Japan’s consumer inflation sped up in November, fanning rate-hike hopes, but price growth may not be strong enough yet to rush an immediate move, especially as the central bank remains wary about uncertainties at home and abroad, the Wall Street Journal reported. Overall consumer prices rose 2.9% in November from a year earlier, compared with the 2.3% growth seen in October, government data showed Friday. ​Energy prices rose 6.0% due to the fading effects of government subsidies for electricity and gas, compared with a 2.3% increase in October.

Taiwan’s central bank maintained interest rates unchanged again, delivering a third consecutive hold as it keeps a watchful eye on inflation and signs of overheating in the housing market, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kept its benchmark discount rate at 2.000% on Thursday. It maintained secured and unsecured loan rates at 2.375% and 4.250%, respectively. The Taiwanese central bank attributed the hold to cooling domestic inflation and global economic conditions.

Indonesia’s apparel maker PT Pan Brothers avoided bankruptcy after it secured creditors’ approval to restructure 8.6 trillion rupiah ($537 million) of debt, Bloomberg News reported. More than 90% of the creditors gave their nod on the company’s latest debt proposal, according to Khusaini, a judge at Indonesia’s Jakarta court, after a voting on Wednesday. “The result will be formalized in a consultative meeting on December 23,” Khusaini, who goes by one name, said.

Indonesia’s central bank stood pat again at its December policy meeting, continuing to hold rates steady for a third straight time as it looks to support the rupiah and the economy, the Wall Street Journal reported. Bank Indonesia’s decision to keep its benchmark seven-day reverse repo rate at 6.00% on Wednesday had been expected to be a close one. Four out of seven economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a hold, while three had projected a 25-basis-point cut.

Distressed Hong Kong property firm New World Development Co. is in talks with banks to extend the due dates of some bilateral loans, adding to concerns over its ability to service one of the heaviest debt loads of its kind, Bloomberg News reported. It’s unclear how much of a delay the builder is seeking for each loan. But the efforts show the company — which had total liabilities of HK$220 billion ($28.3 billion) at the end of June — is exploring ways to alleviate financial pressure after recording its first annual loss in two decades.

Thailand’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady in a widely expected move as inflation remains low and the economy has yet to show firm signs of recovery, the Wall Street Journal reported. With the Thai economy facing headwinds from intensified external competition and higher uncertainty, the Bank of Thailand said Wednesday that its policy committee voted unanimously to maintain its policy rate at 2.25%. Seven economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected the central bank to stand pat.

Hong Kong's securities regulator on Wednesday approved four cryptocurrency exchanges in the city's latest effort to stay competitive in a race to become a global centre for digital asset trading, Reuters reported. Hong Kong has been promoting itself as a hub for assets such as cryptocurrencies in a effort to maintain its attractions as a financial centre. The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission said it had granted licences to Accumulus GBA Technology (Hongkong) Co., DFX Labs Company, Hong Kong Digital Asset EX, and Thousand Whales Technology (BVI).

Distressed textile giant PT Pan Brothers is closing in on its debt restructuring after seven months of negotiation with creditors, according to people familiar with the matter, as it works to avoid becoming the second Indonesian clothesmaker to be declared bankrupt this year, Bloomberg News reported. Creditors will vote Wednesday on the latest 8.6 trillion rupiah ($537 million) restructuring proposal by Pan Brothers, Bloomberg News reported earlier.