3 d. ago ‘Market is rotten’: Hong Kong fire exposes greedy building renovation business

Hong Kong’s worst blaze in seven decades has exposed an ugly open secret of a murky and rapacious building renovation business that is plagued by bid-rigging and skyrocketing costs even as it staves off feeble official efforts to tackle collusive conduct. Experts and former insiders offered this grim assessment, pointing to the city as a gold mine for such syndicates given its ageing stock of high-rise properties ripe for renovation. They made a collective call for an overhaul of the industry as...

Economics

8 d. ago Asia stocks rise tracking Wall St; China property jitters, stimulus in focus

Asia stocks rise tracking Wall St; China property jitters, stimulus in focus  Investing.com

Politics

1 week ago Asia stocks rise as Dec rate cut bets resurface; China lags on chipmaker losses

Asia stocks rise as Dec rate cut bets resurface; China lags on chipmaker losses  Investing.com

Politics

3 w. ago US Supreme Court lets Trump continue food aid cuts, even as shutdown nears end

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an order blocking full Snap payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end and food aid payments resume. The order keeps in place at least for a few more days a chaotic situation. People who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme to feed their families in some states have received their full monthly allocations, while others have received nothing. The order will expire just before midnight on Thursday. The Senate has...

Events

3 w. ago Stocks rise, dollar dips with focus on labor market, US government reopening

Stocks rise, dollar dips with focus on labor market, US government reopening  Reuters

Politics

3 w. ago Stocks rise, dollar falls with labor market, US government reopening, tech valuations in focus

Stocks rise, dollar falls with labor market, US government reopening, tech valuations in focus  Reuters

Politics

3 w. ago Stocks rise as US shutdown nears end; niggles over tech persist

Stocks rise as US shutdown nears end; niggles over tech persist  Reuters

Events

3 w. ago Stocks Edge Up as Shutdown Nears End, China Lags: Markets Wrap

Stocks Edge Up as Shutdown Nears End, China Lags: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg.com

Events

3 w. ago Hong Kong stocks rise as China’s consumer prices boost investor confidence

Hong Kong stocks rise as China’s consumer prices boost investor confidence  South China Morning Post

Economics

3 w. ago US shutdown may be nearing end as Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US shutdown may be near end as some Senate Democrats support funding deal

The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the next year, people familiar with the talks said. Under the agreement, Congress would pass full-year funding for the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Congress itself, while funding other agencies through January 30. The bill would provide pay for furloughed government workers, resume...

Politics

3 w. ago US Senate clears first hurdle to end longest government shutdown

The US Senate on Sunday moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending a now 40-day shutdown that has sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid and snarled air travel. In a procedural vote, senators advanced a House-passed bill that will be amended to fund the government until January 30 and include a package of three full-year appropriations bills. If the Senate eventually passes the amended measure, it still must be approved by the House of Representatives...

Politics