The Brief: Asia's economy, 14 September 2026
What moved across Asia overnight: 13 stories on economies, markets, banking and industry, read in five minutes.
Economies
Punjab Employees End Strike After Disciplinary Action Pledge: The decision follows talks between employee unions and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, who agreed to withdraw show-cause notices issued after a mass leave protest on 27 August.
Singapore details ministerial pay, entry-level salaries capped: The government confirmed entry-level ministers will not immediately receive SGD1.8 million annually, with a new framework introducing performance-based adjustments and a 9% cap on initial increases.
Markets
SJC Gold Bars Hit VND146m as Global Prices Rebound: Saigon Jewelry Company's SJC gold bars gained to VND146 million per tael yesterday, even as local prices have fallen 4.45% since January 1.
NSE IPO to Launch 17 September; CEO Confirms No Self-Trading: India's National Stock Exchange will launch its initial public offering on 17 September 2026, aiming to raise up to ₹22,569 crore through an offer for sale, its CEO confirmed.
Banking & Fintech
Nam A Bank secures $30 million Proparco green finance for Vietnam: The five-year credit facility supports renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other green projects, boosting Nam A Bank's lending capacity across Vietnam.
DBS CEO Tan Su Shan: Bank to focus on Asia, not global expansion: South-east Asia’s largest bank will prioritise regional wealth management, capital markets, and trade, acknowledging US market dominance.
Alipay+, S&P Global: Consumers Wary of AI Payments: A survey of 6,000 consumers across nine markets by Alipay+ and S&P Global shows only 26% would use AI agents for transactions, despite strong interest in AI for travel planning.
Industries
Beijing halts new energy battery plant approvals: China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology initiated the freeze in May to prevent overcapacity in energy-storage systems.
Huawei Kirin 2026 Findings Ease 3D Chip Heat Concerns: The Chinese technology firm's upcoming processor presents new findings on transistor density, potentially reshaping future high-performance chip development for the industry.
LG AI Research, NPS Partner for AI-Driven Pension Fund Management: South Korea's National Pension Service will integrate LG AI Research's Exaone Business Intelligence platform to analyse currency movements, aiming to enhance investment decision-making and operational efficiency.
Sapiens Technology Joins Forbes Asia 100 Watchlist for AI Models: The Singaporean firm, known for its Agnes AI foundation models, was among 15 companies from the city-state recognised on the 2026 list.
Alibaba's Taobao Records ¥230 Million in 'Ugly' Product Sales: Young Chinese consumers have driven cumulative sales of unusual items on the e-commerce platform since 2020, reaching US$34.3 million.
Vietnam regulator probes Grab fare and commission policies: Vietnam's National Competition Commission is examining how Grab sets fares and commissions, following driver complaints that declining earnings prompted strike calls.
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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