In China’s northeastern grain belt, farmers are getting a windfall from the government: more subsidies to grow soybeans, part of an estimated $1 trillion national effort to declare economic independence from the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported. More than 7,500 miles away, in Milwaukee, the industrial-parts manufacturer Husco is scrambling to use fewer Chinese-made components in its U.S. factories, as the Trump administration wields tariffs to reduce imports and try to resurrect American manufacturing.

India is talking to cryptocurrency exchanges to assess evolving trading activity as it ​seeks oversight over newer crypto products, according to a ‌top tax official, Reuters reported. India does not regulate cryptocurrencies, but global crypto exchanges such ‌as Binance, Coin DCX, Coinbase and Zebpay operate in the country after registering with a government agency. Asia's third-largest economy has imposed punitive taxes on gains from cryptocurrencies and the local central bank ⁠has repeatedly cautioned against ‌the risks from crypto trading.

Prudential Life Insurance announced Wednesday that it would suspend sales of new insurance policies for 90 days, following the discovery of widespread financial misconduct involving current and former employees, the Japan Times reported. According to the company’s news release, the suspension period, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, was determined based on the time required to swiftly implement priority reforms, including strengthening governance, conducting internal reviews and enhancing compliance training.

The Chinese company operating ports at the Panama Canal has filed for arbitration after the country’s Supreme Court voided its operating contract, claiming it was unfairly targeted by the country over the past year, Freight Waves reported. Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, said on Wednesday that it has commenced arbitration proceedings against Panama over its concession contract at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.

The bankruptcy court has admitted Smaaash Leisure, a premium bowling and entertainment format operator, under the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) in an application filed by JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction after the company failed to repay its dues, the Economic Times of India reported. Mumbai-based Smaaash Leisure was originally known as PVR bluO Entertainment, which was subsequently sold by multiplex operator PVR to Smaaash Group in 2017 for about ₹86 crore.

China's property market, which at its peak once accounted for a quarter of the world's second-largest economy, has been struggling with a debt crisis since mid-2021 that has seen swathes of developers default on payments, Reuters reported. There have been some upbeat signs for the market this year, but developers and analysts urge caution. In January, authorities reportedly ended the "three red lines" policy of caps on debt ratios put in place to rein in borrowing - rules which sparked the debt crisis.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he had agreed on a trade deal with India that slashes U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% in exchange for India lowering trade barriers, stopping its purchases of Russian oil and buying oil instead from the U.S. and ​potentially Venezuela, Reuters reported.

Australia's central bank was forced to reverse course and raise interest rates on Tuesday as it struggles to bring inflation under control in a supply-constrained economy, leaving markets wagering further hikes would be needed this year, Reuters reported. The Reserve Bank of Australia now joins the Bank of Japan as the only other developed-world central bank tightening policy at the moment. Markets are still priced for rate cuts in the U.S., UK and Canada, while the European Central Bank is widely expected to be on an extended pause.

Japan's manufacturing activity grew at the fastest pace in about three and a half years in January, a private-sector survey showed, as strong customer demand drove an increase in output and new orders, Reuters reported. The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 51.5 in January from 50.0 in December, the strongest level since August 2022. The 50.0 threshold separates expansion from contraction.