Reuters Asia Business

By Mei Mei Chu BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Thursday approved additional varieties of genetically modified soybeans and corn for import and production while expanding their planting areas nationwide, as part of a drive to improve food security and reduce imports. The agriculture ministry approved the domestic production of six more varieties of genetically modified corn, …

China’s embrace of GMO crops gains momentum with new import, planting approvals Read More »

By Selena Li HONG KONG (Reuters) – China has granted six foreign banks licences allowing them to act as lead underwriters for debt issues in China, as it admits more foreign players into the country’s fast growing renminbi-denominated onshore debt market. Credit Agricole, HSBC and Standard Chartered obtained “type A” licences, allowing them to lead …

China allows more foreign banks to play lead role in debt underwriting Read More »

By Stefanno Sulaiman JAKARTA (Reuters) -China’s BYD, the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker, unveiled three battery EV models in Indonesia on Thursday as it seeks to become market leader in the segment in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s top EV maker in the fourth quarter, with most of the 526,000 …

China’s BYD launches electric cars in Indonesia, aims to be market leader Read More »

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.9% in October-December, unchanged from the previous three-month period, the government said on Thursday, adding the labour market should stay tight in the near term. The unemployment rate for September-November and August-October periods were steady at 2.9%, which was slightly up from 2.8% …

Hong Kong’s Oct-Dec unemployment holds steady at 2.9% Read More »

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Citigroup’s is planning to lay off around 20 equity researchers in Asia Pacific as part of its global overhaul, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. Two researchers in Hong Kong are going to be impacted with the rest of the headcount reduction likely to take place in Japan, …

Citi to cut 20 Asia Pacific equity research jobs – source Read More »

By Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) – Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), a unit of Indonesian state energy firm Pertamina, is considering an initial public offering (IPO) next year to help finance its expansion plan, a company official said on Thursday. The details of the potential IPO are currently being discussed, corporate secretary Aryomekka Firdaus said. “The …

Shipping unit of Indonesia’s Pertamina considers 2025 IPO, expands fleet Read More »

By Yantoultra Ngui and Rozanna Latiff SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in talks to buy up to a 49% stake in MMC Port Holdings, in a deal potentially valuing Malaysia’s biggest port operator at around 30 billion ringgit ($6.4 billion), two sources with knowledge of the matter said. The infrastructure investor …

Exclusive-GIP eyeing up to 49% stake in Malaysian port operator, could value MMC Port at $6 billion – sources Read More »

By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese policymakers searching for clues on whether wage hikes will become widespread may find relief in a central bank survey in the northern prefecture of Aomori, which showed a majority of firms planning wage hikes similar or higher than last year. While some major companies based in big cities …

Japan’s northern Aomori prefecture offers early sign of broadening wage hikes Read More »