Taiwan’s central bank held rates steady again, as the island’s strong economic performance so far this year gave it room to extend its pause, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kept its benchmark discount rate at 2.000% on Thursday, marking a sixth consecutive hold. It maintained the secured and unsecured loan rates at 2.375% and 4.250%, respectively. The central bank attributed the decision to the island’s overall steady economic performance, which also gives it room to respond to the potential impact of U.S. trade policies.

Ocean shipping companies say importers and exporters won’t have to pay surcharges when new fees are imposed next month on Chinese ships at U.S. seaports, the Wall Street Journal reported. Some businesses fear price increases are coming anyway. Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, which represents American farmers, said ocean carriers can’t pass on extra costs today because trade flows are falling and carriers are fighting for market share. They will have to pass on those new costs eventually, he said.

Indonesia’s central bank surprised markets by continuing its rate-cutting cycle amid domestic political uncertainty and ahead of a closely watched Federal Reserve meeting, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bank Indonesia lowered its benchmark seven-day reverse repo rate by 25 basis points to 4.75% on Wednesday, following back-to-back cuts in July and August. The move came on the cusp of a highly anticipated Federal Reserve meeting, where investors widely expect a 25-basis-point cut. The U.S.

If the government's proposed "fatal accident penalty fee" to eradicate industrial accidents becomes a reality, 97 out of 100 domestic construction companies would lose all their annual operating profits or record massive deficits from just one penalty, according to a commentary in The Chosun Daily. This means that even one or two penalties could push most construction companies to the brink of bankruptcy.

South Korea's Presidential Office said on Tuesday that tariff talks with the U.S. have been stalled for a while, but President Lee Jae Myung is determined not to force Korean companies to sustain losses by rushing to sign a trade deal, Reuters reported. The countries have been struggling to overcome obstacles to finalize a trade deal agreed in July. Details of the broad trade agreement still need to be hammered out, especially around a $350 billion investment fund. "We cannot do everything the U.S. wants. ...

The negative impact of higher tariffs on Japan has become more apparent, with the country’s exports staying weak in August as U.S.-bound shipments fell further, the Wall Street Journal/em> reported. Exports to the U.S. fell nearly 14% from a year earlier due to weak demand for autos and chip-making machines, finance ministry data showed Wednesday. That compared with July’s 10.1% fall and marked a fifth straight month of decline. Japan’s trade surplus with the U.S. also contracted, tumbling 50.5% from a year ago. Japanese companies have been slashing prices on cars sold in the U.S.

China Evergrande Group's liquidators have been appointed to identify and preserve the assets of founder Hui Ka Yan, the Hong Kong High Court said in a ruling on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Hui, once one of China's richest people, has not been seen in public since he was detained by Chinese authorities in 2023 and has not complied with a court order to disclose his assets in Hong Kong and overseas. Evergrande, the most high-profile casualty of China's prolonged property crisis, began defaulting on some of its bonds in 2021 and collapsed with more than $300 billion in liabilities.

The United States has officially lowered its tariff on Japanese automobiles to 15% from 27.5%, finally addressing some unfinished business that had added extra uncertainty to an already unpredictable and protracted trade war, the Japan Times reported. Japan and the United States first agreed to the reduced rate on July 22 as part of a broader deal in which "reciprocal" tariffs, which cover most other exports, were taken from 10% to 15% — but less than the 25% threatened. Reciprocal duties were formally raised to 15% on Aug. 7.

New Zealand home prices edged lower in August, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) said on Tuesday, as prospective buyers remained cautious despite aggressive interest rate cuts from the central bank to spur the economy, Reuters reported. Seasonally adjusted median house prices dipped 1.3% from July, and were 0.5% lower on the previous year, REINZ data showed. Seasonally adjusted national home sales fell 4.5% from July, but were up 0.6% from August 2024. "Across New Zealand, confidence in the property market is tempered with caution," REINZ Chief Executive Lizzy Ryley said.