24/03/2017 Asia Business Report

Thousands of people watched as his coffin was carried

through the city to his local church.

Now on BBC News, all the latest business news live from Singapore.

High-level partnership. The Chinese Premier wants to boost corporation

with Australia. And the business of meditation and quiet time for these

little clients. Welcome to this Friday edition of

Asia Business Report. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will spend today

in talks with Australia's Prime Minister in Canberra. They will be

discussing how to build on the free trade agreement they signed two

years ago and Mr Li 's visit comes at a time when China is trying to

capitalise on the global uncertainty following Donald Trump's victory.

Our Australian correspondent has been looking at how the relationship

works. Handmade for some of the world's most demanding sleepers,

these mattresses are on their way from Sydney to Shanghai, where they

will sell for 75,000 Australian dollars. They only started exporting

to China in 2013. In a few years they hope to have 100 stores there.

The 2015 free trade agreement has helped push down tariffs and boost

profits, bolstered by the massive demand for western goods. By a

typically is not interested in buying locally produced products.

They are looking for something which is imported, particularly Australia,

because we have a very natural product and beyond, I guess, the

quality of the product in the master craftsmanship which goes into

producing the product, they are looking for something that is

genuine. Premier Li has been given the traditional welcome afforded to

old allies. He has come to tell Australia it doesn't have to choose

between China and America. They can trade as a circle of friends.

Australia has spent decades carefully cultivating its

relationship with China. It has become its biggest trading partner.

The free trade agreement sealed the deal, but there are more doors that

could be opened, like making it easier for Australian companies to

sell online. At the moment, exports are still dominated iron ore and

coal, the commodities that have kept the Australian economy moving. At

there is a need to change track. Food sales like beef are on the

menu. There may even be time to discuss China stepping into the

space vacated by America in a new transpacific partnership. I think

the TPP itself may need to be modified, because it has very strict

rules on prices and a bunch of other issues where China has been

difficult in the short term. Other kind of modified version may be

possible. For this company, more could be done to put the finishing

touches on the trade agreement, like improving customs clearance. China

and Australia have become pretty happy bedfellows. In other business

news, South Korea's Samsung Electronics told shareholders this

morning it is unlikely to adopt a holding company structure right now.

The shareholder meeting comes as the chief sits in jail on bribery

charges. Samsung Electronics has been under pressure to simplify its

ownership structure, which would have helped solidify the family's

control over the company. American car manufacturer Ford has signalled

lower earnings for the first quarter due to higher spending and a drop in

sales, including in China. Ford is also losing market share in the US

as lower fuel prices have led to customers choosing to buy trucks or

SUV 's, which have become more fuel efficient. We are wrapping up the

first quarter of the year, and it has been a rather volatile three

months. On Wall Street, the presidential election rally fizzled

out recently on worries about President Trump's economic policies.

In the energy markets, oil prices have been sliding due to supply

glut, and that has been lowering the value of oil related firms. And

investors are also waiting on more rate hikes from the US central bank.

With all of this in mind, how would you sum up the first quarter, and

where is the safe haven for investing? Here is the view from an

investment advisor. If we look at the start of this year, we have been

quite positive for equity markets, in particular US equities. So I

would say it has played out quite well so far. Hence we have been

turning a bit more cautious, but our investment outlook for the rest of

the year still remains quite positive for equities. Right, but

what about geopolitical and economic risk? We have terror attacks, we

have impending Brexit, you've got uncertainty over President Trump's

policies as well, will these continue to interest markets going

forward? Absolutely, we think a lot of these positives and expectation

has been priced in at the markets are kind of forgetting about all the

risks you mentioned. Unfortunately, geopolitical risk like terror

attacks we have just seen in London is something we are more or less

used to, so the market reaction was not even there. But I think for us

the bigger risk looking ahead is the French election. Something we are a

bit concerned about, and hence we recommend our clients stay a little

bit more defensive. These are all global influences you mentioned, but

what about investment destinations in Asia? Where should investors be

paying attention to? In Asia we have also seen a nice rally so far. I

think the markets were quite concerned about Trump being elected

last year, and hence more protectionism to come. It hasn't

really materialised yet, so we have seen especially north Asian equity

markets, stock markets in China, Taiwan or in Hong Kong rally quite a

bit. We are still thinking these other regions investors should look

at when talking about Asia. Very briefly, what are some of the risks

in Asia, closer to home? So protectionism is one of the key

risks. We are not really talking about political risks any more but

detection is in the form of trade restrictions could be one of the key

risks looking forward. Rising stress levels for our children are being

blamed on all sorts of issues, from headaches to anxiety attacks, even

suicide. Aligned with this has been the rise in demand for classes

teaching kids meditation and mindfulness. For the final story of

how Business of Kids series, we found out more about

When I came to the meditation lesson, it helped me so much. It was

what we don't know is that there are thoughts running through our head

every day, so fast, and a majority of them might not be positive. Let

Mac I have learned how to become, understand situations deeper, so I

don't have to get so angry any more. This is Soul Centre, 1-stop shop for

meditation and mindfulness. For about a month kids can attend eight

classes, and are taught ancient Asian techniques to help them focus.

This man set up Soul Centre in Singapore ten years ago. Revenues

have grown substantially since then. We in Asia. We want to also be known

in the West, in the US and the UK. We want to reach out and transform

thousands of people around the world, children and adults alike.

Mindfulness is now a billion-dollar industry in America. There are no

statistics yet for Asia, at centres like these are on the rise. Here at

Soul Centre, it is not just classes on offer. Books, CDs and other

products are on sale as well. Some parents say it is worth the cost.

You need to make an effort to recognise it, but it is definitely

worth the money. You realise that after the class, when you reap the

benefits of this... I would call it training. But, as any other training

goes, you need to practise. In Singapore, are also entering the

mindfulness market. This woman set up his studio for children in

January. What I would like them to learn is to accept who they are, and

in turn be a bit more emotionally resilient, so they do not get blown

away by all this digital age, and what other people are saying and

other people are doing. Our class is about 30 US dollars, the same as you

would pay for a tennis or swimming lesson. But, as mindfulness becomes

more mainstream, it may well become more common in Asia. Let's take a

look at the markets before we go, because we are seeing some gains in

Asia. Rather unusual because we did see that flat close on Wall Street,

lots of concerns about the delay on the Trump healthcare bill,

Republicans delaying a vote on that which now may take based on Friday

or potentially Monday. So there is a lot of uncertainty, however we are

seeing a weak US dollar, and that is helping those markets. Have a great

weekend. The top stories this hour:

The perpetrator of Wednesday's attack outside the Houses

of Parliament in London has been