International News 28 October 2025
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China’s Industrial Profits Surge for Second Straight Month, Signaling Early Recovery Signs
China’s industrial profits rose 21.6% year-on-year in September 2025 — the fastest pace since November 2023 — marking a second consecutive month of strong growth after a 20.4% gain in August, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Cumulative profits for January–September climbed 3.2%, up from 0.9% in the prior period, driven mainly by high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors, supported by a low base effect. While improving export performance helped offset weak domestic consumption, economists warned that the rebound remains fragile amid intensifying U.S.–China trade tensions. State-owned firms posted a 0.3% drop in profits, while private and foreign enterprises grew 5.1% and 4.9%, respectively, underscoring uneven recovery across sectors. Analysts from Nomura cautioned that the surge reflects seasonal and base effects rather than a full-scale recovery. Beijing’s latest five-year plan emphasizes boosting domestic demand and advancing technological self-sufficiency — a cornerstone of its long-term strategy to sustain growth and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
Nikkei 225 Hits Historic 50,000 Mark as Markets Cheer Takaichi’s Stimulus Agenda
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged past the 50,000 level for the first time on Monday (Oct 27, 2025), fueled by optimism over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s anticipated ¥13.9 trillion (US$92.2 billion) fiscal stimulus package. The blue-chip index jumped 2.1% to close at 50,337.36 after touching an intraday high of 50,491.23, extending its year-to-date gains to 26%. The broader Topix Index also hit a record high, climbing 1.6% to 3,321.48. Analysts attributed the rally to market confidence in Takaichi’s pro-growth and market-friendly policies, which revived risk appetite after years of stagnation since Japan’s 1990s bubble era. Tech and retail giants led the charge — Advantest Corp soared 5.15%, while Fast Retailing, owner of Uniqlo, gained 2.73%. The rally followed Takaichi’s victory in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race, succeeding fiscally conservative Shigeru Ishiba. Her approach, echoing the stimulus-driven Abenomics legacy, has reassured investors seeking sustained policy support. Takaichi is also set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this week to strengthen economic ties amid renewed global growth optimism.
Trump Eases Emission Rules, Boosting Freeport-McMoRan’s Copper Operations
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (Oct 24, 2025) officially repealed a Biden-era regulation that tightened emission limits for copper smelters, granting a two-year exemption to affected facilities. The 2024 rule had required smelters to cut pollutants such as lead, mercury, and arsenic to meet updated federal clean air standards. The White House said the move aims to strengthen America’s mineral security by easing regulatory burdens on the domestic copper industry, warning that overly strict rules could force smelter closures and increase U.S. dependence on foreign processing. The policy directly benefits Freeport-McMoRan’s smelter in Arizona and Rio Tinto’s facility in Utah, though only Freeport will be affected by the exemption. Freeport welcomed the decision, calling it a necessary step to reassess the “Copper Rule” amid rising operational challenges, while Rio Tinto said its Utah smelter remains compliant thanks to prior emission-control investments. The measure is part of Trump’s broader critical minerals strategy, which designates copper as vital for defense, infrastructure, and clean energy sectors. The administration has also imposed a 50% tariff on select copper imports and mandated that most high-grade recycled copper be sold domestically.