China Inc.’s outlook has brightened after a campaign to revive consumption delivered a strong earnings season, one that may offer local stocks a much-needed cushion as they brace for US tariffs.

Fourth-quarter earnings reported by members of the MSCI China Index beat estimates by 5.1% on a weighted average basis, up from 1.8% in the prior quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

China’s improving profits may help soften tariff blow for stocks

The race is far from over, but the Asia Pacific has come out of the blocks much faster than the US and Europe in dealmaking activity this year.

The volume of mergers and acquisitions in APAC is up 19% from the first quarter last year, helped by pending blockbusters such as the sale of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s ports and convenience store operator Seven & i Holdings Co. That growth rate outshines the US’s 13% and leaves Europe firmly in the shade, with volumes sliding 14% there, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Bankers get boost in Asia Pacific as M&A growth tops US, Europe

Asian traders will be grappling with just how to position themselves on Wednesday in the countdown to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement.

Asian traders tread warily as tariff clock counts down

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reinforced US military capability in the Middle East with more warplanes, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, amid a more than two-week-old US bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran.

As Iran tensions build, US military moves warplanes to reinforce Middle East

A rally in the world’s largest tech companies lifted stocks as investors brushed off weak economic readings to focus on prospects for interest-rate cuts ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariff rollout.

US stocks get late boost from tech as tariffs loom

MOSCOW (April 1): US billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has replaced French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault as the world's richest billionaire in 2025, according to Forbes' fresh annual list published on Tuesday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

Musk becomes Forbes’ world’s richest billionaire of 2025

LONDON/TOKYO (April 1): Factories around the world, from Japan to Britain to the United States, saw activity slump in March as businesses braced for new US tariffs, though some saw a bounce in the race to get goods to customers before the new measures hit, global surveys showed on Tuesday.

Factories around the world brace for Trump tariffs

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The likelihood of a secondary explosion following the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tueday is very low, according to the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Gas pipeline blaze: Risk of secondary explosion very low, says Fire Dept chief

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 1): US stock indexes dropped on Tuesday, as investors sifted through economic data and braced for sweeping tariff announcements from the Trump administration.

Wall Street falls as tariff fears mount

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has recovered four bodies from the rubble caused by the earthquake in Myanmar's Sagaing region.

Malaysia’s Smart team recovers four bodies from Myanmar earthquake rubble

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The increase in the amount of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) financial assistance to RM2,100 that was credited to eligible recipients on Tuesday, compared to RM1,200 last year, has been described as a "Syawal gift".

Sumbangan Asas Rahmah credited on April 1, recipients describe it as Syawal windfall

MOSCOW (April 1): US billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has replaced French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault as the world's richest billionaire in 2025, according to Forbes' fresh annual list published on Tuesday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The second day of the Aidilfitri celebration was disrupted by a gas pipeline fire on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday, which damaged 190 homes.

Gas pipeline blaze: 190 houses, 159 vehicles damaged

(April 1):&nbsp;Xiaomi Corp confirmed that one of its SU7 electric vehicles (EVs) was involved in an accident on an expressway in China. Local media reported that three people died in the incident that’s likely to spark scrutiny over the smart driving software deployed in many of today’s cars.&nbsp;

Xiaomi car with driver assistance crashes, three reported dead

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The likelihood of a secondary explosion following the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tueday is very low, according to the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

(April 1): Newsmax Inc’s debut as a public company has given founder and chief executive officer Christopher Ruddy a fortune of about US$3.3 billion (RM14.64 billion) after its shares surged 735%.&nbsp;

Newsmax founder and ex-NY Post journalist Christopher Ruddy is now a billionaire

SERDANG (April 1): The gas pipeline fire incident on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya has not involved any fatalities so far, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Gas pipeline blaze: No deaths reported — Dzulkefly

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 1): US&nbsp;stock indexes dropped on Tuesday, as investors sifted through economic data and braced for sweeping tariff announcements from the Trump administration.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has recovered four bodies from the rubble caused by the earthquake in Myanmar's Sagaing region.

SUBANG JAYA (April 1): The initial report on the gas pipeline fire incident at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights here is expected to be completed within 72 hours, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

Selangor MB: Preliminary report on Putra Heights fire expected to be ready in 72 hours

(April 1):&nbsp;SoftBank Group Corp&nbsp;is seeking a loan of as much as US$16.5 billion (RM73.2 billion) to help fund artificial intelligence (AI) investments in the US, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be its largest-ever borrowing denominated solely in dollars.&nbsp;

SoftBank seeks record US$16.5b loan for AI growth in US — Bloomberg

A rally in the world’s largest tech companies lifted stocks as investors brushed off weak economic readings to focus on prospects for interest-rate cuts ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariff rollout.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reinforced US&nbsp;military capability in the Middle East with more warplanes, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, amid a more than two-week-old US bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran.

Asian traders will be grappling with just how to position themselves on Wednesday in the countdown to President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement.

The race is far from over, but the Asia Pacific has come out of the blocks much faster than the US and Europe in dealmaking activity this year.

The volume of mergers and acquisitions in APAC is up 19% from the first quarter last year, helped by pending blockbusters such as the sale of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s ports and convenience store operator Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. That growth rate outshines the US’s 13% and leaves Europe firmly in the shade, with volumes sliding 14% there, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

China Inc.’s outlook has brightened after a campaign to revive consumption delivered a strong earnings season, one that may offer local stocks a much-needed cushion as they brace for US tariffs.

Fourth-quarter earnings reported by members of the MSCI China Index beat estimates by 5.1% on a weighted average basis, up from 1.8% in the prior quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

As the world grapples with high inflation, it is clear that inflation is becoming more persistent than previously anticipated. This is difficult not only for consumers, but also for investors.

James Cheo, Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia, HSBC Global Private Banking & Wealth