Reading Time : 2 minutesAsian borrowers are increasingly turning to euro-denominated debt as funding costs improve and reliance on the U.S. dollar feels riskier. Companies and governments across the region issued record levels of euro bonds this year, reflecting both economic strategy and geopolitical caution. The shift marks a gradual move toward more balanced, multipolar financing options on global markets.
Reading Time : 3 minutesGlobal trade and capital flows soared before 2008, driven by liberalization and technology. Since then, geopolitical tensions, the financial crash, and the pandemic have triggered “slowbalisation”. Cross-border investment and trade are shrinking relative to GDP, marking a reversal of integration.
Reading Time : 2 minutesPayPal’s stock dipped after its CFO warned that the company’s core checkout business may grow more slowly this holiday season. The comments raised concerns about weaker consumer spending, even though PayPal kept its overall forecast unchanged. Other services like Venmo and Buy Now Pay Later remain bright spots, but investors reacted to the softness in its main revenue driver.
Reading Time : 2 minutesThe ECB is warning eurozone banks to brace for a wave of unusual and persistent risks driven by geopolitics, climate events, shifting trade dynamics and rapid technological change. While banks remain well-capitalized, vulnerabilities linked to dollar funding and market volatility could trigger pressure. The ECB urges stronger buffers and tighter risk controls to withstand potential shocks.
Reading Time : 2 minutesTaipei and Shin Kong Life finally reached a deal to end the rights contracts on the Beitou–Shilin Technology Park sites, clearing the way for NVIDIA to build its new Taipei base. With the investment plan already approved and negotiations nearly wrapped, the city expects signing to finish next week and construction to begin next summer.
Reading Time : 2 minutesQuantum computing is pushing digital security toward a turning point. Algorithms that protect today’s communications could be broken once quantum machines reach enough power, creating risks for governments, companies, and anyone storing sensitive data. While the threat isn’t immediate, experts warn that preparation must start now, with new quantum-resistant standards already in development.
Reading Time : 2 minutesEconomic data for Q3 2025 reveals that the Eurozone expanded by a cautious 0.2 percent, reflecting a mild but uncertain improvement. The wider EU did slightly better, while major economies like Germany and Italy showed no growth. France performed more strongly, keeping the region above zero. The outlook remains delicate and heavily dependent on selective domestic contributions.
Reading Time : 2 minutesCitigroup’s CEO Jane Fraser reports rapid growth in China, driven by increased demand for cross-border corporate banking services. While Citi retreats from consumer banking, it doubles down on institutional clients across Asia. Analysts stay cautious, but the bank presents China as a renewed opportunity in a shifting global landscape, where digital and distributed finance continue to reshape strategy.
Reading Time : 2 minutesCentral banks are gradually diversifying their reserves away from the U.S. dollar, turning to smaller G10 and emerging market currencies while boosting gold holdings. The shift is slow but steady, reflecting growing geopolitical caution and a search for stability in a multipolar financial world where the dollar’s long-standing supremacy is being quietly challenged.
Reading Time : 2 minutesThe consumer’s desire for affordable brand freedom is often obstructed by tariffs, which quickly escalate into costly “tit-for-tat” trade wars. This cycle of import taxes drives up prices, restricts market choice, and ultimately hurts consumers and domestic exporters on both sides of the dispute, proving to be a highly inefficient form of state intervention.
Reading Time : 2 minutes Taiwan is fast-tracking AI and digital transformation across industry, academia, and government. Deepening industry-academic collaboration cultivates AI-ready talent and practical deployments, while cities pilot AI-enabled governance and smart-city services. This coordinated effort aims to build scalable AI ecosystems, boost efficiency, and create new business models that keep Taiwan competitive in a globally digital economy.
Reading Time : 2 minutesThe AI surge isn’t just about smarter machines—it’s a massive race of money, power, and infrastructure. Giants like OpenAI, Nvidia, and Amazon are entangled in complex deals while energy demands soar. This growth raises tough questions: Who’s funding it? Can the system sustain itself? And what risks lie beneath the excitement of innovation?
Reading Time : 2 minutesChina’s home prices dropped at their fastest pace in nearly a year, highlighting a deepening real estate crisis that threatens economic recovery. With weak demand, high inventories, and falling consumer confidence, the property slump could push Beijing toward stronger intervention as regional markets brace for broader ripple effects.
Reading Time : 2 minutesThe United States asked Taiwan to move half its chip production to America, citing security and supply chain concerns. Taiwan firmly rejected the request, defending its semiconductor dominance as both an economic asset and strategic shield. The standoff exposes growing tension between US self-sufficiency goals and Taiwan’s vital role in global technology.
Reading Time : 2 minutesGold’s total global value has exceeded $30 trillion for the first time, reflecting growing investor caution amid geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty. The milestone underscores a shift from risk to safety, as the world’s oldest store of value outpaces even the biggest tech firms in total worth.
