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The United States has escalated its trade confrontation with India by doubling tariffs to 50%, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil. The move, coming into effect 21 days after its announcement on August 6, signed by President Donald Trump, represents one of the steepest levies against a key U.S. trading partner. It also signals a tougher phase in Washington’s effort to pressure nations dealing with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

As 2025 rolls on, Asian economies find themselves walking a tightrope. The global trading system is still reeling from escalating tariffs and retaliatory measures, triggered by the United States’ increasingly protectionist policies under President Trump. While a temporary de-escalation manifested by agreement between the US and China to lower most of their mutual tariffs has brought short-term relief, uncertainty remains the dominant theme. This has been reflected in asset markets, as investors try to anticipate where the trade policy is headed next.

Despite a steep decline in the U.S. dollar, the Indian rupee has shown only minimal gains, defying expectations of a stronger rally. While global investors might expect emerging currencies like the rupee to rise, India’s expansionary monetary policy, structural dollar dependence, and cautious approach to export competitiveness are keeping the currency in check. This article examines why the rupee remains stable despite the dollar's decline.

As the U.S.–China trade war started to escalate, Beijing introduced new actions to protect its economy. With exports to the U.S. falling sharply and tariffs rising, China rolled out a mix of interest rate cuts and targeted support. However, a diplomatic solution was reached in Geneva that lowered tariffs and at least for some time brought a bit of ease on global markets.

Markets have always reacted to political decisions, but rarely with the intensity seen after Donald Trump's renewed push for tariffs in April 2025. The return of aggressive trade measures and their sudden reversal has not only shaken global stock markets but also reignited one of investors' biggest fears: uncertainty.

Trade wars have long been a tool of economic and political leverage, but their consequences can reshape global markets and industries. The latest escalation between the U.S. and China exemplifies this, as President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, triggering swift retaliation of the largest Asian economy. After retaliative tariff imposition, China has recently also adopted fiscal and monetary policies to counter the negative impact on the economy. Analysts all around the world now closely watch to see who will emerge stronger.

A Chinese-made artificial intelligence model called DeepSeek has taken the tech world by storm, shooting to the top of Apple Store’s download charts and causing significant ripples across global financial markets. Its rise has stunned investors and even led to a massive selloff in some major tech stocks. What is DeepSeek and where it came from? Are fears about the ChatGPT replacement justified? And can other countries wipe out the lead of US companies?

China Construction Bank (CCB), one of the world’s largest banks, continues to expand its international footprint and drive innovation. Recent developments show CCB's commitment to fostering economic ties, advancing digital transformation, and promoting sustainability. The opening of new branches outside China, participation in sustainability-focused collaborations, reflect a forward-thinking strategy that combines cutting-edge technology with green finance.

One of the Chinese technology giants is trying to find its way back to the top. Alibaba Group has stepped the upwards trajectory of its total revenue, net income and the value of its stocks. In fiscal year Alibaba earned almost 10 bn USD in net income. Over 50 percent more than just two years ago.

Despite the recent short-term gain of the U.S. dollar, mainly due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the greenback has experienced sustained weakening against other major currencies over the past couple of months. This trend began as interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve became more likely, resulting in the bigger than expected September cut, coinciding with signs of deterioration in the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is increasingly trying to assert the yuan’s dominance in global markets. How likely is it to succeed?