ASIA: China has set its lowest annual GDP target in decades, as premier Li Keqiang warned of a “grave and uncertain” outlook against the backdrop of the coronavirus, a slowing economy and the war in Ukraine. Li announced on Saturday the unusually modest target of about 5.5% growth for 2022 – the lowest since […]

ASIA: India has signed contracts to export about 500,000 tonnes of wheat in recent days, traders said, cashing in on a sharp rally in international prices and signaling a big uptick in overseas sales from the world’s second biggest producer of the grain. Traders said last week they had received inquiries from buyers seeking alternatives […]

ASIA: India is likely to rank among the emerging economies worst affected by the Russia-Ukraine crisis as a surge in global prices of commodities is set to upend spending plans and derail its pandemic recovery, analysts say. If the conflict lasts, India, which imports close to 85% of its oil needs, is likely to see […]

I warned ion the private blog that cryptocurrencies may end up being suspended. The excuse will be Russia and the news is out now that Biden will sign an Executive Order to regulate cryptos because Russia can use it to circumvent sanctions. Not only is Biden authorizing the regulation of digital currencies, but he is […]

ASIA: Chinese President Xi Jinping told the military to step up the use of law in military engagement with foreign countries, Chinese state-owned television CCTV reported. Speaking at the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, he said he was aiming to “improve the laws […]

ASIA: China is targeting a non-hydro energy storage installed capacity of 30GW by 2025 and grew its battery production output for energy storage by 146% last year, state media has said. The country is aiming for 50% electricity generation from renewable power by 2025, up from 42% currently. Also the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) reportedly […]

Comment: Hello Mr. Armstrong, I hope you will have time to read the following about the situation in Québec and hopefully post it on your blog for the benefit of all. What is going on in the Province of Québec currently is far more serious than the “health tax” brought up this week by Premier Legault.  […]

ASIA: Japan’s economic growth will likely grind to a near halt this quarter as coronavirus curbs and supply disruptions threaten to derail the country’s economic recovery, a Reuters poll of economists showed on Monday. The forecast was much lower than the robust expansion expected in January’s projection in a sign of the heavy damage chip […]

ASIA: A top Chinese official warned on Tuesday that China’s economy faces multiple challenges at home and abroad this year, including “huge” pressure from uncertainty over global trade and from still-lackluster domestic consumption. Foreign trade, which helped drive the world’s second-largest economy last year, will be confronted by uncertain external demand and a high statistical […]

ASIA: China’s refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine leaves it in a “lose-lose situation” that will hamper its ambition to expand its economic influence globally, experts say. China’s move last week to lift all import restrictions on Russian wheat, which had previously been restricted due to phytosanitary concerns, was viewed by some in the international community […]