0:00:00 > 0:00:00Stay with BBC News.
0:00:00 > 0:00:02And the top story here in the UK:
0:00:02 > 0:00:05The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has said he'll use this week's
0:00:05 > 0:00:07budget to speed up the building of hundreds of thousands
0:00:08 > 0:00:11of new homes.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12More on that later.
0:00:12 > 0:00:18Now on BBC News all the latest business news live from Singapore.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23Japan's latest trade figures show the economy is on a winning streak,
0:00:23 > 0:00:29thanks to a healthy demand for cars and electronics. And imagine sending
0:00:29 > 0:00:33your job offer an education gaming. The idea in Singapore is getting
0:00:33 > 0:00:43respect and even support from the government. Hello and welcome to
0:00:43 > 0:00:49Asia Business Report. My name is Sharanjit Leyl. You could say it was
0:00:49 > 0:00:52the start of the shopping season in many countries around the world.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Before we get there, what is on the economic and business calendar for
0:00:55 > 0:00:59the next few days? Japan just reported its trade data, showing it
0:00:59 > 0:01:10is gaining traction. It rose 14% from last year. Later today, we have
0:01:10 > 0:01:17Thailand enacting its third-quarter GDP numbers. On Thursday, Singapore
0:01:17 > 0:01:22does basically the same, out with its data. And we know that Thursday
0:01:22 > 0:01:26is also a public holiday in the US as they celebrate Thanksgiving. No
0:01:26 > 0:01:30mention that because the very next day is the biggest shopping day of
0:01:30 > 0:01:35the year in America. In fact, it is called Black Friday, because
0:01:35 > 0:01:40traditionally it was the day of the year when many retailers would be in
0:01:40 > 0:01:47the black or profitable. Nowadays, it is known as the date retailers
0:01:47 > 0:01:55offer specials to shoppers and start the festive season. Earlier, I spoke
0:01:55 > 0:01:59to Alex Staples, and asked whether he thought the Japanese are peak
0:01:59 > 0:02:11would last.It looks like the programme of Abenomics is starting.
0:02:11 > 0:02:18The weaker yen has promoted exports. But there has also been resurgent
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Maduranga well. The global economy is doing well this year. We expected
0:02:21 > 0:02:25to expect it to grow at just under 3%, and that extra demand has been
0:02:25 > 0:02:28boosting exports from Japan.You talk about the global economy, but
0:02:28 > 0:02:32what about here, close to home, in South East Asia? You have these
0:02:32 > 0:02:36growth numbers out from Thailand and even here in Singapore. What are you
0:02:36 > 0:02:41expecting there this week?Similar story. Around the region,
0:02:41 > 0:02:48particularly based on strong demand in China that we have seen, stronger
0:02:48 > 0:02:54than was forecast at earlier in the year. That has lifted GDP growth in
0:02:54 > 0:02:56many south-east Asian countries, particularly in places like Malaysia
0:02:56 > 0:03:00and also Thailand, as well. Thailand is growing at a good rate. We expect
0:03:00 > 0:03:07to see continuing positive data out this week. Alidad based on surge in
0:03:07 > 0:03:12demand for exports as well. China, of course, a big component of that.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Singapore is a bit different, isn't it, because we are not a
0:03:16 > 0:03:21resource-based economy. -- all of that based on.The uptick in oil and
0:03:21 > 0:03:28gas prices have been positive for Singapore. We expect bread to
0:03:28 > 0:03:34average about $60 a barrel this year, significantly up from where we
0:03:34 > 0:03:39were last here. That is not that sector here, which is very important
0:03:39 > 0:03:43in Singapore. But also, global trade, go back to the trade issue,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47very important for Singapore. And we expect rate recently made 4.6%
0:03:47 > 0:03:51growth this year. So Singapore is benefiting from the uptick in oil
0:03:51 > 0:03:55and also from trade.All right, and with all this global trade, it is
0:03:55 > 0:04:00all about goods, is that it? Bowser to America. This week, a lot of
0:04:00 > 0:04:06people are buying for Black Friday. You expecting any records to be
0:04:06 > 0:04:12broken? -- a lot of that goes to America.Last week, we saw that
0:04:12 > 0:04:20worth of sales in one-day. We would not expect to see the States matter
0:04:20 > 0:04:25level. Be shifting towards e-commerce, we can continue to see
0:04:25 > 0:04:29that in the States. It will be interesting to see what consumer
0:04:29 > 0:04:34commons is like there as well. The economy there is doing pretty well.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38New job growth, new housing starts, more corporate investment, as well.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42And this plays into the story of what will happen with interest
0:04:42 > 0:04:46rates.And that was Alex Staples speaking to me earlier. And Toshiba
0:04:46 > 0:04:49shares have lost about 5% this Monday morning after board members
0:04:49 > 0:04:55approved a plan to raise more than $5 billion from the sale of new
0:04:55 > 0:04:59shares. It is a key step, of course, that would allow the troubled
0:04:59 > 0:05:02conglomerate to remain a publicly traded company, even if the
0:05:02 > 0:05:07offloading of its chip company is delayed. It needs to raise almost $7
0:05:07 > 0:05:13billion to plug a balance sheet hole by March. Otherwise it will be
0:05:13 > 0:05:18delisted from the Tokyo stock exchange. Same with corporate Japan,
0:05:18 > 0:05:28Honda is recalling 900,000 units of this model, the Odyssey minivan. It
0:05:28 > 0:05:35is the latest manufacturer to have quality control issues, this to.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Matt Morrison joins us in the studio. What exactly is going on?As
0:05:39 > 0:05:45you said, this is the Odyssey minivan. About 900,000, 800,000 of
0:05:45 > 0:05:52them are in the United States. So this is model is right up to the
0:05:52 > 0:05:55present. The issue is that there have been about 46 reported
0:05:55 > 0:06:00injuries, and that has happened with the second row of seats. They come
0:06:00 > 0:06:04forward if not properly latched. In fact, the company said that happens
0:06:04 > 0:06:12due to moderate or every breaking -- moderate or heavy braking. They said
0:06:12 > 0:06:17this will not happen if it is properly latched. They have posted
0:06:17 > 0:06:22instructions on their website, and said that if you follow the
0:06:22 > 0:06:26instructions, it will be fine. They will fix it at no charge. This comes
0:06:26 > 0:06:30at a bad time for Honda. They paid nearly half $1 billion to settle
0:06:30 > 0:06:37claims related to their airbag scandal. That is where the airbags
0:06:37 > 0:06:42exploded. Unfortunately, 17 deaths linked to that, not just Honda, but
0:06:42 > 0:06:48it is worldwide.But it is not just Honda. This is ailing a lot of
0:06:48 > 0:06:51corporate Japan, isn't it? Absolutely. If you start with water
0:06:51 > 0:07:00makers, Subaru, 250,000 cars recall just a few weeks ago. Nissan, they
0:07:00 > 0:07:07had people on who were not qualified to take cars. Mitsubishi had their
0:07:07 > 0:07:10fuel emissions problems. What is at stake here is the repetition of
0:07:10 > 0:07:16Japan. One of two mistakes can be forgiven, but if this is a long-term
0:07:16 > 0:07:20trend, this could be a problem.-- one or two. Now, a career in gaming
0:07:20 > 0:07:29would have been unbeatable here in Asia reviews ago. But e-sports art
0:07:29 > 0:07:37gaining -- are gaining a good reputation. Singapore was to help
0:07:37 > 0:07:42train new game is to go professional. If they make it, huge
0:07:42 > 0:07:45prizes worth millions of dollars are at stake. -- wants. Let's take a
0:07:45 > 0:07:51look.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13You see a lot of professional games, and how these players work as a
0:08:13 > 0:08:17team. They can stay together, live together, train together. It is
0:08:17 > 0:08:22quite interesting that you get to fly around and compete, and showcase
0:08:22 > 0:08:24your skills and talents.
0:08:58 > 0:09:05I was a competitive game, and I realised that I am actually stronger
0:09:05 > 0:09:12in strategy, and my reflexes are not as fast as some other players, so I
0:09:12 > 0:09:26not use what I have do educate more gamers?Besides the competitive game
0:09:26 > 0:09:31input itself, there are a lot more auxiliary roles out there.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37Commentators, which broadcast and make the match exciting. The
0:09:37 > 0:09:45coaches, trainers, all these essential roles.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Some potential champions you were watching me. Let's with the markets
0:09:58 > 0:10:04before we go. Asian markets are fairly mixed, actually. We are
0:10:04 > 0:10:09seeing Australia lower. The Nikkei is trading lower as well. At that is
0:10:09 > 0:10:14due to Toshiba and the shares issue that I spoke to you about a earlier.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18We are seeing concern and caution in the market after the German
0:10:18 > 0:10:24coalition talks stood at an impasse. That is having an impact on the
0:10:24 > 0:10:27euro, and all those tax reform issues in the US as well. And that
0:10:27 > 0:10:29is it for this addition of Asia Business