China and Europe are engaged in discussions regarding import tariffs.

China and the European Union have agreed to commence discussions on the potential imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) imported into the European market. The German Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, has confirmed that the EU and China will enter into concrete negotiations on tariffs based on the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs. Mr. Habeck described this turn of events as unexpected, given the challenges encountered in scheduling negotiations in recent weeks. He highlighted that these discussions represent just the first of many stages in the process and that there is still a significant journey ahead. The EU is prepared to discuss the imposition of tariffs on Chinese exports, and Habeck's visit marks the first by a senior European official since the EU proposed the imposition of significant duties on Chinese EV imports to counteract the effects of excessive subsidies. Mr. Habeck emphasized that there is still an opportunity for dialogue between the EU and China before the tariffs come into full effect.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/china-dan-eropa-diskusi-penerapan-tarif-impor

The Japanese yen has weakened, with foreign investors choosing to divest from the Japanese stock market.

Foreign investors are divesting their holdings on Japan's stock exchanges, resulting in a decline in the stock rally that occurred at the beginning of 2024. Citigroup Inc., Abrdn Plc, and other fund managers have expressed pessimism about the country's stocks due to uncertainty surrounding corporate governance reforms and the Bank of Japan's monetary policy. A survey conducted by Bank of America Corp. revealed that a third of fund managers believe the Japanese market has already reached its peak. Following a period of net purchases, foreign investors have now been net sellers for four consecutive weeks. The sell-off reached ￥250 billion (US$1.6 billion) in the week ended 14 June, marking the longest record since September 2023. The decline in Japan's Nikkei 225 blue-chip index since reaching an all-time high on 22 March has also contributed to a more cautious investor outlook. Furthermore, the yen's persistent weakness is giving rise to concerns, with its rapid decline perceived as detrimental to Japan's economic outlook.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/yen-melemah-pasar-saham-jepang-ditinggal-investor-asing

The M&A market in Singapore is currently experiencing a period of high activity.

Singapore has become the focal point for merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Southeast Asia during the second quarter of 2024. The total value of the M&A deals reached US$23.8 billion, representing a 102% increase compared to the previous year. The return of investor confidence and stable economic and political conditions in Singapore have contributed to this increase in M&A transactions. One noteworthy transaction was the consortium of KKR and SingTel's investment of US$1.3 billion in STT GDC, a prominent data centre provider in Asia. Further M&A deals are anticipated in Singapore, including Allianz SE's potential acquisition of Income Insurance Ltd. The sentiment towards transformative inbound M&A transactions in Singapore is now more positive than in recent years, boosting confidence for future deals in the second half of 2024 and in 2025. In summary, Singapore has established itself as a key player in the M&A landscape in Southeast Asia.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/aksi-merger-dan-akuisisi-di-singapura-semarak