Trade & Supply Chain Finance

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said the decision to raise its interest rate to 8.75% is aimed at curbing inflation risks, as the Iran war keeps global oil prices elevated; the bank is also trying to increase US dollar liquidity to curb currency depreciation.

There is concern from businesses and politicians that the trade deal is harmful to many sectors, takes away flexibility, and hands the US many benefits; the government is also trying to renegotiate a multi-billion dollar loan with the IMF, which insists many reforms are needed.

The central bank said the surprise decision is a "pre-emptive" measure to keep inflation in check and to stablise the rupiah as the Iran war drags on. Exports of "strategic natural resources" will need to go through state-owned enterprises.

From the use of antibiotics, to biodiversity, to battery makers, to data centres, to shipping, the region's firms are teaming up with banks to help support a wide range of sustainability efforts with clearer targets.

The bonds will be used to stockpile bauxite, refinance debt, to invest in overseas projects, share repurchases and for general corporate purposes; the aluminium giant also issued a concurrent share repurchase.

From blocked shipping lanes to soaring raw material costs, senior company executives warn that supply chain pressures are structural, not cyclical, and the bill is heading to consumers, with long-term finance planning becoming harder.

As geopolitical shocks compress planning horizons and AI reshapes finance, Asia's finance professionals are rebuilding and reassessing their functions, said an expert panel from Henderson Land, Chai Tai Fook Enterprises and SF Supply Chain.

Despite the race to adopt AI and use fintech tools, CFOs and treasury leaders say communication, judgement and teams matter, and that career paths in finance are becoming anything but linear, said a panel at CTWeek.

From supply chain disruptions, shifting assumptions around rates and tenant fragility, CFOs and treasurers are dealing with the ripple effects of uncertainty across balance sheets, according to a panel at CTWeek.

The global firm is the first to introduce on-site solar energy at the cargo hub and is expanding the use of electric vehicles across Apac.

The RBI is taking a cautious approach as it sees GDP slowing in the fiscal year 2026/7 to 6.9% from 7.6% amid higher prices as a result of the war in the Middle East.

The renewal and modernisation of container ships is a priority for the global firm, including the use of green methanol-powered ships.