United News of Bangladesh

Global stocks exhibited mixed trends on Monday, as investors sought bargains despite lingering concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies, reports AP. In early trading, France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.2% to 7,988.29, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.3% to 21,817.79. Britain’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.4% to 8,738.98. U.S. stock futures indicated a modest rise, with Dow futures increasing by 0.2% to 44,507.00 and S&P 500 futures advancing 0.3% to 6,067.50. Asian markets mixed as DeepSeek boosts Chinese tech stocks In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed nearly flat, rising less than 0.1% to 38,801.17. The Japanese government announced a record current account surplus of 29 trillion yen ($191 billion) for the previous year, reflecting strong returns from overseas investments, aided by a weak yen and a recovery in Japanese exports. The current account surplus, a broad measure of trade performance, surged nearly 30% from the prior year, marking its highest level since comparable records began in 1985. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened to 152.41 Japanese yen, up from 151.39 yen, while the euro dipped slightly to $1.0321 from $1.0328. Shares of Nippon Steel, whose planned acquisition of U.S. Steel faces opposition from Trump—as it did from former President Joe Biden—fell 0.5%. During a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, Trump stated that Nippon Steel should instead invest in U.S. Steel. Japan’s government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo on Monday that Nippon Steel was preparing “a bold proposal” to invest in U.S. Steel, aiming for a “win-win” outcome for both countries, though he did not elaborate. Nippon Steel declined to comment. Despite Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 1.8% to 21,521.98, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.6% to 3,322.17. Hong Kong's post office continues to suspend packages for US as it seeks clarification over tariff Technology stocks were among the gainers, amid optimism over potential Chinese stimulus measures. China is countering the U.S. tariffs with its own levies on selected American imports and has launched an antitrust investigation into Google. Trump announced that he would impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S., effective Monday. According to Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, markets are bracing for volatility, as Asian economies—along with Mexico and Canada—will be affected by the tariffs. Trump has granted a 30-day exemption for all imports from Mexico and Canada, but the newly imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium will still apply to them once the exemption expires. “Asian markets are facing a turbulent start,” said Innes, though he noted that some of the anticipated impact may have already been priced in. South Korea’s Kospi edged down less than 0.1% to 2,521.27, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3% to 8,482.80. Investors are also monitoring corporate earnings reports. Automakers Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Corp. are set to release their earnings on Thursday, as speculation mounts that their joint holding company talks may fall apart. Recent Japanese media reports, citing unnamed sources, have caused fluctuations in both stocks over the past week. On Monday, Honda shares fell 0.9%, while Nissan declined 0.8%. In commodities, benchmark U.S. crude gained 40 cents, reaching $71.40 per barrel, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 41 cents to $75.07 per barrel.

 President Donald Trump said he is serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st state in an interview that aired Sunday during the Super Bowl preshow. “Yeah it is,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier when asked whether his talk of annexing Canada is “a real thing" — as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently warned. “I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen," he said. "Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially a subsidy to Canada?” The U.S. is not subsidizing Canada. The U.S. buys products from the natural resource-rich nation, including commodities like oil. While the trade gap in goods has ballooned in recent years to $72 billion in 2023, the deficit largely reflects America’s imports of Canadian energy. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada would be better off if it agreed to become the 51st U.S. state — a prospect that is deeply unpopular among Canadians. Trudeau said Friday during a closed-door session with business and labor leaders that Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state was “a real thing" and tied to desire for access to the country’s natural resources. “Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. In my conversations with him on ...,” Trudeau said, according to CBC, Canada's public broadcaster. “They’re very aware of our resources of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those." Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday as he traveled to the Super Bowl game in New Orleans, Trump continued to threaten a country that has long been one of the U.S.'s closest allies. He claimed that Canada is "not viable as a country” without U.S. trade, and warned that the founding NATO member can no longer depend on the U.S. for military protection. “You know, they don’t pay very much for military. And the reason they don’t pay much is they assume that we’re going to protect them," he said. “That’s not an assumption they can make because — why are we protecting another country?" Bangladesh issues may feature in Modi-Trump talks, hints India In the Fox interview, which was pre-taped this weekend in Florida, Trump also said that he has not seen enough action from Canada and Mexico to stave off the tariffs he has threatened to impose on the country's two largest trading partners once a 30-day extension is up. “No, it’s not good enough,” he said. “Something has to happen. It’s not sustainable. And I’m changing it.” Trump last week agreed to a 30-day pause on his plan to slap Mexico and Canada with a 25% tariff on all imports except for Canadian oil, natural gas and electricity, which would be taxed at 10%, after the countries took steps to appease his concerns about border security and drug trafficking. Aboard Air Force One, Trump said that he would on Monday announce a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., including from Canada and Mexico, and unveil a plan for reciprocal tariffs later in the week. “Very simply it’s if they charge us, we charge them,” he said. Trump’s participation in the Super Bowl interview marked a return to tradition. Presidents have typically granted a sit-down to the network broadcasting the game, the most-watched television event of the year. But both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, were inconsistent in their participation. Biden declined to participate last year — turning down a massive audience in an election year — and also skipped an appearance in 2023, when efforts by his team to have Biden speak with a Fox Corp. streaming service instead of the main network failed. During his first term, Trump participated three out of four years. Trump was the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl in person — something he told Baier he was surprised to learn. “I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president at the game,” he said. During his flight to New Orleans, Trump signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 “the first ever Gulf of America Day" as Air Force One flew over the body of water that he renamed by proclamation from the Gulf of Mexico. Trudeau: Trump’s idea of Canada as a U.S. state is serious Trump in the interview, also defended the work of billionaire Elon Musk, whose so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been drawing deep concern from Democrats as he moves to shut down whole government agencies and fire large swaths of the federal workforce in the name of rooting out waste and inefficiency. Musk, Trump said, has “been terrific," and will target the Department of Education and the military next. “We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” Trump predicted. “I campaigned on this." He was also asked about his dancing, which has become a popular meme on social media. “I don't know what it is," he said. “I try and walk off sometimes without dancing and I can’t. I have to dance.”

Asian markets showed mixed performances on Friday, with Chinese technology stocks gaining while most other regional equities declined, reports AP. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.72% in afternoon trading to 38,787.02. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.11% to 8,511.40, while South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.58% to 2,521.92. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.91% to 21,081.72, and the Shanghai Composite rose 1.01% to 3,303.67. Hong Kong's post office continues to suspend packages for US as it seeks clarification over tariff Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong appeared set to enter a bull market, driven by renewed investor interest following AI model releases from DeepSeek. Xiaomi’s stock climbed 4.81% to 42.50 Hong Kong dollars, Alibaba gained 1.57% to 100.10 Hong Kong dollars, and Tencent, China’s largest video game company, rose 1.57% to 427 Hong Kong dollars. Japan’s Nikkei could face further pressure due to a stronger yen. According to IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong, a sharp rise in January’s household spending has reinforced expectations of future rate hikes by the Bank of Japan. “With both headline and core inflation accelerating over the past two months, the case for additional policy responses to curb pricing pressures remains strong,” Yeap noted. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 advanced 0.36% on Thursday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.28% and the Nasdaq composite increased 0.51%. Investors are also navigating uncertainties related to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. While Trump signed executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, concerns over a global trade war have slightly eased after both countries received a 30-day reprieve, suggesting tariffs may be used as a negotiating tool rather than a long-term strategy. However, Trump proceeded with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with levies on U.S. coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars. Additionally, China launched an antitrust probe into Google and added two more firms to its unreliable entity list. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude rose 37 cents to $70.98 per barrel, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 47 cents to $74.76 per barrel. Stock markets open higher on last trading day of the week In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 151.85 Japanese yen from 151.35 yen, while the euro slipped slightly to $1.0380 from $1.0383.

Hong Kong's post office announced late Thursday it would continue to suspend shipping items containing goods to the United States until further notice, despite its American counterpart having reversed its ban on packages from the city and other parts of China. The Hong Kong government said in a statement that Hongkong Post was in talks with the U.S. postal administration but further clarification was still needed on certain matters, including over a tariff. It reiterated its strong disapproval over the U.S. imposition of additional duty on Hong Kong products, urging the U.S. to take “urgent actions to rectify its wrongdoing." The U.S. post office had announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept parcels from China, including the city, after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and ended a customs exception that allowed small-value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax. It reversed course Wednesday but gave no reason, saying it would work with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new tariffs to avoid delivery disruptions. Although the ban was short-lived and the U-turn came within the same day for those who live in Hong Kong time zone, it confused those who wanted to post to the U.S. from the trading hub. China counters with tariffs on US products. It will also investigate Google It also sparked concerns over the potential impact on online shopping platforms like Shein and Temu, popular with younger shoppers in the U.S. for cheap clothing and other products, usually shipped directly from China. Cheap, direct postal service helps these companies keep costs low, as did the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed shipments to go tax-free if their value is under $800. The U.S. imported about $427 billion worth of goods from China in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Consumer electronics, including cellphones, computers and other tech accessories, make up the biggest import categories.

China announced retaliatory tariffs on select American imports and an antitrust investigation into Google on Tuesday, just minutes after a sweeping levy on Chinese products imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect. American tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were also set to go into effect Tuesday before Trump agreed to a 30-day pause, as the two countries acted to address his concerns about border security and drug trafficking. Trump planned to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days. “It is being scheduled and will happen very soon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. This isn't the first round of tit-for-tat actions between the two countries. China and the U.S. engaged in an escalating trade war in 2018, when Trump repeatedly raised tariffs on Chinese goods and China responded each time. This time, analysts said, China is much better prepared, announcing a slew of measures that go beyond tariffs and cut across different sectors of the U.S. economy. The government is also more wary of upsetting its own fragile and heavily trade-dependent economy. “It’s aiming for finding measures that maximize the impact and also minimize the risk that the Chinese economy may face,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking in Hong Kong. "At the same time ... China is trying to increase its bargaining chips.” John Gong, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, called the response a "measured” one. “I don’t think they want the trade war escalating,” he said. “And they see this example from Canada and Mexico and probably they are hoping for the same thing.” Counter-tariffs China said it would implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the U.S. The tariffs would take effect next Monday. “The U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization," China's State Council Tariff Commission said in a statement. "It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.” The WTO confirmed Tuesday it received notice of China’s request for consultations with the United States regarding the tariffs imposed on Chinese goods. The move sets off a 60-day period for the two sides to resolve their differences, and if not, the case can be brought before a three-judge panel at the Geneva-based trade body. However, the WTO’s dispute-resolution process has been stymied in recent years as multiple U.S. administrations blocked appointments of judges on its appeals court. China reiterates warning of retaliation over US tariffs The impact of China's measures on U.S. exports may be limited. Though the U.S. is the biggest exporter of liquid natural gas globally, it does not export much to China. In 2023, the U.S. exported 173,247 million cubic feet of LNG to China, about 2.3% of its total natural gas exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. China imported less than 110,000 vehicles from the U.S. last year, though auto market analyst Lei Xing thinks the tariffs will be painful for GM, which is adding the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon to its China line-up, and for Ford, which exports the Mustang and F-150 Raptor pickup. The response from China appears calculated and measured, said Stephen Dover, chief market strategist and head of the Franklin Templeton Institute, a financial research firm. However, he said, the world is bracing for further impact. “A risk is that this is the beginning of a tit-for-tat trade war, which could result in lower GDP growth everywhere, higher U.S. inflation, a stronger dollar and upside pressure on U.S. interest rates,” Dover said. Further export controls on critical minerals China announced export controls on several elements critical to the production of modern high-tech products. The measure took effect upon announcement on Tuesday. They include tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium, many of which are designated as critical minerals by the U.S. Geological Survey, meaning they are essential to U.S. economic or national security that have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. The export controls are in addition to ones China placed in December on key elements such as gallium. “They have a much more developed export control regime," Philip Luck, an economist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former State Department official, said at a panel discussion on Monday. “We depend on them for a lot of critical minerals: gallium, germanium, graphite, a host of others,” he said. "They could put some significant harm on our economy.” Going after Google China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said Tuesday it is investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws. The announcement did not mention the tariffs but came just minutes after Trump’s 10% tariffs on China were to take effect. It is unclear how the probe will affect Google’s operations. The company has long faced complaints from Chinese smartphone makers over its business practices surrounding the Android operating system, Gong said. Overall, Google has a smaller presence in China than many markets, with its search engine blocked like many other Western platforms. Google exited the Chinese market in 2010, after refusing to comply with censorship requests from the Chinese government and following a series of cyberattacks on the company. Trump imposes tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, spurring prospect of inflation and trade conflict Google did not immediately comment. Tommy Hilfiger in the crosshairs The Commerce Ministry also placed two American companies on an unreliable entities list: PVH Group, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and Illumina, which is a biotechnology company with offices in China. The listing could bar them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and from making new investments in the country. The ministry says investigations show these two U.S. companies have “disrupted normal business with Chinese companies, taken discriminatory measures against Chinese companies and severely harmed the legitimate rights of Chinese companies” Beijing began investigating PVH Group in September last year over “improper Xinjiang-related behavior” after the company allegedly boycotted the use of Xinjiang cotton. Illumina competes with the Chinese biotech firm BGI in gene-sequencing. In a statement, Illumina said it has a long-standing presence in China and that it complies with all laws and regulations wherever it operates. “We are assessing this announcement with the goal of finding a positive resolution,” the company said. Putting these U.S. companies on the unreliable entities list is “alarming" because it shows that the Chinese government is using the list to pressure U.S. companies to take a side, said George Chen, managing director for The Asia Group, a Washington D.C.-headquartered business policy consultancy. “It's almost like telling American companies, what your government is doing is bad, you need to tell the government that if you add more tariffs or hurt U.S.-China relations at the end of the day it'll backfire on American companies,” Chen said.

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday after President Donald Trump announced a one-month delay in tariffs on Mexico and Canada, reports AP. Markets across Asia showed positive movement. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index increased by 2.10% to 20,642.58, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.61% to 39,140.41, South Korea’s Kospi rose by 1.63% to 2,493.99, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.13% to 8,390.20. BEPZA signs deal to set up machinery manufacturing industry in EZ The White House also stated that Trump would be speaking with Chinese President Xi Jinping, igniting hopes of a potential deal that could prevent a wider trade war. Last week, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, which is expected to take effect on Tuesday. Canada confirmed that a deal with the U.S. for a month-long tariff reprieve was reached, but the announcement came only after U.S. markets had closed. Analysts attributed Tuesday's market rally to the tariff delay for countries like Canada and Mexico. Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at IG, noted in a report that the pullback in the US dollar and the optimism surrounding tariff relief could help sustain market gains unless unexpected issues arise in US-China trade talks. He also commented that the delay reflects Trump’s willingness to negotiate and could signal that tariffs are being used more as leverage in negotiations rather than fixed policies. On Monday, the S&P 500 dropped by 0.8%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 122 points (0.3%), and the Nasdaq composite fell by 1.2%. U.S. stocks recovered some of their losses after Mexico confirmed a monthlong reprieve from Trump’s tariffs. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude oil fell by $0.77 to $72.39 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, declined by 36 cents to $75.60 a barrel. Taskforce on economy puts forward its recommendations The U.S. dollar strengthened slightly, rising from 154.75 yen to 155.13 yen. The euro weakened slightly, dropping to $1.0317 from $1.0345.

Global stocks declined on Monday as concerns mounted over President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, reports AP. France's CAC 40 fell 1.6% to 7,826.14 in early trading, while Germany's DAX dropped 1.5% to 21,395.31. Britain's FTSE 100 slipped 1.3% to 8,565.00. U.S. markets were also set to open lower, with Dow futures down 1.2% at 44,152.00 and S&P 500 futures falling 1.5% to 5,977.25. US economy grows 2.3% on eve of Trump return In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 declined 2.7%, closing at 38,520.09. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slid 1.8% to 8,379.40, while South Korea's Kospi lost 2.5% to 2,453.95. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged down less than 0.1% to 20,217.26. Meanwhile, trading in Shanghai was halted due to a holiday. Analysts noted that Asian markets were bracing for increased volatility amid fears of a potential escalation in the trade war. “The effects of trade restrictions could lead to a decline in global trade volumes, shifts in supply chains resulting in increased business costs, and higher inflation,” said Yeap Jun Rong, a market strategist at IG. Shares of SoftBank Group Corp. advanced 0.5% following its announcement at a Tokyo event with OpenAI that they were establishing SB OpenAI Japan. Each company would hold a 50% stake in the venture, which aims to provide AI services to businesses. Investor sentiment was also shaken by a report from Chinese firm DeepSeek, which claimed to have developed a more cost-effective large language model capable of competing globally. The news raised concerns over whether the anticipated investment in AI chips was justified, leading to declines in some technology stocks. Despite Trump's tariff threats, technology shares in Hong Kong remained relatively stable, bolstered by DeepSeek’s demonstration of China’s technological prowess. Trump’s 25% tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico, along with 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, are set to be enforced on Tuesday. His administration has not specified the conditions under which these tariffs might be lifted, particularly regarding efforts to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling. In response, both Canada and Mexico announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. Canada’s tariffs will take effect on Tuesday, though specific details have yet to be disclosed. Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged last week, adopting a cautious stance on how Trump’s policies might influence inflation and economic stability. Asian stocks rise as DeepSeek panic fades In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude surged $1.76 to reach $74.29 per barrel, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained $1.04 to trade at $76.71 per barrel. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar inched up to 155.41 JPY.

The U.S. economy closed 2024 with solid growth, expanding by 2.3% in the final quarter, driven largely by consumer spending, and ahead of what could be a significant shift in policy under a potential Trump administration, reports AP. The Commerce Department announced that the country’s GDP — the total value of goods and services produced — grew at an annual rate of 2.3% between October and December. For the entire year, the economy grew 2.8%, slightly lower than the 2.9% growth in 2023. Donald Trump's business partner keen to invest in Bangladesh The fourth-quarter growth slightly missed the forecasted 2.4% growth, based on a survey from FactSet. Consumer spending increased at a pace of 4.2%, the fastest since early 2023, up from 3.7% in the third quarter of the year. However, business investment dropped sharply, particularly in equipment after two strong previous quarters. The report also revealed ongoing inflationary pressure at the close of 2024. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, rose by 2.3% year-on-year in the final quarter, higher than the 1.5% increase in the third quarter, and above the Fed’s target of 2%. Core PCE inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was 2.5%, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter. A reduction in business inventories lowered the fourth-quarter growth by 0.93 percentage points. However, a category within GDP that measures the economy’s core strength showed a healthy 3.2% annual growth from July to September, although it slightly decreased from the 3.4% rate in the previous quarter. This category includes consumer spending and private investment, excluding more volatile factors like exports, inventories, and government spending. Economist Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics noted that this suggests the economy remains strong, despite disruptions in the fourth quarter such as a Boeing strike and the aftermath of two hurricanes. President Donald Trump is inheriting a resilient economy, with steady growth and low unemployment (4.1% in December). Despite the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes — 11 increases in 2022 and 2023 to combat rising consumer prices — the economy has continued to expand, defying predictions of a recession. GDP growth has exceeded 2% in nine of the past ten quarters. The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged after three cuts since September. Despite the economy’s strength, Chair Jerome Powell stated there was no urgency to make further cuts, though inflation progress has stalled in recent months after peaking in mid-2022. The European Central Bank, in contrast, lowered its benchmark rate on Thursday, highlighting the difference between robust U.S. growth and stagnation in Europe, where growth was zero at the close of the year. The outlook for the U.S. economy has become more uncertain. Trump has promised tax cuts and business deregulation, which could accelerate growth, but his plans to impose heavy taxes on imports and deport millions of undocumented workers could slow growth and increase costs. Trump also stated he would push for lower oil prices and interest rates, though Powell deflected questions on the matter, stating he had not spoken with the president. Japanese automaker Nissan says it plans job and production cuts in the U.S Trump is also working to reorganise the federal government, offering buyouts to employees and temporarily freezing federal grants, only to reverse this decision following public backlash. Ashworth noted that due to the strain on the federal government, he wouldn’t be surprised to see a slowdown in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP growth expected to fall slightly below 2%. The GDP release on Thursday was the first of three estimates from the Commerce Department for the October-December period.

US President Donald Trump's business partner, Gentry Beach, has expressed interest in investing in mineral and gas exploration in Bangladesh. He conveyed his interest during a meeting with political leaders, an adviser to the interim government, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.  Beach, the family business partner of US President Donald Trump, is on a one-day visit to Bangladesh. As part of the visit, he attended a luncheon at BIDA. Advisers to the interim government and political leaders also participated in it. Asian shares gain after S&P 500 climbs to a record and Bank of Japan raises rate Beach said that he had come to Bangladesh to propose investments in various sectors. He said, "I have come to Bangladesh to make some proposals for investment. We want to invest in the development sector. Along with this, peace and prosperity will also be discussed. With Donald Trump coming to the leadership of America, opportunities have been created for business, trade, and investment in Bangladesh and the whole world, which we want to utilize.” Participating in the luncheon, Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said that Gentry Beach has expressed interest in investing in the energy sector. Japan's exports hit record high, but trade deficit continues He said, “To study what investment opportunity facilities are available in Bangladesh for the US, they are mainly interested in minerals, exploration of gas.” Advisor Mahfuz Alam told the meeting that a final decision will be made after detailed discussions between BIDA and Beach on investment-related issues.  

Nissan is slashing production at its U.S. plants and offering buyouts to factory workers there as part of the Japanese automaker’s urgent efforts to return to profitability. The move is part of Nissan Motor Corp.’s plans, announced two months ago, to slash 9,000 jobs globally, including in China, after it racked up a quarterly loss due to sinking sales and ballooning inventory. At Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, one production line will maintain two shifts, while the other line will consolidate to one shift, the company said. The Smyrna plant makes Murano, Pathfinder and Rogue sport-utility vehicles and the Infiniti QX60 luxury model. In the Canton plant in Mississippi, which makes the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup, Nissan is reducing the speed on one line and consolidating another. In the Decherd plant in Tennessee, which makes engines, shift adjustments will be more gradual. Some will be maintained while others will be reduced by one shift, it said. When it announced its recovery plan in November, Nissan didn’t give details on where the job cuts might come. Asian stocks rise as DeepSeek panic fades The workforce reduction of 9,000 people amounts to about 6% of its more than 133,000 global employees. The company also plans to slash its global production capacity by 20%. Nissan, based in the port city of Yokohama, said the latest offers count toward its overall job reduction plans, and are designed to make its operations more efficient and flexible. “Nissan is taking urgent measures globally to turnaround its performance and create a leaner, more resilient business capable of swiftly adapting to changes in the market,” the company said in a statement. Separately, Nissan and Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. are working to form a joint holding company to integrate their businesses, planned for 2026. Nissan and Honda announced in March they will work together on electric vehicles. In August, they said that partnership was being broadened. They plan to have a “definitive agreement” by June. Nissan is set to release its October-December financial results on Feb. 13. Nissan stocks jumped 2% in Tokyo trading after the reports about the U.S. plans surfaced.