When interest rates decline and stabilise, financial-market participants tend to take on greater leverage and risk. The challenge for regulators, then, is to prevent those risks from becoming systemic and causing a broader economic crisis.

Capital markets believe that interest rates are...

The Moral Hazard of Lower Interest Rates - The New Global Economy

Hackers targeting Australia's major pension funds in a series of coordinated attacks have stolen savings from some members at the biggest fund, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, and compromised more than 20,000 accounts.

Hackers strike Australia's largest pension funds in coordinated attacks

(April 3): US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he would consider a deal for TikTok where China agrees to approve the sale of the short video app owned by Byte Dance, in exchange for relief from US tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trump says China could get tariff relief if it approves TikTok deal

Shares of Greatech Technology Bhd (KL:GREATEC) fell on Friday and extended its decline into a third day amid earnings concerns, following the announcement of US reciprocal tariffs.

Greatech down 7.7% after being flagged as biggest loser in tech stocks following Trump’s new tariffs

Contemplating smoking your way out of the tariff gloom? Think again.

High just got higher: Trump tariffs to raise prices for US cannabis users

WASHINGTON (April 3): Mexico's "cool-headed" approach to US President Donald Trump's tariff offensive has paid off in preferential treatment in his sweeping tariff announcement this week, and a close working relationship with his trade team, Mexico's deputy economy secretary told Reuters on Thursday.

Mexico says 'cool-headed' approach to Trump's tariffs has paid off

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted by the Constitutional Court on Friday, which upheld parliament's impeachment motion over his imposition of martial law last year that sparked the country's worst political crisis in decades.

South Korea's President Yoon ousted as court upholds impeachment after martial law 

Gold prices fell on Friday as investors reassessed their risk outlook in the wake of US President Donald Trump's tariff measures, which have provided more clarity on market trends but raised concerns over economic slowdown.

Gold falls as risk appetite dwindles on Trump's tariff clarity 

OTTAWA (April 3): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a limited set of counter measures against US tariffs on Thursday, while calling US President Donald Trump's protectionist moves a tragedy for global trade.

Canada unveils limited counter measures against US, calls Trump’s move a tragedy

The yield on benchmark treasuries fell briefly below 4% for the first time since October as Wall Street fretted that the US economy will end up worse off from President Donald Trump’s trade war.

US 10-year yield drops below 4% for first time since Trump won

Depending on one’s perspective, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) episode, the Ministry of Defence’s naval shipbuilding project, is at once a failure and a success.

The ferocity of criticism that followed the report of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on the matter in 2022 had l...

The Hedgehog and The Fox: Bringing economics into our defence procurement

(April 3): Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint venture to operate the US chipmaker's factories, the Information reported on Thursday, citing two people involved in the discussions.

Intel, TSMC tentatively agree to form chipmaking joint venture — report

WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (April 3): Countries around the world threatened to ratchet up a trade war with the United States on Thursday, as US President Donald&nbsp;Trump's sweeping tariffs ignited fears of steep price&nbsp;increases&nbsp;in the world's largest consumer market.

Trump tariffs provoke world condemnation and fears of a US$2,300 iPhone

New Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group, on Thursday filed what it said was the first lawsuit seeking to block Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports, saying the US president overstepped his authority.

Trump administration sued over Chinese import tariffs

Shares of Greatech Technology Bhd (KL:GREATEC) fell on Friday and extended its decline into a third day amid earnings concerns, following the announcement of US reciprocal tariffs.

SINGAPORE (April 4): Stocks&nbsp;limped to the end of the week on Friday, the dollar was set for its worst week in a month, while gold flirted with a record peak as investors feared US President&nbsp;Donald Trump's&nbsp;sweeping tariffs would tip the global economy into a&nbsp;recession.

Shares bruised, dollar crumbles as Trump tariffs stir recession fears

WASHINGTON (April 3): Sweeping tariffs announced on Wednesday by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump pose a significant risk to the global economy, at a time when growth has been sluggish, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a statement on Thursday.

IMF chief says US tariffs represent significant risk to global outlook

KUALA LUMPUR (April 4): Malaysia’s economy may expand at a slower pace than expected this year, as the latest US tariff measures hurt export-oriented factories in the country.

Malaysia’s economy to expand at slower pace, economists race to cut growth forecasts

Suppliers to Apple Inc are following the iPhone maker lower on Thursday, as the Trump administration’s tariff announcement spurs widespread selling.

Apple is seen as especially vulnerable to the tariffs given it counts China as a major manufacturing hub, and Trump’s country-specific levies included a sharp hike on China.

Apple suppliers tumble as tariffs hit iPhone supply chain

Asia is bearing the brunt of new US tariffs which will drag on regional growth through weaker business investment and sentiment, requiring central banks to step in with more interest-rate cuts, economists reckon.

Asia bears brunt of Trump tariffs, needs monetary policy easing — economists

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted by the Constitutional Court on Friday, which upheld parliament's impeachment motion over his imposition of martial law last year that sparked the country's worst political crisis in decades.

(April 4): Shares in Ansell reversed course on Friday after having tumbled 25% from their February highs in the previous session, as the company unveiled plans to fully offset the tariff increases through pricing.

Aussie glove maker Ansell stands to lose most with Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR (April 4): A slowdown in demand for goods due to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs is a key downside risk for Westports Malaysia Bhd (KL:WPRTS) in 2025, according to CGS International.

Trump’s tariffs could significantly slow demand for goods, posing downside risk to Westports in 2025 — CGS International

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 3): Wall Street benchmarks slumped on Thursday, ending with the largest single-day percentage losses in years, as US President Donald Trump's&nbsp;sweeping tariffs&nbsp;ignited fears of an all-out trade war and a global economic recession.

Wall Street ends with heavy losses as Trump tariffs ignite global recession fears

Blackstone Inc is considering selling of a pair of AirTrunk data centres in Sydney and Melbourne, following its acquisition of the company in December, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Blackstone said to be mulling sale of two AirTrunk data centres

Prices of rice shipped from Thailand declined to an over three-year low this week due to US President Donald Trump's move to impose import tariffs and an existing market surplus, while India's export prices neared a two-year low on subdued demand.

Trump's tariffs, surplus sink Thai rice prices to over three-year low

(April 4): Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp’s (OCBC) private-banking arm is considering adding between 20 and 30 relationship managers this year for its Greater China team, marking a substantial expansion in one of the world’s major wealth centres.

OCBC’s private bank seeks more staff for greater China expansion

KUALA LUMPUR (April 3): A company director lost RM5.5 million after allegedly falling victim to a foreign exchange (forex) transaction scam.&nbsp;

Forex transaction scam: Company director loses RM5.5m

Wall Street economists said the US risks a recession this year and inflation could return to pandemic levels following the Trump administration’s announcement of major tariffs on global trading partners.

Economists slash US growth, boost inflation forecasts on tariffs

Vice-President JD Vance sought to cast a global rout in stocks as a temporary pain as the White House downplayed the immediate effects of President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.

Vance downplays ‘one bad day’ for markets, promising boom later

Fitch Ratings downgraded China’s sovereign rating on concerns over weakening finances and rising public debt, just one day after the US imposed higher tariffs on the country.&nbsp;

The cut takes China’s long-term foreign currency default rating to "A" from "A+" with a stable outlook, Fitch said in a statement on Thursday. China’s Finance Ministry responded with a strong rebuke, describing the decision as biased and not reflective of reality.&nbsp;

Dambisa Moyo / International Economist