The Week Ahead: Asia, week to 1 November 2026

Economies: the week just gone

India's $200 Billion Chip Market Target Draws Global Investment: New Delhi commits over $20 billion in government support for domestic semiconductor production and electronics, attracting major global tech firms.

Thailand's Economy Gains from AI Exports in September: Private investment surged 21.6% month-on-month, driven by data-centre equipment imports, the Bank of Thailand reported on 30 October.

World Bank urges Vietnam growth model shift by 2045: Mariam J. Sherman stated the country's current labour-intensive approach will not achieve high-income status, citing a peak in working-age population in 2014.

EU Trade Deals May Link Tariffs to Deforestation Levels: The European Union's interim trade agreement with Mercosur, applied since May 2026, could set a precedent for future pacts, including those with Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Indonesia.

Bangladesh Bank credit bypasses climate-vulnerable regions: Lending remains concentrated in Dhaka and Chattogram, with only small portions reaching districts most exposed to climate risks, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

Markets: the week just gone

Vietnam's SHB raises S$229m with CGIF-backed Singapore dollar social bonds: The dual-tranche offering by Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) is the first Singapore dollar bond from a Vietnamese issuer, funding local small and medium enterprises.

Bank Indonesia Vows Rupiah Stability as Governance Fears Mount: Indonesia's central bank affirmed its commitment to the rupiah after it closed at Rp18,184 per US dollar on Wednesday, while officials warned of further weakening risks.

Binance covers 90% of US$6.3 billion hack losses: The world's largest crypto exchange used company funds to replace stolen tokens, with the FBI attributing the breach to North Korea's TraderTraitor unit.

RBI Sets ₹14,213 Redemption Price for Sovereign Gold Bond Series VI: The Reserve Bank of India announced a premature redemption value of ₹14,213 per unit for its 2019–20 Series VI gold bonds, effective today, 30 October 2026.

Nasdaq 100's 3rd Correction of 2026 on Alphabet, Tech Earnings: The Nasdaq 100 Index recorded its third technical correction this year, falling 4.5% on Friday, as investors reacted to disappointing financial results from several major technology firms.

Banking & Fintech: the week just gone

XTransfer Seeks New Bank Partners at Asia Fintech Events: The cross-border payments firm aims to expand its global clearing network for small and medium-sized enterprises, building on over US$60 billion in payments processed last year.

BDO Unibank nine-month profit rises 0.8% to P63.6 billion: The Philippine lender's January to September net income reached P63.6 billion, a marginal increase from last year, driven by significant loan book expansion.

BOT to Regulate Stablecoins, BNPL, High-Value Gold Transactions: Thailand's central bank will introduce five new financial measures between November 2026 and March 2027, including cash payment limits for gold transactions exceeding THB 10 million.

Skyro expands Philippine merchant services beyond POS financing: The digital fintech firm now offers SkyroCredit, a reusable credit line with up to 45 days of 0% interest, to deepen customer engagement for its 12,000 partners.

Singapore's OCBC Ranks Third Globally, Tops Asia-Pacific for Bank Strength: OCBC Bank achieved the third-strongest global ranking and first in Asia-Pacific in The Asian Banker's 2026 assessment, marking a first for a Singaporean lender in the global top three.

Industries: the week just gone

PAGCOR's nine-month revenue drops 23.4%, net income almost 85%: The Philippine gaming regulator reported total revenues of P64.41 billion for January to September, down from P84.09 billion a year earlier, with online gaming experiencing the steepest fall.

Cambricon Co-founder Urges Universal AI Ethics Amid Cyber Risks: Chen Yunji, from Chinese chip giant Cambricon Technologies, called for a global “ethics checker” for leading AI models after systems caused high-profile cyberattacks and critical infrastructure threats.

Siemens CEO Outlines Industrial AI Adoption Path for Asia's SMEs: Roland Busch, Siemens' chief executive, late last week in Seoul detailed a step-by-step strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into smaller manufacturing operations, emphasising industrial data and gradual investment.

Thai Government Approves B6.7bn Fuel Subsidy, Orders Refining Margin Cuts: Thailand's Finance Ministry greenlit an initial 6.7 billion baht from the Energy Conservation Fund, while new measures will reduce gross refining margins to ease consumer burden.

Pham Nhat Vuong invests $436 million in VinFast Auto subsidiary: Southeast Asia's wealthiest individual, Pham Nhat Vuong, has increased his total investment in the electric vehicle maker to approximately VND51.5 trillion. The capital was deployed via dividend preference shares.

Wealth: the week just gone

India's Policybazaar warns on Diwali fire risks, highlights home insurance: Ahead of Diwali, Policybazaar's Ashwini Dubey advises Indian homeowners to review their insurance against fire damage, with premiums starting at ₹18 monthly.

Indian Platforms Groww, Zerodha Open US Stock Access: Indian retail investors can now access US equities through Groww, with Zerodha soon to follow, driven by domestic market underperformance and a weaker rupee.