Weekend Read: 17 October 2026
The week's longer pieces on Asia's economy: 5 stories worth reading slowly.
Seoul Finance Ministry: Exports Propel Economic Recovery
South Korea's merchandise exports reached a record $120.9 billion last month, driven by strong semiconductor shipments, the Finance Ministry stated.
Economies · 2 min read
India, Japan lead ChatGPT use; OpenAI urges AI safeguards
OpenAI's Asia-Pacific managing director Kiran Mani noted India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan are among ChatGPT's top 10 global markets, but stressed urgent cybersecurity and governance needs.
Industries · 2 min read
Asia Stocks Expected Up; Nvidia CEO Eases AI Valuation Fears
Futures for Japan, South Korea, and Australia indicated gains, potentially ending a four-day slide for regional markets. MSCI Inc. also initiated a review of Indonesia's emerging market status.
Markets · 2 min read
Musk's Texas Chip Plant No Short-Term Threat to TSMC
Kirkland Capital's Kirk Yang estimates Elon Musk's proposed Terafab complex in Texas would take five to 10 years to become operational, leaving Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co unaffected.
Industries · 2 min read
Singapore New Home Sales Rebound in September to 296 Units
Private property transactions in Singapore almost doubled from August, with a 16.1 per cent year-on-year increase, despite a significant quarterly drop in Q3 2026.
Industries · 2 min read
These are the week's longer pieces, the ones worth the extra ten minutes when the trading day is not moving. Each was reported and checked when it ran; nothing here has been rewritten for the weekend.
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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