China Home Sales Slump Persists as Calls Grow for More Stimulus

China’s home sales extended their slump in June, putting further strain on the economy and underscoring the impetus for fresh support measures, Bloomberg News reported. The value of new-home sales from the 100 largest property companies stood at 339 billion yuan ($47.3 billion), the latest preliminary data from China Real Estate Information Corp. on Monday showed. That represents a 23% fall from a year ago, according to Bloomberg calculations. June’s sales follows an 8.6% decline in May. On a monthly basis, however, the latest sales were up 14.7% from May, CRIC said.
China
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Japan Factory Output Rose in May, But Tariffs Cloud Outlook

Japan’s industrial production increased modestly in May, but the rebound is likely to be temporary due to the impact of U.S. tariffs and concerns over a global slowdown, the Wall Street Journal reported. Industrial production rose 0.5% in May from the previous month, after declining 1.1% in April, data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed on Monday. The May reading was much weaker than the 3.5% increase expected in a poll of economists by data provider Quick.
Japan
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Tokyo Consumer Inflation Eases But Stays Well Above BOJ’s Target

Consumer inflation in the Tokyo metropolitan area eased in June but remained firmly above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, leaving the central bank balancing on a policy tightrope, the Wall Street Journal reported. Core consumer prices in Tokyo—excluding fresh food—climbed 3.1% in June from a year earlier, compared with May’s 3.6% increase, government data showed Friday. That was lower than the 3.3% rise expected in a poll of economists by data provider Quick. Tokyo figures are considered an early indicator of nationwide trends.
Japan
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Essel Group Slams Dishonest Debtor Kotak AMC, Drags It to NCLT for Dishonouring Contractual Obligations

An Essel Group company, Konti Infrapower and Multiventures, has moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) against Kotak Asset Management Company (AMC) over the asset management company's failure to honour certain contractual obligations, Zee Business reported. Claiming dues to the tune of Rs 12.99 crore, the Essel Group entity has stated that Kotak AMC, as a corporate debtor, is yet to meet its financial obligations under an agreement dated April 6, 2019.
India
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Japan Hits M&A Record of $232 Billion, Driving Asia Deals Rebound

Japan is driving Asia's M&A rebound in 2025 with a record $232 billion worth of deals in the first half, and bankers expect the trend to sustain fuelled by multi-billion dollar take-private arrangements, outbound investments and private equity activity, Reuters reported. Management reforms to tackle chronic low valuations among Japanese firms are spurring a flurry of foreign and activist investor interest, while Japan's low interest rates - which support deals - mean the appetite for more deals remains strong, bankers say.
Japan
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