7-Eleven Owner Rejects $38B Takeover Bid from Canadian Rival
In a bold move, Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of the global convenience store giant 7-Eleven, has turned down a $38 billion takeover offer from Canadian retail powerhouse Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT), calling the bid “opportunistically timed” and far below the company’s true value. In a letter to ACT,
Trump Threatens China With 50% Tariff as Global Markets Slide
Tensions flared on Monday in the U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his tariff battle with China, threatening a 50% levy on Chinese imports if Beijing does not retract its newly imposed 34% counter-tariff. The warning, issued via Trump’s Truth Social post, comes just days after his “Liberation Day” policy slapped
Thailand Sets Sights on Reducing Trade Surplus with the U.S.
In a move to balance trade relations, Thailand is looking to cut down its trade surplus with the United States to $20 billion. The plan? More U.S. products—specifically agricultural goods like corn, soybeans, and ethylene- are being imported. This initiative aims to address trade disparities while aligning with evolving U.S.
Southeast Asian Shippers Face Freight Rate Challenges
Anticipating potential tariffs and trade restrictions, many companies have expedited shipments—a practice known as front-loading—to avoid increased costs. This surge in early shipments has led to temporary spikes in demand, followed by periods of reduced shipping activity, causing fluctuations in freight rates. For instance, in December 2024, ocean freight rates
Asia FX Rally as Trump’s Tariff Relief Pressures Dollar
Asian currencies strengthened while the U.S. dollar hovered at a four-month low following tariff concessions on Canada and Mexico. However, market sentiment remained fragile as President Donald Trump maintained a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, prompting retaliation from Beijing. Investors assessed China’s pledges for additional stimulus measures announced at a
GE Joins Forces for a Game-Changing Japan Power Grid Bid
In the latest turn of events, General Electric’s subsidiary plans to join hands with international investors on a project to build one of the largest power grids in Japan. As the global energy landscape is facing a 75% increased power demand, Japan is facing its own set of challenges. For
‘China Plus One’ Drives Japanese Firms Towards India
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese companies are moving forward to adopt the ‘China Plus One’ plan and diversifying their manufacturing and supply chains to reduce dependence on China. For this, they plan to establish production facilities in alternative nations, with India being a major country. Deloitte Japan CEO (Chief Executive
Foxconn Aims for Cooperation with Nissan, Not Control
In the latest turn of events, Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics maker and Apple’s main iPhone maker, is planning to partner with Nissan to diversify its business in the electric vehicle sector. Nissan, one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, is currently struggling to maintain its hold
Japan’s Current Account Booms While Trump Tensions Loom
Japan’s current account surplus reached an all-time high in 2024, driven largely by the yen’s depreciation, which boosted returns on overseas investments. This surge comes amid growing concerns over the impact of US President Donald Trump’s economic policies. According to data from the Finance Ministry released on Monday, the surplus
Redefining the IT Landscape: The No-Code Revolution
As businesses strive to become more agile, innovative, and cost-efficient, no-code platforms increasingly become the go-to software development solution. The no-code platforms allow founders and non-IT professionals to create functional applications using pre-built models instead of writing complex codes, making the app development process more efficient and cost-effective. But this
