Business trends Investment vehicle offers similar benefits to common stock without diluting shareholdings ANA Holdings seeks to raise funds using bond-type shares for aircraft purchases and other investments. (Photo by Karina Noka) TOKYO — Japan-listed companies such as air carrier ANA Holdings are increasingly embracing bond-type class shares as an alternative way to raise funds.

Iran tensions Asian countries push up spot prices, seeking to cut reliance on Mideast energy Japan relies on thermal power plants for 70% of its electricity, making a stable fuel supply vital. (Photo by Rie Ishii) RIEKO MIKI, MISA HAMA and KOKI IZUMI March 26, 2026 18:05 JST Updated on March 26, 2026 19:37 JST TOKYO […]

Iran tensions Governor says price rises being driven by factors outside its control Shoppers at a supermarket in Metro Manila in the Philippines. The country’s central bank forecast on March 26 that inflation will average 5.1% in 2026. (Photo by Yuki Fujita) MANILA — The Philippine central bank forecast on Thursday inflation is likely to average […]

Hi everyone, this is Lauly helming #techAsia this week. I’m writing this newsletter next to a rice paddy in the northern Taiwanese city of Taoyuan, where I have attended the opening of UPS’s largest logistics center in the Asia-Pacific. The U.S. company didn’t pick this location for its 81,000 sq. meter, nearly $100 million facility […]

Japan’s power chip trio eyes merger to boost their global competitiveness. (Source photos by Shotaro Mori, Takayuki Yao and Tsuyoshi Tamehiro) TOKYO — Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric, Rohm and Toshiba will begin negotiations to merge their power semiconductor businesses, sources familiar with the matter have told Nikkei.

Politics Taiwan People’s Party founder expected to appeal 17-year sentence Former Taipei mayor and onetime presidential candidate Ko Wen-je arrives at a court in Taipei ahead of the verdict in his corruption trial on March 26. © Reuters THOMPSON CHAU March 26, 2026 16:53 JST Updated on March 26, 2026 18:02 JST TAIPEI — A court in Taipei […]

US-China tensions Meeting seen as key to sustaining trade truce, future Trump-Xi meetings U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react during talks in South Korea on Oct. 30, 2025.  © Reuters SHANGHAI — China on Thursday said it is in communication with Washington, after U.S. President Donald Trump rescheduled his “monumental” meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in […]

Middle East crisis Panic buying of garbage bags exposes weaks links in petrochemical supply chain A woman fills up her car at a gas station in Seoul on March 9: The South Korean government has announced an expansion of fuel tax cuts to ease price pressures. © Reuters KIM JAEWON and STEVEN BOROWIEC SEOUL — […]

Transportation Government prepares work-from-home policy to reduce fuel consumption Garuda Indonesia planes are seen at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta: An industry group has urged the government to raise caps on airfares, citing surging costs. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) ISMI DAMAYANTI and REZHA HADYAN JAKARTA — The Indonesian government has deferred a decision on airlines’ calls to raise the legal ceilings […]

Pharmaceuticals Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly lean on trust as weight-loss drugs wait for liftoff Makers of generic weight-loss drugs that mimic those such as Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, branded Mounjaro, have piled into the Indian market after their patents expired. © Reuters BENGALURU — Ameya Nagarajan forks out nearly 25,000 rupees ($270) every month for weight-loss drugs, 20% […]