Finance news

Peru faces drawn-out count as presidential race goes down to the wire

Peru faced a drawn-out count in its bitterly contested presidential run-off after results showed the race for the ninth head of state in 10 years was too close to call. Figures released by electoral authorities showed conservative politician Keiko Fujimori with a modest lead over nationalist congressman Roberto Sanchez with 58 per cent of ballots tallied in a contest overshadowed by people’s concerns about surging crime. The outcome, expected to be tight, may not be known for days. The figures..

Venture capital: Investors want to mobilize 15 billion euros more for start-ups

24 investors want to establish venture capital as a strategic asset class in the capital market. The new initiative warns: If this does not succeed, Germany's future will be lost.

Away from the water, far up: Every meter counts: What to do if there is a tsunami warning?

The earth has shaken, now is the tidal wave coming? What holidaymakers need to know about tsunami risks near the coast.

Pharmaceutical industry: Roche secures rights to cancer drugs in a billion-dollar deal

The Swiss pharmaceutical company is hoping for a billion-dollar market with the blood cancer drug Bexobrutideg. The active ingredient could also be used for other diseases.

Artificial intelligence: AI for engines and chips – PhysicsX raises $300 million

The British start-up PhysicsX is now worth $2.4 billion - and wants to revolutionize heavy industry and chip manufacturing with AI simulation. What makes the company so valuable.

+++ Federal policy +++: Bas calls for noticeable tax relief for citizens

Chancellor Frei defends savings target for care reform +++ Merz is probably not planning an E5 meeting to appease Trump +++ The news blog.

I Am Not a Perma Bear, But I Cannot Buy This Market

I am not a perma bear. I believe in equities, innovation, and long-term wealth creation. Markets rise more often than they fall, and betting against human progress is usually a mistake. But sometimes risk becomes too obvious to ignore. For me, that happened in March 2026. I sold all my stocks because I believed the market had moved from expensive to irrational. Since then, the market has gone parabolic, and missing that rally has been painful. Even so, I cannot buy back in. The first problem is

Tax advisor speaks plainly: “German tax law is a catastrophe”

Holger Jenzen is spokesman for the auditing and consulting firm RSM Ebner Stolz. How does he view the rapid change in the industry, the complicated regulations and the shortage of skilled workers?

Iran War: Iran fires rockets at Israel – counterattacks from Israel

Several military strikes in Israel, Iran and Lebanon could lead to a renewed escalation in the Middle East. US President Trump warned of the impact on the peace negotiations.

Macron’s nuclear pact expands across Scandinavia as global forces surges

Norway is just the latest ally to open discussions with Paris about France’s extended nuclear deterrence initiative.

SpaceX IPO: Five Musk promises in reality check

Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX wants to ignite the mega IPO - and attracts trillions in sales in space and on earth. What is true about the promises?

Japanese IT head says he made AI videos to smear Takaichi’s rivals during party poll

The head of a Japanese IT firm has said that he created videos criticising rivals of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in last year’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race, after being asked by one of her aides to help her win the election. Ken Matsui, 33, said in a recent online interview that he was consulted by a secretary of Takaichi on how to “reverse” the lead of Shinjiro Koizumi, then a strong contender to win the LDP presidential election in October. “I proposed that...

USA: Trump is once again urging new central bank chief Warsh to cut interest rates

Despite rising inflation, the US President continues to expect loose monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve. There are other means to slow the price increase.

Economic situation: Japan's economy grew less strongly in the first quarter

Japanese GDP only increases by 1.8 percent. Economists, on the other hand, had expected an increase of 2.1 percent. The reason for this is a sharp decline in one area in particular.

China turns African port into tourist spot, students rethink Hong Kong: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China is transforming historic African slave port into waterfront tourism magnet 2. The new Panama? Why Nicaragua could be next front in US-China influence battle 3. Is the dream over? Mainland students rethink Hong Kong over costs and cultural fit 4. How Chinese drink chains are testing the...

Morning Briefing Podcast: Markets: Missiles, risk and reality shock / Middle East: War escalates again

The markets are suddenly afraid of a tech bubble, at the same time Elon Musk's SpaceX is hoping for the biggest IPO of all time. How does that fit together? Well, conditionally.

State visit to Pyongyang: China's Xi Jinping begins state visit to North Korea

Xi Jinping visited North Korea for the first time in seven years. In advance, the Chinese head of state spoke of “new development opportunities” for the two neighboring countries.

Way out of the permanent crisis?: Wanted: Funders for start-ups

There is no shortage of promising start-ups in Germany, but all too often they run out of money. Could more venture capital be a recipe for the recovery of the German economy?

Israel Fires Back at Iran after Missile Attacks

Israel said it struck several military targets in Iran, retaliating against missile attacks by Tehran despite Trump's call for Netanyahu to refrain from hitting back.

Viral petition to expel Rohingya from Malaysia triggers hate speech warning

Malaysia’s human rights groups have warned of rising hostility towards Rohingya refugees after a petition shared widely on social media calling for the community to be “removed” from the country amassed nearly half a million signatures. The petition, launched on Change.org late last month by an account using the name “Aku Anak Malaysia”, urges the Malaysian government to consider resettling the Rohingya in another country or providing “enhanced support in their home regions” in Myanmar. It...

Foreign investors have dumped billions of dollars of Korean stocks this year despite record rally. Here's why

The selling intensified Monday as the benchmark Kospi plunged more than 8% at the open, even as it emerged as one of the world's standout performers thus far.

From Amulets, via Magical Elixirs and Indulgences, to Bitcoin

If we look at human history, we can see that technology is constantly changing, societies evolve, and civilizations rise and fall. But one thing remains surprisingly constant: the ease of getting other people’s money by playing on human fear, ignorance, trust, or the desire for a better life. Throughout history, this was done through amulets, magic elixirs, indulgences, false promises of wealth, fraudulent investments, and numerous other methods of exploiting human vulnerability. Today, the meth

Albanese vows to cut Australian migration after rise fuels support for populist One Nation

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday migration levels were reducing, responding to an opinion poll showing a right-wing populist party ahead of governing Labor. Support for One Nation party was 31 per cent, ahead of Labor on 30 per cent, a Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper on Monday showed. Albanese’s net approval rating has sunk to its lowest level since the 2022 election at minus 24, with 36 per cent of Australians satisfied with his performance, 60 per cent.

Lantau reclamation plans should be revived, property tycoon Gordon Wu says

Hong Kong should revive plans for large-scale reclamation off Lantau Island to run in parallel with the Northern Metropolis project, property magnate Gordon Wu Ying-sheung has said, warning that a lack of urban land will hold back the city’s development as the population grows. The 90-year-old founder and chairman of Hopewell Holdings also described it as “too early to say” whether his property empire would follow its peers and commit to investing in the mega development near the city’s border..

Asia tech stocks extend sell-off with SoftBank down over 7% as investors sour on AI-linked names

Asian tech stocks tracked overnight losses in U.S. tech names led by a sell-off in Broadcom.

China’s Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea after hailing everlasting friendship

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Pyongyang on Monday for a two-day visit, his first to North Korea since 2019. North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju gave Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan a warm welcome at the airport, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Xi was later given a grand welcome ceremony at the Kim Il-sung Square. As the largest public square in the heart of Pyongyang, it serves as North Korea’s primary venue for massive military parades, state rallies and major...

Middle East conflict: Escalation in the Middle East weighs on stock markets in South Korea and Japan

After missile attacks in the Middle East, the stock markets in South Korea and Japan reacted with heavy losses. In Seoul, stock trading had to be temporarily suspended due to strong price fluctuations.

South Korea and Japan stocks plunge on US rate hike fears, Mideast tensions

China's new beef barriers to redirect meat trade as Australia nears quota

One dead, damage reported after 7.8-magnitude quake hits south Philippines