The Week Ahead: Asia, week to 13 September 2026

Economies: the week just gone

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 clarifies ministerial pay structure, entry-level salaries vary: 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.

Shanmugam Affirms Temasek Firms' Commercial Autonomy: Senior Minister K Shanmugam stated that Temasek-linked companies must prioritise commercial judgement. They should operate without fear of political influence. This approach safeguards Singapore's long-term investment returns.

South Korea: Ministry Confirms Recovery, Exports Up 68.7%: The finance ministry's monthly Green Book report confirmed a sustained positive outlook, noting persistent Middle East war uncertainties despite August's strong semiconductor shipments.

Philippine Exporters Can Claim VAT Refunds While Awaiting Certification: The Bureau of Internal Revenue issued new guidelines on September 7, allowing export-oriented enterprises to recover Value-Added Tax on purchases made before receiving zero-rating status. This applies to VAT incurred from November 28, 2024, through December 31, 2025.

Markets: the week just gone

Vietnam Gold Rises 0.41% on Friday 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.

Jollibee Foods plans HKEX listing for global business: Philippine restaurant giant Jollibee Foods Corporation intends to list its international operations on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, separating them from its domestic business.

Kioxia US Listing Could Boost Global AI Fund Interest: Japanese chipmaker Kioxia, whose shares have surged 456% this year, announced plans in May to list American Depositary Shares (ADS) to broaden its investor base. This move could attract major AI-focused funds.

Philippine PSEi Dips Below 6,100 Amid Oil Price Surge: Manila's benchmark index fell 0.28 percent on 10 September 2026, closing at 6,099.23 as global crude prices topped US$100 per barrel.

Banking & Fintech: the week just gone

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.

Ant International Expands AI Payments to 1.5 Billion Asian Users: The Agentic Mobile Protocol, launched in April 2026, integrates AI agents with 10 digital wallets and seven payment acquirers, including Alipay and GCash, across Asia.

Grab, GXS Bank Launch EV Financing, Charging for Singapore Drivers: Singapore drivers can access up to 100% financing for electric vehicles and over 3,000 charging points via Grab's new integrated platform.

Industries: the week just gone

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 Data Challenges 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.

Wealth: the week just gone

SBI NFO Drives India Balanced Hybrid Fund Inflows in August, AMFI Shows: Despite aggressive hybrid funds delivering stronger one-year returns, India's balanced hybrid funds attracted ₹1,836 crore in August 2026, largely driven by a single new fund launch.

India EPF Balances Keep Earning Interest Post-Job Change: Indian workers' Employee Provident Fund (EPF) balances continue to accrue interest until age 58, even after employment or contributions cease, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) confirms.