The Brief: Asia's economy, 12 August 2026
What moved across Asia overnight: 8 stories on economies, markets, banking and industry, read in five minutes.
Economies
South Korea Exports Jump 45.3% on Chip Demand: South Korea's exports surged 45.3% year-on-year in early August. Strong global demand for memory chips drove the increase. Total outbound shipments reached $21.3 billion.
Philippines House Panel Approves P350,000 Tax-Free Income Threshold: The Philippine House committee on ways and means approved a bill raising the annual income tax exemption to P350,000 from P250,000. This measure aims to boost take-home pay for low- and middle-income workers.
PM Wong Outlines Singapore's Economic Resilience, AI Investment: Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong detailed the nation's economic outlook, stressing resilience and significant artificial intelligence investments. He will address family support on August 23.
Markets
South Korean Kospi Rebounds 0.65% as Chip Shares Rally: South Korean equities reversed a two-day decline on Monday, with the Kospi index gaining 0.65%. Investor interest in semiconductor-related shares drove the rebound, while the Korean won weakened against the US dollar.
Gland Pharma Net Profit Jumps 47% in Q1 FY27, CDMO Revenue Up 20%: Gland Pharma reported a 47% year-on-year increase in net profit for Q1 FY27, reaching ₹317 crore. Revenue grew 20% to ₹1,800 crore, driven by its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and business-to-business (B2B) segments, with strong contributions from the US and Europe.
Banking & Fintech
DBS, OCBC Post Strong H1 2026 Results; UOB Continues Buybacks: Singapore's largest lenders, DBS and OCBC, delivered solid first-half 2026 financial results. Their performance, alongside UOB's, stabilised market sentiment despite rich valuations, driven by wealth management and asset growth.
Franklin Templeton Reshuffles Leadership, Boosts Asia Focus: Franklin Templeton appointed Rene Buehlmann as Asia Pacific Head and Elizabeth Hogbin as Global Product Head. The asset manager also repositioned its global client group, prioritising Asian markets and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Industries
Apollo Micro Systems Q1 FY27 Net Profit Jumps 43%, Revenue Up 88%: Indian defence technology firm Apollo Micro Systems reported a 43% year-on-year rise in net profit for Q1 FY27, with revenue climbing 88%. This performance reflects strong sector demand and execution, despite contracting operating margins.
Each item above was reported and checked separately; this brief collects the overnight session in one place. Follow any headline through for the figures and the source they came from. The Week Ahead maps the week's data and central-bank dates every Sunday.
This article is journalism, not investment advice; consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Market data is indicative, may be delayed, and should be verified with your broker or exchange before use.
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