Evan See

Evan See

JOURNALIST

Following a diplomatic spat last November, Chinese tourists are abandoning Japan and flocking to South-east Asia in greater numbers.
BRUNCH

China’s tourists turn from Japan to South-east Asia, but will momentum last?

The region could see Chinese spending worth US$35 billion this year –  but what happens when tensions with Japan subside?

The crisis could push governments to diversify into renewables - or return to domestically-produced coal, a fossil fuel which the region has struggled to phase out.

Middle East oil shocks send S-E Asia scrambling for alternatives, but cleaner mix is no easy choice

The crisis may be a catalyst – or obstacle – for the region’s renewable energy transition goals

The fate of the Strait of Hormuz, through which the majority of Asia’s all supply flows, remains mired in uncertainty.

Oil fears keep S-E Asia’s central banks on their toes as they mull over easing plans

Economists see rate hikes or delayed cuts as policy space wanes and stagflation looms

BT Visual

Oil shocks triggered by Middle East war ripple through South-east Asia

Oil-fuelled inflation is showing up in higher transport and food costs, electricity prices, fuel prices and bigger fuel subsidy bills for governments

Dubai, whose reputation for safety has long positioned the emirate as a hot spot for foreign investment, has not been spared from the conflict.

S-E Asian businesses in the Gulf take safety measures as they hunker down for prolonged disruption

Some SMEs and exporters could face operational and cost pressures as US-Iran conflict spills over

Albert Park, chief economist at the Asian Development Bank, said that South-east Asia's openness to trade and strong fundamentals have enabled its dynamic growth.

As great powers hedge their bets, Asean needs pragmatism and integration to drive growth: ADB

Digitalisation is a key focus for the bloc, but more consensus is needed, say economists

Under Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974, Trump's global tariffs of 15 per cent are lower than the previous tariff rates imposed on most South-east Asia's economies before the ruling.

South-east Asia gets tariff breather as Trump resets duties, but too early for region to rejoice

Most of the region’s economies now face tariff rates that are lower by up to 3.5 percentage points, analyst notes

Basic earnings per share was S$0.0374, up from S$0.0342 in Q3 of FY2025

SIA Engineering Q3 net profit rises 9.7% to S$41.9 million on steady MRO demand

Revenue is up 8.7% at S$353.1 million, while expenditure rises 8.4% to S$347.1 million

The country’s benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange composite index (PSEi) rallied over the week to break past 6,500, after slumping to a six-year low of 5584.34 in November last year.

Philippine equities start the year hot, but can they overcome scandal and slump?

The undervalued benchmark index could rebound from a five-year low to hit 7,100 this year, says analyst

Moderated by Kuek Yu Chuang (left), deputy CEO of SPH Media, the panel expressed optimism over South-east Asia’s growth potential.
ASEAN BUSINESS

Global trends bring growth for S-E Asia if it can overcome risks from AI, trade tensions

Asean may need to move faster in an age of rapid technological and geopolitical shifts, say panellists and ex-DPM Heng Swee Keat