The Brief: Asia's economy, 28 September 2026
What moved across Asia overnight: 9 stories on economies, markets, banking and industry, read in five minutes.
Economies
US, China agree 10m tonnes coal imports, pursue tariff cuts: Beijing will import 10 million metric tons of US coal annually in 2027 and 2028, with both nations pursuing tariff reductions on US$30 billion in goods.
Markets
Vietnamese Dong Weakens on Black Market Against US Dollar: Vietnam's unofficial exchange rate saw the dong trade at VND26,000 to the US dollar on Saturday, a 0.27% depreciation, while Vietcombank maintained its official rate.
Ligent Technologies jumps 4.6% on Hong Kong debut, raises HK$5.6bn: The optical communications unit of Hisense Group closed its first trading day last Tuesday with a valuation exceeding HK$35 billion, as mainland firms seek overseas capital.
China Consumer Stocks Plunge 18% as AI Focus Diverts Capital: MSCI China consumer goods sub-indexes hit near 10-year lows, contrasting sharply with tech gains, as August retail sales growth remained minimal.
Industries
Southeast Asia Tops Global AI Trust, Plans Significant Investment: Southeast Asian firms lead global peers in AI trustworthiness, with 65.6% planning to increase spending over the next 12 months despite persistent infrastructure gaps.
Oil Futures Drop as US, Iran Discuss Hormuz Shipping Route: West Texas Intermediate futures settled near $92 a barrel, marking their first weekly decline since late August amid hopes for increased crude supply from US-Iran talks.
Chearavanont family gifts $1M Bangkok condo to Nene Royal: Thailand's second-richest Chearavanont family, owners of CP Group, presented a luxury unit at Mulberry Grove The Forestias Condominiums to Nene Royal.
UOL in talks for US$382m Hyatt Regency Kowloon stake: The Wee family's UOL is negotiating to acquire 50% stakes from Hong Kong's New World Development and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in the Hyatt Regency Kowloon.
Singapore Leads Global Commercial Property Inflows with US$8.7 Billion: Singapore attracted the largest share of cross-border investment in commercial property during the first half of 2026, as worldwide transactions surged 56% to US$71.8 billion.
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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