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This comes as month-end approaches and investors look ahead to the U.S. central bank's May 2-3 policy meeting. The advance estimate of first-quarter U.S. GDP growth is out this week, and big tech earnings from Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon are due. Tesla shares fell 13% last week after an earnings miss, the biggest fall in almost a year. Ueda has insisted that the current policy will remain in place for now, damping down prospects of a shift this week. The central bank's revised inflation and growth forecasts might also give a clue as to when it will tweak or abandon YCC.

☆ Biden to meet Philippine President at White House on May 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech as part of a joint press statement with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, at Malacanang Palace, in Manila, Philippines, April 17, 2023. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERSSummary Treaty allies to reaffirm partnership - Philippines presidential officeTwo leaders to discuss economic cooperation - White HouseMarcos' second trip to U.S. since SeptemberApril 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will meet his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the White House on May 1 to discuss deepening economic cooperation and the Indo-Pacific region, Manila and Washington said on Friday. The two leaders will also discuss further economic cooperation, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "During the visit, President Biden will reaffirm the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance," the statement said. Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington and Costas Pitas in Los AngelesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Macron, Biden talk, but statements differ on Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, April 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday, but statements the two leaders released differed over Taiwan just 10 days after Macron had drawn criticism with allies over the issue. A readout from the French presidency made no direct mention of Taiwan, merely saying that both sides desired to "support international law, including freedom of navigation, throughout the Indo-Pacific region." The White House statement was in stark contrast, saying the two leaders "had reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." The French presidency also said it had presented "results obtained" from the China trip to Biden, although it did not elaborate on what those results were. Contrary to the White House statement, the French presidency said China had a role to play in the medium term to ending the war in Ukraine.

☆ Opinion: Taiwan could teach a master class in preparing for the worst
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Opinion Lanhee J. Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I visited Taiwan in late March as part of a US delegation that met with senior Taiwanese leaders in government and civil society, including Tsai. Nonetheless, several senior Taiwanese officials expressed disbelief when I told them that Trump might actually be the Republican nominee for president again, particularly given his recent legal troubles. President Joe Biden is also viewed favorably in Taiwan, particularly because of promises that the US would defend Taiwan if it was attacked by China. But senior administration officials have repeatedly stressed that, notwithstanding Biden’s statements, US policy toward Taiwan has not changed. Taiwanese officials must deal with the reality that with each passing day, an attack from China may be drawing near.

☆ Heineken sees Europe resilience offsetting Asia slowdown risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The world's second-largest brewer expects its operating profit this year to increase by a mid- to high- single-digit percentage. "We see signals of a relatively resilient Europe and risks of slower economic growth in Asia Pacific, thus performance across markets may be different than anticipated," Heineken said. Overall beer volumes fell 3.0% in the first quarter, below the average expectation of a 1.9% decline in a company-compiled poll. In Nigeria, another large Heineken market, volumes fell sharply due to a transition to new bank notes that left many consumers short of cash. Heineken expected the situation to improve, with the validity of old notes now extended.

April 18 (Reuters) - U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) first-quarter results surpassed Wall Street targets on Tuesday despite parts and labor shortages, as simmering geopolitical tensions fueled demand from both U.S. and international customers. Shares of the company rose as much as 3.8% to hit a record high of $508.1 in early trading. The Pentagon's $858 billion defense budget for 2023 has also resulted in multiple contract wins for U.S. defense firms such as Lockheed, Raytheon Technologies (RTX.N) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N), which count the U.S. Department of Defense as their biggest customer. Lockheed's order backlog also fell to $145.1 billion as of quarter-end from $150 billion at the end of 2022. The missiles maker reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting net sales in the range of about $65 billion to $66 billion and profits between $26.60 and $26.90 per share.

☆ United Airlines to increase flights connecting the US to Australia and New Zealand by nearly 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

United plans to operate 66 flights per week connecting the US and the South Pacific region this winter. That's a 40% increase in United flights to Australia and New Zealand compared to 2022. United Airlines is planning to ramp up its flights connecting the US to Australia and New Zealand by nearly 40%, the carrier announced Tuesday. Additionally, United plans to start offering daily flights between San Francisco and Brisbane, and twice daily flights between San Francisco and Sydney, starting October 28. United currently connects San Francisco to Brisbane three times per week, and San Francisco to Sydney daily.

☆ PageGroup sees 29% slump in annual profit on tough market conditions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 17 (Reuters) - Global recruiter PageGroup Plc (PAGE.L) on Monday forecast a near 29% slump in its annual profit and said the challenging conditions it experienced towards the end of 2022 have continued into 2023. PageGroup now expects annual operating profit to be in line with a company-compiled consensus of 140 million pounds ($173.9 million), way below the 196.1 million pounds it reported for fiscal year 2022. High inflation and persistent recession worries have forced many companies to cut jobs or freeze hiring, and prefer temporary hiring over permanent roles in their bid to minimise potential risks. The FTSE midcap (.FTMC) firm also posted a 2.4% decline in gross profit at 262.7 million pounds in constant currency terms for the three months ended March 31, mainly weighed down by performance in the Asia Pacific region. ($1 = 0.8054 pounds)Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh VenkateshwaranOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"The message is the same across the G7: that we want to work with China in those areas where China is prepared to work with us," a senior U.S. State Department official told reporters on a call. "We are certainly going to stand up against any coercion, any market manipulation, any efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," the official added. Beijing views Taiwan as Chinese territory and has not renounced the use of force to take the democratically governed island. China is increasingly trying to replace international rules with "its own rules", German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday on the sidelines of the G7 meeting. China's top diplomat Wang Yi "hopes and believes" Germany will support China's "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

☆ Britain's Superdry considering 20% equity raise
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - Struggling British fashion brand Superdry (SDRY.L) said on Friday a potential equity raise of up to 20% backed by founder and CEO Julian Dunkerton was among funding options being considered. The group, whose shares have fallen 37% over the last year, also withdrew its profit guidance of "broadly breakeven" for its current year and is now forecasting revenue in the range of 615 million pounds to 635 million pounds ($771-$796 million). Superdry, which had warned on profit in January, said retail sales in February and March, did not meet its expectations. Superdry also said it has also identified cost savings of over 35 million pounds. "My belief in the Superdry brand is stronger than ever which is why I’m prepared to provide material support to any equity raise undertaken," he added.

☆ Russia conducts surprise inspection of Pacific Fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 14 (Reuters) - Russia will conduct missile launches and torpedo tests as part of a surprise inspection of its Pacific naval fleet, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday. "The main objective of this inspection is to increase the ability of the Armed Forces to repel the aggression of a probable enemy from the direction of ocean and sea," Shoigu said on state television. "This is a common practice, it has been constantly carried out in recent years and it continues. This is about maintaining the necessary level of combat readiness of our armed forces," Peskov told a daily news briefing. In other recent military activity in the area, Russia's navy fired supersonic anti-ship missiles at a mock target in the Sea of Japan on March 28.

☆ IMF urges Asia to keep monetary policy tighter for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Siphiwe SibekoSummarySummary Companies IMF revises up this year's Asia-Pacific growth f'castChina's reopening to underpin Asia's recoveryImpact of global banking stress on Asia limited - IMFWASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Asian central banks may need to keep monetary policy "tighter for longer" to combat still substantial inflation risks, senior International Monetary Fund official Krishna Srinivasan said on Thursday. The latest forecast implies the region will contribute over 70% of global growth this year, Srinivasan said. The IMF expects China's economy to expand by 5.2% in 2023, higher than the previous year's 3.0% growth. "China's reopened economy is rebounding strongly, and this will generate positive spillovers to its trading partners, providing fresh momentum for Asia's growth," he said. "Unless strains increase and raise broad-based stability concerns, central banks should separate monetary policy objectives from financial stability goals," he said.

☆ Opinion: Amid fallout of Macron-Xi meeting, another world leader tries his luck
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Like most of China’s diplomacy, the country paints itself as champion of global peace, even as it launches menacing military maneuvers. French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, April 6. Just hours after Macron left, China launched an alarming military operation, encircling Taiwan in a simulation of an assault.

☆ Macron: France's 'tone deaf' president faces backlash over Taiwan comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In it, he said that Europe must not become “just America’s followers” when asked about the prospect of China invading Taiwan. One said that Macron is “simply tone deaf to everything happening in the world. They were surprised to see Macron’s comments so soon after that meeting. For all that Macron’s comments could be put down to a president under pressure at home doing things on the world stage to create a distraction, his comments on Taiwan have done real damage to the fragile transatlantic relationship. It might not have been his intention, but Macron’s comments have come at a yet unknown cost.

☆ Macron: France favours 'status quo' on Taiwan, position unchanged
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speak at a news conference during Macron's state visit to the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, Netherlands April 12, 2023. We're in favour of the status quo. This policy is constant and hasn't changed," Macron told a news conference during a state visit in the Netherlands. "So no, France does not support provocations, does not engage in fantasy politics and considers the status quo, respect and clarity are the best allies of European strategic autonomy," Macron said. The meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week - prior to China's drills - was a "provocation", the diplomat said.

BEIJING, April 12 (Reuters) - China's exports and imports likely extended their declines in March, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, as weakening global demand squeezed factory supply chains and order books. Such a result would add to policymakers' concerns about China's fragile economic recovery. Exports have struggled in the months following China's decision to drop its COVID curbs in December, when the world's second-largest economy re-opened. Other Asian exporters such as South Korea and Vietnam have also seen exports decline in the first few months of 2023. Reporting by Joe Cash; Polling by Madhumita Gokhale and Anant Chandak; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's President Xi stresses need to deepen military training, preparation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, April 12 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping inspected his country's Southern Theatre Command navy on Tuesday and stressed the need to deepen military training and preparation, state media reported. Xi also said there was a need to improve the ability to respond to complex situations in a timely and appropriate manner, state media added. Xi also said that China will resolutrely defend its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interets, and strive to maintain stability in neighboring areas, state media said. Recently, China has quarrelled with the United States, claiming several times that a U.S. destroyer has operated in its territorial waters around the South China Sea. The United States and Philippines are also currently holding their largest joint military drills over shared concerns about China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Investors should park some of their money in Hyatt Hotels shares, as high-end leisure and a rebound in international travel drive growth, according to Bernstein. Analyst Richard J. Clarke named the hotel chain his top pick for 2023, noting that Hyatt's strength in luxury stays sets it apart for the biggest revenue acceleration amongst other big hotel groups. The analyst has an outperform rating on Hyatt shares. "Added to that is the highest exposure to the leisure tourists, especially high-end leisure, which gives Hyatt the greatest offset to a potential downturn. "In a blue sky scenario, we would argue that Hyatt's exposure to luxury should deserve a multiple premium even, as we see in the luxury car and goods sectors."

☆ Philippines, U.S. begin joint troop exercises amid regional tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] General view during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 11, 2023. The expanded annual exercises underscore improved defence ties under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after his predecessor scaled back drills to pursue closer ties with Beijing. For the first time, the Philippines and the United States will hold live-fire drills at sea during the three-week event known as the 'Balikatan' or 'shoulder-to-shoulder' exercises. China's foreign ministry on Monday criticised the joint exercises, saying they "must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests." President Marcos is expected to witness the live-fire sea drills which will involve the sinking of an old Philippines navy ship, according to a Philippine military official.

[1/4] Chinese President Xi Jinping and France's President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Guandong province governor's residence, in Guangzhou, China, Friday, April 7, 2023. Macron's comments came in an interview on a trip to China that was meant to showcase European unity on China policy, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also taking part, but highlighted differences within the European Union. A senior diplomat from Central and Eastern Europe, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "President Macron is not speaking for Europe or the European Union. The French foreign ministry cancelled a planned debrief on the trip for foreign diplomats in Paris on Tuesday as officials scrambled to make sure they had a consistent message and to limit any fallout with Washington. But even some of those broadly supportive of Macron's agenda lamented the handling of the China trip, in which von der Leyen received a much more muted welcome than the French president.

☆ Australia defence chief: US intel leak report 'serious' incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 11 (Reuters) - A possible intelligence leak by the United States was a "serious" incident, Angus Campbell, the chief of Australia's Defence Force, said on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. was engaging with its partners to understand the consequences. The AUKUS partnership with Britain and the United States for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines was the most prominent example of engagement, he said, but Australia was also working with Pacific island and South East Asian nations. Asked whether Australia had a role in a conflict over Taiwan, Campbell said, "Anything that undermines the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region in which we live is of interest to Australia." The war in Ukraine showed that there was no way to predict how any conflict would unfold, Campbell said. Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Tom Hogue, Clarence Fernandez and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: What is known about latest leak of U.S. secrets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is what we know and do not know about what appears to be the gravest leak of U.S. secrets in years:ARE THE DOCUMENTS REAL? Materials marked that way would have been seen by thousands of people with security clearances. But because not all of the documents are marked FVEY, U.S. officials believe whoever leaked them could be American. - China: Predictions about how China would respond to Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, along with details about British plans in the Indo-Pacific region. - South America: Information about Brazilian officials' plan to visit Moscow in April to discuss a Ukraine mediation scheme.

☆ Asia markets rise in muted session as most markets closed for holiday
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Aerial view of the capital city of Seoul in South Korea, seen at sunset. Stocks in Tokyo and Seoul traded higher on Friday in a muted session as most markets are closed for a holiday in the wider Asia-Pacific region. The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.27% and the Topix gained 0.4%. In South Korea, the Kospi gained 1% and the Kosdaq rose 0.74%Australia, Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and India are closed.

☆ Moscow is trying to play it cool, but its military moves hint at growing concern over NATO's newest member
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Finland's admission this month doubles the length of NATO's border with Russia and does so in a region with important Russian military outposts. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine scared not only Finland into joining NATO but also Sweden, which hasn't fought a war since Napoleon was alive. This boosts the alliance's military, political, and economic power considerably and confronts Russia with the prospect of even more NATO forces on its border. There is the possibility of NATO forces and infrastructure being deployed to those countries. Russia's Arctic forces also field an array of powerful weapons, including submarine- and land-based cruise missiles and air-launched hypersonic weapons.

The money will be used for operational funds such as buying chip production materials, SK Hynix said in regulatory filing on Tuesday. SK Hynix's deal was the largest convertible bond in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, in a year, according to Refinitiv data. SK Hynix did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the demand. Shares in SK Hynix fell as much as 4% in Tuesday trade, while the wider market (.KS11) rose 0.4% as of 0238 GMT. SK Hynix posted a record quarterly operating loss of 1.7 trillion won ($1.38 billion) in the September-December quarter.

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