The Week Ahead: Asia, week to 6 September 2026

Economies: the week just gone

China Directs Carmakers to Halt Overseas Price Wars: Beijing has issued new guidelines for Chinese carmakers and component suppliers. They must avoid steep discounts in international markets, a move aimed at fostering long-term global competitiveness for the industry.

India's RBI: Lending Rates Mixed, Fresh Deposits Cheaper in July: India's central bank reported varied rate movements for commercial banks last month. Fresh rupee loans became slightly cheaper. However, outstanding loan rates rose, while deposit rates showed a mixed trend.

Singapore Expands Childcare Leave; Businesses Face Workload Shift: Singapore has expanded childcare leave entitlements to encourage higher birth rates. While parents welcome the change, non-parent employees voice apprehension about increased workplace responsibilities.

South Korea Names Lee So-young SMEs Minister: President Lee Jae Myung appointed two-term lawmaker Lee So-young as Minister for SMEs and Startups, ending a 61-day vacancy.

Philippines 2027 Budget Transparency: MAP, DEPDev Push CADENA Act: The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) demands full transparency for the 2027 national budget. The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) will recommend the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act as a priority legislative measure.

Markets: the week just gone

Priority Jewels IPO Closes Heavily Subscribed; Analysts Split on Valuation: Indian jewellery maker Priority Jewels closed its initial public offering today with significant investor demand. The share sale saw strong oversubscription, yet brokerages offered differing views on its long-term value and current pricing.

India Gold, Silver Prices Decline on US-Iran Tensions: Indian retail gold and silver prices fell on Monday, 31 August. Renewed US-Iran military actions created market uncertainty, impacting precious metal rates.

Dollar Nears Two-Week High; Yen Weakens Past 160 on Warsh Remarks: The US dollar reached a near two-week high on Monday, 31 August 2026, following Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's comments. These remarks increased market expectations for a September rate hike. Concurrently, the Japanese yen weakened past 160 per dollar, raising concerns about potential intervention.

RBI Absorbs ₹2.58 Lakh Crore Liquidity via SDF, MSF: The Reserve Bank of India removed substantial liquidity from the banking system on August 30, 2026, utilising its Standing Deposit Facility and Marginal Standing Facility to manage market funds.

Indian Equities Face Flat Open; Prabhudas Lilladher Recommends Three Stocks: India's equity markets expect a subdued opening today, 31 August 2026. Renewed US-Iran military escalation drives a risk-off mood across Asian markets and lifts crude oil prices. Prabhudas Lilladher's Vaishali Parekh offers key Nifty levels and three intraday stock recommendations.

Banking & Fintech: the week just gone

Crédit Agricole CIB Names Nicolas Vix Apac Regional Officer: Crédit Agricole CIB appointed Nicolas Vix as its Asia Pacific senior regional officer, effective today. He replaces Jean-François Deroche, operating from Hong Kong.

Societe Generale Names Sasai Japan Global Markets Head: Societe Generale has appointed Tomoyuki Sasai as its Head of Global Markets for Japan, effective September 1, 2026. He takes over from Marc Saffon, who now serves as the bank's Japan Country Head.

China's 6 State Banks Post H1 Growth, First Since 2022: China's six largest state-owned banks recorded their first simultaneous revenue and net profit growth in the first half of 2026 since 2022, signalling a tentative rebound in net interest margins.

Techcombank CEO Jens Lottner's H1 2026 Pay Rises 29 Percent: Techcombank Chief Executive Jens Lottner collected US$650,000 (VND16.9 billion) during the first half of this year, a 29% increase from the prior year period. The bank's financial statements reveal total remuneration for its board and CEO also rose.

ACI Worldwide Acquires Cranium Ventures for Card Switching Tech: ACI Worldwide will acquire Cranium Ventures, a company with key operations in Singapore and Malaysia, for its cloud-native card switching technology. The deal expands ACI's payment platform capabilities.

Industries: the week just gone

Industrial PC Market Forecasts 7.9% Annual Growth to US$8.9 Billion by 2030: Industrial PC output could reach US$8.9 billion by 2030. Artificial intelligence applications drive this 7.9% compound annual growth rate.

A Southeast Asian Nation Ranks 10th in 2025 Gold Output: A Southeast Asian country became one of the world's top ten gold producers in 2025. Its mines yielded 104.2 tonnes, placing it among leading global suppliers.

Mapletree Closes First Round of Asia Logistics Fund, Securing Over US$500 Million: Mapletree Investments has closed the initial funding round for its Mapletree Emerging Growth Asia Logistics Private Trust (Mega), raising more than US$500 million for logistics developments across Malaysia, Vietnam, and India.

Vietnam's Black Thorn Durian Commands Premium Prices Amidst Limited Supply: Black Thorn durian sells quickly in Vietnam at prices five to eight times higher than other varieties. Limited cultivation and lower yields drive this premium, despite falling prices for competing durian types.

Sino Land Net Profit Climbs 14% on Valuation Gains; Core Earnings Drop 6.4%: Hong Kong developer Sino Land reported a 14% rise in annual net profit, reaching HK$4.59 billion, driven by narrower property revaluation losses. However, underlying earnings fell 6.4%, revealing sustained pressure on its core business.

Wealth: the week just gone

Hong Kong Leads Asia Billionaires; China Cities Gain from AI Wealth: Hong Kong held Asia's top spot for billionaires in 2025, Altrata reported. Mainland Chinese cities gained rapidly, driven by artificial intelligence wealth.

Experts: Debt Funds Boost Young Investor Portfolios: Young investors benefit from debt mutual funds, even with high equity risk tolerance. Bajaj Capital and Anand Rathi Wealth explain how debt provides portfolio stability, liquidity, and diversification. Asset allocation should align with financial goals and horizons, not merely age.

Indian Home Loans: Rate Hikes Add ₹46 Lakh to Repayment: Indian borrowers face significantly higher home loan costs as interest rates climb. A ₹1 crore loan over 20 years sees total interest payment increase by ₹46 lakh with a 3% rate rise.