Economy News

TSMC’s China Shipments Blocked as US–China Rivalry Escalates
Washington has stripped TSMC of its “validated end user” status for China-bound supplies from the US, a change that takes effect on 31 December and turns routine shipments into case-by-case export-licence applications. The move aligns TSMC with Samsung and SK Hynix, ...
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Germany’s Economy Contracts Sharper Than Expected
Germany’s economy slipped back into contraction in the second quarter, shrinking 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, a deeper decline than the earlier estimate of 0.1%. The downturn follows a temporary boost in the first quarter when firms accelerated exports to the US to beat ...

UK Growth Slows but Beats Expectations in Tough Global Climate
The UK economy grew 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025, slowing from 0.7% in Q1 but beating forecasts of 0.1%. Services led the expansion, with construction output rising 1.2% thanks to hot, dry weather. Gains in computer programming, vehicle rentals, ...

Chinese Brands Redefine Consumer Appeal in Singapore
Chinese brands are rapidly shaking off their bargain-bin image in Singapore, positioning themselves as stylish, innovative, and aspirational. Leading the charge is BYD, now the city-state’s top-selling automaker, with nearly 4,670 electric vehicles sold in the first half of 2025, about ...

Australia Cuts Rates to 3.6% as Growth Outlook Weakens
Australia’s Reserve Bank has lowered its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to 3.6%, the lowest since April 2023, while trimming its 2025 GDP growth forecast to 1.7% from 2.1%. The move follows a sharper-than-expected slowdown in public demand early ...

China Redirects Tariff-Affected Exports Toward Africa
China’s export sector delivered stronger-than-expected growth in July despite persistent friction with Washington, as trade flows pivoted toward Africa and Southeast Asia. Official data showed exports rising 7.2% year-on-year, outpacing forecasts of under 6%, while imports grew 4.1%, the fastest pace ...

US-China Trade Talks Hint at Truce as Tariff Deadline Looms
As the US and China prepare for their third high-level meeting of the year in Stockholm, expectations are being managed. With US tariffs on Chinese imports still sitting at 30% and Chinese retaliatory tariffs holding at 10%, both sides appear inclined ...
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EU and Japan Strengthen Trade Ties Amid Global Frictions
In all of the growing economic uncertainty and a changing geopolitical order, the EU and Japan are strengthening their trade alliance as protection against pressure from both China and the US. At the 30th EU–Japan summit in Tokyo, leaders promised to ...

Singapore Inflation Stays Low, Opening Door for Policy Shift
Singapore’s inflation rate held at 0.8% in June, maintaining its lowest level since early 2020 and coming in just below economists’ forecast of 0.9%. Core inflation, which excludes private transport and housing, remained unchanged at 0.6%, reinforcing expectations that the Monetary ...

Europe’s Biggest Companies Fall Further Behind US Rivals
Despite the STOXX Europe 600 edging past the S&P 500 in year-to-date gains, the market cap of Europe’s top seven listed firms—SAP, Novo Nordisk, Hermès, ASML, LVMH, Roche, and Nestlé—remains stagnant at $2.2 trillion. Meanwhile, the US’s so-called Magnificent Seven—Nvidia, Microsoft, ...

China Defies Tariff Headwinds with Resilient Q2 Growth
China’s economy maintained steady momentum in the second quarter, expanding by 1.1% from April to June and hitting an annualized growth rate of 5.2%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That keeps the country comfortably on course to meet its ...
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German Sentiment Climbs to Three-Year High as Recovery Hopes Increase
Investor confidence in Germany surged in July, with the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index hitting 52.7, which was its highest reading since February 2022 and well above the consensus forecast of 50.3. The gain from June’s 47.5 reflects renewed optimism around potential ...

