Thailand’s central bank surprised markets with a rate cut at its first meeting of the year, delivering a second consecutive round of easing to bolster tentative signs of recovery, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Bank of Thailand’s monetary policy committee voted 4-2 on Wednesday to lower its policy rate to 1.00% from 1.25%. Two members voted to hold.

China said on Wednesday it had already met obligations linked to Washington's Section 301 unfair trade practices statute, after the U.S. Trade Representative signalled he would continue investigations that could lead to more tariffs, Reuters reported. Beijing made an agreement with the United States linked to that statute in 2020, a spokesperson from China's Commerce Ministry said. China hoped the U.S. would not "shift responsibility" or "provoke trouble" but will instead see that the agreement had been implemented, the spokesperson added in a statement. U.S.

China banned the export of critical minerals and other goods with potential military uses to several major Japanese companies, further escalating its pressure campaign against Tokyo over remarks Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported. The new measures, announced by China’s Commerce Ministry Tuesday, show Beijing isn’t backing down in its dispute with Japan, even after Takaichi won a resounding victory in a recent parliamentary election.

Private home prices in Hong Kong rose 0.5% in January, the eighth consecutive month of increase, strengthening signs of a housing recovery as analysts forecast prices to jump at least 10% this year, Reuters reported. Home prices edged higher in January from December on improved economic sentiment, Rating and Valuation Department data showed on Wednesday, following a revised 0.4% increase in December. Residential prices in Hong Kong, among the world's least affordable cities, climbed 3.7% in 2025, the first increase since they peaked in 2021.

China is closely monitoring U.S. policies and will decide "in due course" whether to adjust countermeasures to U.S. tariffs, a commerce ministry official said on Tuesday after President Donald Trump said he would levy a new temporary tariff of 15% on U.S. imports from all countries, Reuters reported. China is willing to hold frank consultations during an upcoming sixth round of U.S.-China economic and trade talks, the commerce ministry official added. "China has consistently opposed all forms of unilateral tariff measures and urges the U.S.

China banned the export of critical minerals and other goods with potential military uses to several major Japanese companies, further escalating its pressure campaign against Tokyo over remarks Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported. The new measures, announced by China’s Commerce Ministry Tuesday, show Beijing isn’t backing down in its dispute with Japan, even after Takaichi won a resounding victory in a recent parliamentary election.

Panama on Monday took over operations of container terminals at the Panama Canal, ending more than three decades of management by China, Freight Waves reported. Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Limited in a release said that it had been informed that Panamanian authorities made direct physical entry into the terminals at Balboa and Cristobal operated by subsidiary Panama Ports Company, S.A.

Mahagun Group has entered into a settlement with IDBI Trusteeship Services that had initiated insolvency proceedings against the real estate developer, giving hope to homebuyers associated with its ongoing project in Noida, the Economic Times of India reported. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on February 17 allowed withdrawal of the insolvency petition following a request from IDBI Trusteeship, which represents holders of Mahagun's non-convertible debentures, according to court documents.