Vietnam faces higher U.S. tariffs than peers and risks a further erosion of competitiveness in the clothing sector, as the largest exporter of apparel to the ​U.S. is excluded from a mechanism that could cut U.S. duties on ‌some textile imports, Retuers reported. The decision, included in a Federal Register notice published on Thursday, could impact the supply chains of major apparel brands with large manufacturing bases in Vietnam. Among top investors in Vietnam are ​Nike, Gap, Ralph Lauren and Under Armour.

It has been a particularly tough year for small to medium-sized enterprises around Australia with a combination of oil prices, interest rates and inflation all twisting the screws on operators, ABC.net.au reported. That has been on top of new or imminent regulatory reforms like payday super, changes to credit card surcharges and wage decisions like the abolition of junior pay rates. It also comes as consumer sentiment tanks and businesses deal with the usual bill increases such as rents and wages.

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved the government’s annual economic and fiscal policy blueprint on Tuesday after tweaking an earlier version to place more emphasis on Bank of Japan independence, the Japan Times reported. As this is the first time the policy document was drafted under the leadership of Takaichi — who is considered by some analysts to be a fiscal and monetary dove — the market paid close attention to the direction it set.

Chinese regulators are curbing mainland firms from adopting a refinancing structure, known as "1+N", for domestic real estate firms or cross-border borrowers using mainland property as collateral, Bloomberg reported. Sources said that the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has in recent months informed some bankers to restrict real estate companies from using the "1+N" offshore loan structure, further reinforcing recent regulatory efforts to tighten oversight of overseas borrowing.

Indonesia’s central bank unexpectedly held interest rates steady on Wednesday as it assessed the effects of previous tightening moves amid a weakening currency and ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bank Indonesia kept its benchmark seven-day reverse repo rate unchanged at 5.75%, taking a breather after delivering a cumulative 100 basis points of rate increases in May and June. The central bank also maintained its overnight deposit facility rate at 4.75% and its lending facility rate at 6.50%.

New Zealand's annual ⁠inflation ⁠accelerated in the second quarter to ⁠a 2-1/2-year high, reinforcing expectations the central bank will raise the ​cash rate when it next meets in September, Reuters reported. Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Tuesday showed annual ‌inflation at 4.1%, above analysts' forecasts ‌of 4.0% and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's latest projection of 3.9% for ⁠the quarter. The consumer ⁠price index rose 1.5% in the second quarter from the previous ​quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 1.4% quarterly rise.