Business

Bangladesh’s economy is caught in a debilitating ‘waiting vortex’ of stagnant investment, high inflation and weak business confidence, with experts saying only a credible and participatory election can restore stability and drive recovery. The prevailing consensus across the business and policy landscape is that the economy is currently ‘breathing, but unable to walk’ as it is paralysed by political uncertainty ...

Retail spending and industrial activity in China slowed in the latest monthly figures, underscoring the challenges authorities face in trying to revive confidence in the world’s second-largest economy. Despite the end of Covid restrictions, domestic consumption has remained weak, weighed down by a prolonged property-sector debt crisis that continues to hurt household sentiment. Economists have long argued that China must ...

Foster’s beer drinkers in the UK will soon find their lager’s alcohol strength cut to 3.4%. Heineken UK, which brews Foster’s, said cutting the alcohol strength from the current 3.7% would make the lager eligible for lower rates of alcohol duty. The brewer hinted at cheaper pints saying “customers benefit from more competitive pricing” because of the lower tax charge. ...

High Street businesses still grappling with the economic fallout of the last autumn’s Budget are “fearful” about what the latest one could bring. “It was a kick in the teeth,” says Katya Milavic-Davies, who owns four Myla and Davis hair salons, as well as the restaurant Llewelyn’s and the cafe Lulus, both in Herne Hill in south London. She says ...

The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) has recommended a fresh price increase for soybean oil, citing sharp rises in import costs and the weakening of the Bangladeshi taka against the US dollar. In a notification issued on Monday, the commission proposed raising the maximum retail price of bottled soybean oil by Tk 9.27 per litre, setting the new recommended ...

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has granted a Letter of Intent (LOI) for establishing a new state-backed bank, United Islami Bank Plc, merging five financially weak Islamic banks. The LOI, issued on Sunday with several conditions, comes after the government formally applied for approval last Wednesday. The proposed merger will consolidate five financially struggled Islamic banks– Social Islami Bank PLC (SIBL), First ...

China has suspended its ban on exporting certain key semiconductor components to the United States, the country’s commerce ministry announced Sunday. According to the ministry, restrictions on dual-use items containing gallium, antimony, and germanium will be lifted until November 27, 2026.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will organize a Business Opportunities Seminar (BOS) on November 12, 2025 at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) in the capital. The BOS will be held in Dhaka with active support from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in collaboration with relevant government agencies. The BOS will highlight key ongoing and upcoming business opportunities under ...

Bangladesh received remittances worth $584 million in the first five days of November, averaging $116.8 million per day, according to Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. He said that the inflow during the same period last year was $421 million, indicating a significant year-on-year increase. On November 5 alone, expatriates sent $123 million in remittances. From July ...

Asian markets rose on Thursday, recouping part of Wednesday’s steep losses as investors cheered a Wall Street bounce sparked by strong US jobs data and easing concerns about the economy. Investor sentiment improved after ADP payroll figures showed US private sector employment jumped far more than expected last month, following an unexpected decline the month before. Separate data also indicated ...