Reuters Asia Business

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s factory activity likely contracted for a second month in May, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, suggesting trade tensions with major export markets are weighing on manufacturers’ minds as the world’s top two economies seek a way out of a tariff war. A poll of 21 economists forecast the official purchasing …

China’s May manufacturing activity likely contracted for second straight month- Reuters poll Read More »

(Reuters) -China’s biggest technology companies have begun the process of switching to homegrown chips as they contend with a dwindling stockpile of Nvidia processors and tightening United States export controls, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu are among those starting to test alternative semiconductors to meet growing domestic demand for AI, …

Chinese tech companies prepare for AI future without Nvidia, FT reports Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s factory output fell in April by 0.9% from the previous month, better than a median market forecast for a 1.4% drop, government data showed on Friday. Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expect seasonally adjusted output to increase 9.0% in May and decline 3.4% in June. (Reporting by …

Japan April factory output falls 0.9% month-on-month Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s jobless rate in April was unchanged at 2.5% from last month, government data showed on Friday. Economists’ median forecast was for 2.5%. The jobs-to-applicants ratio in April was also unchanged from the previous month at 1.26. The median forecast was 1.26. (Reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama; Writing by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Sam …

Japan April jobless rate unchanged at 2.5% Read More »

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea’s factory output unexpectedly declined in April, depressed by a drop in electricity and gas output, government data showed on Friday. Industrial production fell 0.9% in April from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, underperforming expectations for a 0.5% gain tipped in a Reuters poll. From a year earlier, factory …

South Korea’s April factory output unexpectedly declines 0.9% m/m Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that trading partners including Japan were continuing to negotiate with the U.S. in good faith, and there has been no change in their attitudes since a U.S. trade court ruled against the Trump administration’s latest tariffs. But Bessent told Fox News Channel that trade negotiations …

Bessent says US trading partners still negotiating in good faith after court ruling Read More »