimistic about Hong Kong’s residential property market this year, as lower mortgage rates and strong leasing demand change buying behaviour. Citi raised its home price forecast to 8 per cent this year, up from 3 per cent in October, citing a faster-than-expected rebound last year. “[There will be] further acceleration in 2027 under a multi-year upcycle,” said Griffin Chan, head of Asia-Pacific property research...

Politics

6 d. ago China AI has ‘less than 20%’ chance to exceed US over next 3 to 5 years: Alibaba scientist

China’s artificial intelligence efforts are unlikely to catch up with the United States in the near term despite making significant headway in recent years, according to the country’s leading AI researchers. The comments at a major industry conference in Beijing on Saturday underscored the gap between the two countries in semiconductor chips and chipmaking equipment, key resources for building out the infrastructure needed for developing cutting-edge AI models. Lin Junyang, technical lead of...

Politics

6 d. ago India’s Modi to host German leader to bolster trade, defence ties

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left for India on Sunday for a visit to bolster economic and security ties between the top EU economy and the Asian population giant. Both Berlin and New Delhi face a turbulent world order and a set of economic and geopolitical challenges from the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China. Merz’s visit from Monday – his first to an Asian country since he took office last May – comes two weeks ahead of a planned EU-India summit and as India and...

Politics

7 d. ago Have investors missed the boat on Japan’s property market amid tensions with China?

Japan’s property market was less likely to deliver significant rewards to investors because of heightened geopolitical tensions with China, more than a tightened monetary policy, according to analysts. “The yield spread is likely to narrow as cap rates are unlikely to widen,” said Chinatsu Hani, head of research at Tokyo-based CBRE. “However, spreads should remain in positive territory.” The Bank of Japan in March last year began unwinding its nearly decade-long negative interest rate policy –...

Economics