Japan's annual wholesale inflation slowed for a second consecutive month in January but yen-based import costs rose, highlighting the impact of a weak yen on prices and monetary policy.
Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production rebounded sharply in December 2025, rising 37.3% month-on-month, although output remained significantly lower compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
il prices edged up on Thursday morning as investors worried about escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, on fears that any attacks on Tehran or shipping could lead to supply disruptions.
The U.S. dollar was little changed to slightly lower on Wednesday, after traders pared back their Federal Reserve rate cut expectations following a blowout January jobs report.
Most Asian stock markets rose on Thursday, with South Korea surging to record highs on sharp gains in chipmakers, while Japanese shares traded flat after touching a fresh record peak above 58,000 points amid "Takaichi trade" optimism.
Honda Motor posted a 61% drop in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, hit by US tariffs and restructuring costs tied to its electric vehicle (EV) business, becoming the latest automaker to rack up fresh EV losses as demand for the technology cools.