US stocks jumped while European indexes were mixed Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady after a policy meeting — and gold hit a new record as geopolitical concerns returned to the fore.The US central bank’s rate decision was widely expected, although it also cut its growth forecast for 2025 and hiked its …
US stocks climb after Fed decision, gold hits fresh high Read More »
Chinese internet and gaming giant Tencent said on Wednesday that profits in the fourth quarter of 2024 surged 90 percent as the firm accelerates a push into artificial intelligence (AI).The publication of quarterly and annual results came after weeks of robust investor confidence in Chinese technology stocks, and in AI in particular, following January’s shock …
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Distraught Myanmar relief camp dwellers received final handouts from the World Food Programme on Wednesday as the UN agency begins halting aid to a million people in the country because funding has dried up.President Donald Trump’s slashing of the US aid budget has contributed to “critical funding shortfalls” for WFP, forcing it to make sweeping …
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The Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and warned about the economic outlook amid global uncertainty fuelled by Donald Trump’s trade war.Officials began lifting borrowing costs last year after nearly two decades of ultra-loose monetary policies aimed at kickstarting torpid growth in the world’s number four economy.But since coming to office …
Bank of Japan holds rates and warns of trade uncertainty Read More »
Malaysia is making great strides in its effort to become a major player in the global semiconductor industry as it looks to capitalise on a surge in demand driven by the AI explosion but analysts warn it faces headwinds.Malaysia’s signing of a major deal with British chip giant Arm this month was the latest step …
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The Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday in a widely expected move given the global economic uncertainty fuelled by US trade tariffs.Following a two-day policy meeting, the central bank said it was keeping its key interest rate at around 0.5 percent.”There remain high uncertainties surrounding Japan’s economic activity and prices, including …
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Global stocks diverged while gold hit a record high on Tuesday as investors juggled geopolitical concerns with renewed violence in Gaza and a high-stakes US-Russian presidential phone call.Wall Street resumed a downward slide after two up days, but European stocks rose as German lawmakers approved a massive spending boost for defense and infrastructure.Gold struck a new …
Geopolitical tensions buffet markets as gold hits record Read More »
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday a Can$6 billion (US$4.2 billion) deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system, warning that Canada must take more responsibility for its defence as US priorities shift.Carney made the announcement in Iqaluit, capital of the Nunavut territory in the Canadian Arctic, on the final leg of his first …
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The sight of Hong Kong’s high-rises encased in bamboo scaffolding may soon become a rarity after officials announced plans to replace the ancient technique with metal.Hong Kong is one of the world’s last remaining cities to use bamboo frames for modern construction and building repair, a practice which dates back centuries in China and other …
Indonesian activists on Tuesday condemned plans to change a law that would allow the army to have more government positions, a move they say could lead to “abuse” in a country long influenced by its powerful military.The revision to a military law will be voted on Thursday in a parliament dominated by President Prabowo Subianto’s …
Indonesia activists condemn amendment allowing more military in government Read More »
