Finance news

Tsunami from Japan megaquake could destroy 2 million cars: survey

More than 2 million cars could be damaged by tsunami waves in the event of a megaquake along the Nankai Trough off Japan’s Pacific coast, according to a survey by an organisation offering free rental vehicles to disaster victims. The survey, which covered 12 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including Aichi in central Japan, showed that at least 2.04 million privately owned vehicles could be hit by tsunami waves following a magnitude-8 or -9 earthquake – about five times the number of vehicles damaged.

Should Hong Kong ban smartphones in schools and who makes final call?

When Kwun Tong Maryknoll College in Hong Kong announced that it would tighten its mobile phone rules on campus, some pupils reacted so strongly that the Catholic boys’ school was forced to put the changes on hold. The secondary school, which currently only bans pupils from using their mobile phones on campus, had planned to require devices to be stored in designated lockers on each floor. Gaming near the school entrance was also to be banned, with rule-breakers facing four demerits. Form Five...

Hong Kong issues No 1 typhoon signal on Thursday morning

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 1 typhoon signal at 7.40am on Thursday as an approaching tropical cyclone moved south of the city. The centre of the tropical cyclone was about 800 kilometres (497 miles) from Hong Kong, according to the weather forecaster, which said it would assess whether to issue the No 3 strong wind signal on Friday. “The tropical.

Inside India newsletter: Amazon, Walmart-owned Flipkart get ready to shake up India's delivery-in-minutes sector

Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are scrambling to expand quick commerce operations in India, not just to chase growth but to remain relevant to consumers.

Aflac Japan reports breach on 4.38m customers, includes bank details

DAX group: Bayer spins off US glyphosate business into a new company

The independent subsidiary Ruveon is taking over the controversial weed killer business in the USA. This also has to do with the wave of lawsuits there.

Best allocation for business revenue?

Are there better options than holding your revenue in SPAXX? Is it better to invest it into something like VOO or is that too much risk for a business owner? I’m curious as to what other business owners do with cash revenue after they’ve already paid themselves and employees. submitted by /u/nonbelieber [link] [comments]

How North Korean POWs caught Seoul in a Ukraine arms ‘conundrum’

Ukraine’s unresolved decision regarding two North Korean prisoners of war who have said they want to go to South Korea has given Kyiv leverage as it presses Seoul to sell weapons for its war against Russia, observers say. The soldiers, captured in early 2025 after being deployed to Kursk to support Russia’s war effort, are considered South Korean nationals under Seoul’s constitution, which defines the entire Korean peninsula as the country’s territory. Seoul has said it would be willing to...

5 Under-the-Radar Stocks Fueling the AI Revolution

Nvidia was the first poster child of the AI revolution. OpenAI turned ChatGPT into a global phenomenon. Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic have since dominated headlines with ever-more-powerful models. But throughout history, the biggest fortunes made during a technological revolution rarely went to the most famous names. The California Gold Rush didn't create the most wealth for gold miners. It created fortunes for the people selling picks, shovels, railroads, and infrastructure. The same dynamic

Best Allocation of ETFs that also include dividend ETFs

Background: Hello I am 26 y/o in the US with a decent salary. I invest about $750 a month in broad market ETFs in my Roth IRA. The $750 I invest is after investing in my employers 401k upto the match. I want to start investing a little amount into dividend ETFs like $SCHD or $VIG. My question is what allocation % would/should someone my age put into dividend ETFs. I am adamant about starting the snowball effect of dividends ETFs. I am unsure what allocation % I should follow so would like to see

Opening a ‘Trump account’ for your children? Here is the risk you need to reckon with first.

The new accounts ban bonds and international stocks, forcing parents to bet their children’s financial future entirely on U.S. equities.

Trump sees progress as US and Iran hold talks in Qatar

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that indirect talks with Iran in Qatar were making progress, offering a tentative sign that diplomacy was holding after recent exchanges of fire threatened efforts to end the Middle East war. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Tehran’s delegation, later said the talks had concluded and that the sides had agreed to establish a communication channel by Thursday to report and record violations of their initial memorandum of...

Alibaba agrees to pay US$600 million to settle US probe into illegal product sales

Alibaba Group will pay US$600 million to settle a US Department of Justice investigation into allegations that its e-commerce platforms enabled the sale of thousands of illegal pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, and other prohibited products into the United States, marking one of the largest criminal resolutions involving a Chinese technology company. The settlement, announced on Wednesday, resolves the investigation through non-prosecution agreements with Alibaba and AUS Merchant Services,

Why Japanese airlines' $400 fuel surcharges are hitting now — and when they will end

Fuel surcharges at Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways increased Wednesday, despite falling jet fuel costs in Asia.

California to institute Bruce Lee Day, a first for a Chinese-American in the state

Martial arts icon Bruce Lee, who was born in San Francisco, will become the first Chinese-American in California history with an annual namesake day. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Tuesday afternoon officially designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day, according to the office of state Assemblymember Matt Haney, who represents San Francisco. An 18-year-old Lee returned to San Francisco on May 17, 1959, after spending his childhood in Hong Kong. Lee’s daughter, Shannon, who is CEO of the Bruce...

Rare momentum: Hong Kong universities, schools prop up commercial property market

Hong Kong’s educational institutions are forecast to ramp up their investment and leasing in the commercial property segment, with leading universities and international schools among those paying top dollar to acquire or lease office and retail spaces, according to Colliers. In the first five months of the year, property acquisitions by educational institutions accounted for nearly 40 per cent of total investment in the commercial property sector, the consultancy said. “Education-related...

Trump Targets California Again In SpaceX Feud

For years, U.S. President Donald Trump has loomed large over California's energy and environmental sectors as he tries to promote fossil fuels and roll back the state’s climate initiatives, with varying degrees of success. Back in 2019, the Trump administration effectively revoked California's federal waiver under the Clean Air Act that allowed the state to set its own stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards. The president has been even more aggressive during his second term. Last year, Tru

US declines to renew USMCA trade pact with Mexico, Canada

Lengthy negotiations are expected as the Trump administration seeks changes to a trade deal with Mexico and Canada that has streamlined supply chains across North America.

Jim Cramer says to use Wednesday's market rotation to your advantage. Here's how he'd play it

CNBC’s Jim Cramer said investors should use the latest market rotation to buy some of the biggest winners they may have missed.

Beijing’s message for Asean – China doesn’t want to become a regional hegemon

In comments directed at Asean, a top Communist Party official reiterated that Beijing did not want to become a regional hegemon, while vowing to strengthen its energy cooperation with the Southeast Asian bloc. “For a country like China, which has ‘harmonious coexistence’ embedded in its DNA, it is extremely difficult to undergo a ‘genetic mutation’ and become a militaristic hegemony that bullies the small and weak,” said Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the party’s International Department. Sun, who..

Wall Street Is Pivoting From Solar To Solar Plus Storage

The global solar energy boom is showing no signs of slowing down, with falling costs and ambitious clean energy targets continuing to drive rapid adoption. Last year, solar capacity additions surged 11% Y/Y to a record 647 GW worldwide, bringing the total cumulative solar capacity across the globe to 2.9 TW and cementing its position as the world's fastest-growing electricity source. Indeed, in April 2026, monthly global electricity generation from solar and wind surpassed gas-fired generation f

This is the best time ‘in a generation’ to buy space and defense stocks, analysts say

Wedbush analysts are taking a bullish view of the space sector, initiating coverage of SpaceX and other stocks.

+++ Ukraine War +++: Russian drones attack Kiev – fire in the city center

Zelenskyj expects massive Russian attack on Ukraine +++ Dead after Russian attacks on Odessa and Kharkiv +++ Zelenskyj: Companies in Europe work for Russia +++ The news blog.

Where can I invest my kid’s ‘Trump account’ money? The Treasury Department just answered that question.

The money in “Trump accounts” has to be invested in low-cost index funds — and now parents and investors are learning which funds they can actually use.

Business ticker: Defense company KNDS postpones IPO

The German-French company is waiting for “more favorable market conditions” +++ Prison sentence for fraud with the “Cleverbuy” portal +++ Sony stops producing video game discs +++ News in the company’s live blog.

Trump got $15,000 in FIFA tickets from Gianni Infantino. Next up: Presenting the World Cup trophy

Trump’s ties to FIFA and Gianni Infantino face new scrutiny as the World Cup enters the knockout round and European lawmakers press over a Peace Prize complaint.

US won’t renew USMCA trade pact as Greer targets Canada’s China ties

The United States confirmed on Wednesday it would not renew its North American trade pact, its trade chief blaming Canada’s pursuit of Chinese investment. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the three governments met virtually and that Washington would not endorse the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in its current form. “The United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form. As a result, the USMCA is not renewed,” Greer said in a statement. The refusal did.

Central Asia’s republics are no longer the chess pieces of empires

When people speak of the Great Game, they usually mean the 19th-century rivalry between the British and Russian empires for influence over Central Asia. It conjures up images of spies crossing deserts, mountain fortresses and imperial intrigue – an era vividly brought to life in Peter Hopkirk’s books, which first awakened my fascination with the region. A century and a half after the Great Game, another contest is unfolding across the same region. To the north is Russia, the region’s traditional

Federal government: tax reform, labor market, pensions, statutory health insurance, bureaucracy: coalition agrees on reform package

According to Handelsblatt information, the coalition committee reached a surprisingly quick agreement. The Union and the SPD want to implement reforms, especially in the areas of taxes and the labor market.

IPO date canceled: tank manufacturer KNDS postpones IPO

After the recent price losses in defense stocks, owners consider the market environment to be too weak. The next chance comes in September. The federal government is sticking with its entry.