liberalisation

Regional integration is boosting supply chain trade in Southeast Asia but little progress has been made to bring down non-tariff barriers as Asean's 2015 AEC pledge looms.

Alongside an interest rate cut that heralds more bad economic data, China's central bank gives lenders greater freedom to set their own rates.

China’s move to allow foreign lenders greater access to its interbank bond market will encourage both renminbi offshore trade settlement and liquidity, and marks another step towards the currency’s long-term convertibility.