South Korea’s small-cap Kosdaq Index surged sharply on Friday following media reports suggesting that the government may introduce tax incentives and encourage greater stock market participation by institutional investors. The rally, driven by renewed optimism ahead of expected policy measures, saw the Kosdaq outperform the nation’s benchmark Kospi Index by…

MediaTek Inc. shares are on track for their strongest weekly performance in more than two decades, driven by renewed investor confidence following advances in artificial intelligence technology at key customer Google. The rally underscores shifting expectations for the Taiwanese chipmaker, long reliant on smartphones, as it gains exposure to the…

The global news cycle opened with a series of impactful developments across politics, markets, and cybersecurity, shaping sentiment heading into the final stretch of the week. From President Donald Trump’s renewed push to tighten US immigration policy to a sudden trading halt at CME Group that rippled through futures markets,…

US financial services firm StoneX Group is set to significantly expand its footprint in the burgeoning Indian market with a two-pronged strategy focused on both financial services and technological capability. The company plans to launch a dedicated precious metals trading desk in India in early 2026, marking a major commitment to…

Germany is preparing a new wave of defence spending as lawmakers move toward approving €2.9 billion for 11 procurement contracts that support a wide stretch of domestic military manufacturing. The planned approvals are expected at a closed-door meeting next week, marking another step in Germany’s attempt to rebuild its armed…

Japan is moving ahead with a new spending plan to reinforce its long-term strategy for artificial intelligence and semiconductor development. The government has outlined an extra budget of about ¥252.5 billion, reports Bloomberg, which is smaller than last year’s package but reflects a shift in approach. Instead of relying on…

China’s Baidu has begun large-scale layoffs that could reshape its workforce structure, as the company faces intensifying competition in artificial intelligence and shrinking advertising revenue, six people with knowledge of the matter said, Reuters reported. The reductions, which started this week, are expected to continue until the end of the…

Global investment in geothermal energy is set to soar, with capital expenditure (capex) projected to climb by approximately 20% annually through 2030, according to the latest analysis from Rystad Energy.The growing momentum in geothermal energy, which harnesses heat from the earth’s depths, is expanding its reach beyond established centers in…