The Brief: Asia's economy, 26 October 2026

Economies

KB Financial: South Koreans average 6.3 hours sleep, fatigue: Nearly half of surveyed South Koreans report persistent exhaustion, while average nightly sleep declined to 6.3 hours from 6.5 hours in 2024, according to a new report.

IMF Projects 3.1% Global Growth, Fed Lifts Rate to 4.00%: The International Monetary Fund's latest outlook, presented in Bangkok, shows an increasingly uneven global recovery, with Asian long-term bond yields rising 40–60 basis points this year.

Markets

RBI schedules ₹1.5 trillion repo auction for October 26: India's central bank will offer a four-day variable rate facility to manage immediate market liquidity, with funds reversing on October 30, 2026.

SGX ETF market expands, investors cautioned on hidden costs: The Singapore Exchange's ETF market reached S$20 billion by end-June 2026, with recent listings offering exposure to major Asian and global markets.

RBI to Auction ₹23,300 Crore in State Bonds for Eleven Indian States: The Reserve Bank of India will conduct the auction on October 27, 2026, offering a mix of new and re-issued securities with varying maturities.

Bank Indonesia holds rate, eases RRR to spur lending: Jakarta equities recovered after the decision, but the rupiah retained its position as Asia's weakest currency this year.

India's MK Sons Fine Jewels sets ₹275.4 crore IPO price band: The Mumbai-based jewellery retailer will offer shares at ₹153-162 each, with anchor investor bidding opening on October 27 ahead of the public issue.

Indian Equities Decline; Zomato, Adani Energy Post Q2 Profit Gains: India's benchmark indices fell for a second session on 22 October 2026, with the Sensex down 0.19%, as companies reported Q2 FY27 results and corporate updates.

AI Earnings Drive Equities Higher; French Bond Yields Hit 5%: Global stock indexes gained on Wednesday, October 21, with Super Micro shares rising 9.5% after exceeding forecasts, as France's 10-year bond yield reached 5%.

Banking & Fintech

Mastercard, BVNK launch global fiat, stablecoin payments platform: The new Mastercard Global Money Platform, integrating BVNK's technology, offers a single API for banks and fintechs to manage diverse currencies and digital assets.

Episode Six Launches Verified Backing for Stablecoins, Deposits: The new "Verified Backing" feature helps banks confirm the authenticity and backing of stablecoins and tokenised deposits at issuance and redemption.

Industries

Indonesia, Philippines Coal Reliance Hinders Geothermal Investment: Existing coal power plants in Southeast Asia weaken the business case for new clean energy projects, despite a US$170 million derisking facility in the Philippines for geothermal exploration.

Hyundai Transys to invest $560m in Georgia powertrain output: The South Korean automotive parts maker will upgrade existing facilities and construct a new plant in West Point, creating 320 jobs for hybrid vehicle component manufacturing.

Asia, Europe Boost Coal Imports as LNG Price Gap Widens: Australian thermal coal trades at an 80% discount to liquefied natural gas (LNG), driving Asian and European buyers to increase purchases for November delivery.

EU, Philippines Launch AI Lab for MSME AI Tool Vetting: The new facility in Manila will allow micro, small and medium enterprises to evaluate artificial intelligence tools before committing capital, reducing adoption risk.

Philippines DTI: Vingroup considers $500m EV factory for 2027 start: Vietnam's Vingroup, controlled by Pham Nhat Vuong, may invest US$500 million in an electric vehicle plant in the Philippines, targeting 200,000 units annually with construction potentially starting in early 2027.

Vietnam FDI Hits Record $50.36 Billion in Nine Months: Registered foreign direct investment in Vietnam surged 76.4% year-on-year, with disbursed capital reaching a five-year high of $21.07 billion.

Philippine Coconut Exports Target West Africa After Liberia Shipment: The Philippines Department of Agriculture is expanding coconut exports to West Africa, following a 50-metric-ton shipment to Liberia by Avante Agri-Products valued at $22,400.