Sluggish global demand deepened the decline in manufacturing activity across Europe and the US and remained a major challenge for many of Asia's big exporters, reports show.

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan could potentially wipe out up to RM4.5 trillion per year from the global economy per year in the first few years.

Lower sugar output could limit exports from the world's second-biggest exporter, lifting global prices, and allowing rivals Brazil and Thailand to boost their shipments.

Higher local prices will improve the margins of sugar makers, helping them make cane payments on time to farmers, dealers say.

The world's second-largest economy recorded one of its worst years in nearly half a century in 2022 due to strict Covid lockdowns and subsequent widespread infections.

Many of India's power plants that use imported coal have not operated at full capacity recently because they have found it difficult to compete with power generated from cheap domestic coal.

The latest figures come as central bankers gear up for another round of interest rate increases to combat high inflation.

The plan underscores efforts by firms to lower supply chain exposure to China amid trade and geopolitical tension and production disruption caused by China's Covid-19 containment measures.

Oil prices have declined since October due to slower Chinese and global growth and higher interest rates, prompting market speculation the group could cut output again.

An increase in production would partially reverse the cut of two million barrels per day announced by the bloc in October.

Demand for smartphones assembled at Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant has helped Apple remain a bright spot in a technology sector battered by consumer spending cutbacks amid surging inflation and interest rates.

Backed by Jakarta's waiver of palm oil export levies, which was recently extended and reversed course from an export ban that shut them out of global trade, producers are moving to lighten their stocks at tempting prices.