China's exports slowed sharply and imports unexpectedly shrank in November, in a worrying sign for the world's No. 2 economy as Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House brings fresh trade risks, Reuters reported. The disappointing trade figures follow other indicators showing patchy growth in November, suggesting Beijing needs to do more to shore up a faltering economy that is only likely to face further challenges next year. Outbound shipments grew 6.7% last month, customs data showed on Tuesday, missing a forecast 8.5% increase and down from a 12.7% rise in October.

The Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates on hold as expected on Tuesday, but said it is gaining confidence that inflation is on track to sustainably return to the target band, the Wall Street Journal reported. The official cash rate was kept at 4.35%, where it has stood for over a year. “Some of the upside risks to inflation appear to have eased and while the level of aggregate demand still appears to be above the economy’s supply capacity, that gap continues to close,” the RBA’s policy-setting board said in a statement.

Japan's bankruptcy filings this year are set to surpass 10,000 and hit the highest since 2013, private-sector data by Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR) showed on Monday, ahead of a closely watched central bank meeting next week, Reuters reported. In November, 841 Japanese companies went bankrupt, bringing the January-November tally to 9,164, already exceeding last year's total, data from the credit research agency showed. The 2024 bankruptcy figure will likely exceed 10,000 for the first time since 2013, when 10,855 firms went bankrupt. The Bank of Japan holds a rate review on Dec.

The Japanese economy grew more quickly than initially estimated in the July-September quarter, fueling expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates soon and lending further strength to the yen, the Wall Street Journal reported. Real gross domestic product expanded 1.2% on an annualized basis in the quarter, compared with 0.9% growth in the preliminary estimates released in mid-November. The Japanese economy grew 0.3% from the previous quarter, revised government data showed on Monday.

The Chinese government plans to transfer ownership in one of the nation’s biggest bad-debt managers to a unit of its sovereign wealth fund in coming weeks as part of a regulatory overhaul, Bloomberg News reported. The Ministry of Finance is currently going through the process to move its holdings in China Cinda Asset Management Co. to Central Huijin Investment Ltd. The plan is in its final stage but may still change or get delayed.

China’s leaders signaled a more forceful policy approach to shoring up the economy as Beijing braces for trade tensions under the incoming Trump administration, employing language they haven’t used since the depths of the global financial crisis, the Wall Street Journal reported. The 24-man Politburo, China’s top decision-making body, pledged Monday to implement more proactive fiscal policy and to adopt a “moderately loose” monetary policy next year—the first introduction of such language since 2008.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday rejected Jaiprakash Associates Ltd's petition challenging the insolvency proceedings initiated against the company, the Economic Times of India reported. A three-member bench led by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan has upheld the orders passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had directed to initiate Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) against the company.

India’s central bank kept its policy rate unchanged as it walks the line between curbing inflation and boosting growth after a surprisingly weak quarter, the Wall Street Journal reported. Reserve Bank of India Gov. Shaktikanta Das said Friday that the monetary-policy committee decided to maintain its policy repo rate at 6.50%, with four of six members voting in favor of the move. That marks an 11th consecutive hold by the Indian central bank, keeping the benchmark rate at the same level it has been at since February 2023.

For the past three years, steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has performed an extraordinary feat of corporate survival, Bloomberg News reported. The British industrialist managed to keep most of his empire of steel plants even as creditors circled, concerns arose about alleged wrongdoing regarding trades and he faced probes for suspected fraud and money laundering. Now his luck may be running out. Gupta’s Speciality Steel UK Ltd. unit went to court in London Wednesday to try to avoid liquidation.