0:00:00 > 0:00:04than 30 counts of child abuse involving 11 boys.
0:00:04 > 0:00:18Now on BBC News, all the latest business news live from Singapore.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Japan's economy keeps growing but is it running out of steam? All the
0:00:22 > 0:00:29latest GDP numbers are up next. And could your DNA be the key to finding
0:00:29 > 0:00:44your true love? A new matchmaking app puts the idea to the test. Glad
0:00:44 > 0:00:53you could join us this exciting addition of Asia Business Report.
0:00:53 > 0:00:59Japan's latest economic figures have just been released. Its GDP grew by
0:00:59 > 0:01:04half a percent in the last three months of 2017 compared to the same
0:01:04 > 0:01:11quarter a year earlier. The numbers were a little softer than expected.
0:01:11 > 0:01:20It is the eighth straight quarter of expansion for Japan's economy.
0:01:20 > 0:01:29Earlier, we were told why the economy is building strength.There
0:01:29 > 0:01:32are some seasonality, some volatility but the big issue is, for
0:01:32 > 0:01:38the first time in 30 years, it's 30 years, you've got wages, jobs, the
0:01:38 > 0:01:44quality of jobs are improving so the overall environment for consumption
0:01:44 > 0:01:50is now a positive one. While over the last 30 years, it was a negative
0:01:50 > 0:01:53one. That's the key point that was driving the steady expansion of
0:01:53 > 0:02:01Japan.In the financial markets, there is one word that is making
0:02:01 > 0:02:06investors shake in their boots right now. Inflation. It is the benchmark
0:02:06 > 0:02:10which measures how quickly prices for goods and services increase but
0:02:10 > 0:02:14investors think inflation is on the rise and they expect several banks
0:02:14 > 0:02:20will raise the cost of borrowing to cool down the economy. Basri's
0:02:20 > 0:02:24wildfires -- while Dwyer was caused by expectations that a strong US
0:02:24 > 0:02:29economy would lead to more rate rises. Later today, the US
0:02:29 > 0:02:33government releases its consumer Price number. I asked Peter McGuire
0:02:33 > 0:02:38what he thinks the numbers will show.We are expecting to see a
0:02:38 > 0:02:46decline for core and CPI rates to 1.9 and 1.7 respectively, down from
0:02:46 > 0:02:512.1 and 1.8. We are expecting to see a downturn in those inflation
0:02:51 > 0:02:58numbers. It is a wait and see approach.If we don't see a downturn
0:02:58 > 0:03:06but arise, which is something market analysts do not expect, could this
0:03:06 > 0:03:12bring back market mayhem?It probably could, there is no doubting
0:03:12 > 0:03:16that. The market is very centred on a fall in those particular inflation
0:03:16 > 0:03:20numbers. If we do see a rise, volatility will pick up and we could
0:03:20 > 0:03:25see a return to what we experienced last week. That will be naturally
0:03:25 > 0:03:34across all markets, taking on board Asia.But if the number is what you
0:03:34 > 0:03:40expect to be lower than the previous month, could this calm down the
0:03:40 > 0:03:45markets and clear the way for more gains.Certainly the other side as
0:03:45 > 0:03:51far as what the Fed is prepared to do. The market is tipping we will
0:03:51 > 0:03:56seek to rate rises or possibly three and it's all stemming from inflation
0:03:56 > 0:04:09numbers.You expect two, three or four rate hikes this year, from the
0:04:09 > 0:04:14US Central Bank, when will be the first one?The next 60 days,
0:04:14 > 0:04:20something by April. You may see it sooner. Just depends what they are
0:04:20 > 0:04:25prepared to do as far as voting for it. Ratcheting it up relatively
0:04:25 > 0:04:31quickly. And then that mindset, as far as do they introduce that bird
0:04:31 > 0:04:38rate rise later in the year? Shifting our attention to India and
0:04:38 > 0:04:45Citi has banned the use of its card -- cards to purchase Bitcoin and
0:04:45 > 0:04:52other crypto currencies. What is the current standard India regarding
0:04:52 > 0:05:00these crypto currencies?It is a bitter irony on Valentine's Day
0:05:00 > 0:05:03because there is no love lost between the Indian government and
0:05:03 > 0:05:07the cryptocurrency. The Indian government has earlier linked
0:05:07 > 0:05:15cryptocurrency trade in India to a 'Ponzi' scheme. Two recent Budget by
0:05:15 > 0:05:18the Finance Minister, there was speculation that could be a complete
0:05:18 > 0:05:23ban on cryptocurrency in India but now, the government says it is
0:05:23 > 0:05:28monitoring any tax evasion on cryptocurrency. They are not to be
0:05:28 > 0:05:36used as legal tender, like money to buy goods in India. There are 11
0:05:36 > 0:05:40cryptocurrency exchanges in India. Bitcoin being the most popular.
0:05:40 > 0:05:49After Citibank's global move to not allow users to use debit and credit
0:05:49 > 0:05:56cards to purchase cryptocurrency, the Indian branch is doing the same.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03It will be a setback but these exchanges in India. Devina Gupta in
0:06:03 > 0:06:10India.The US is set to become the country piles --a world's leading
0:06:10 > 0:06:15oil producer at some point next year. That is according to the
0:06:15 > 0:06:19International energy agency which says that cracking bird could lead
0:06:19 > 0:06:23to the world's biggest economy overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28Just a few years ago, when the oil price started to slump, because
0:06:28 > 0:06:32global demand weakened, like the American trucking industry which is
0:06:32 > 0:06:36based mainly in Texas and New Mexico, it was on its last legs
0:06:36 > 0:06:40because it could no longer be profitable. What's happened since is
0:06:40 > 0:06:44they have gotten more efficient. Lots of cost-cutting measures and
0:06:44 > 0:06:48loads of tracking sites have come back on line and this has led to a
0:06:48 > 0:06:54huge glut in supply. It's quite good news for America. We saw a shipment
0:06:54 > 0:07:00of oil from the US to the UAE and the Middle East. The topsy-turvy
0:07:00 > 0:07:03energy market. What's not good is the supply is higher than the
0:07:03 > 0:07:08demand. There are still quite of pressure on energy prices and oil
0:07:08 > 0:07:13prices.In other business news making headlines, Sher and the
0:07:13 > 0:07:23NASDAQ listed Chinese search engine Baidu surging. The firm reported a
0:07:23 > 0:07:3129% jump in quarterly revenues. $656 million in profits. Valentine's Day
0:07:31 > 0:07:37is here but thanks to the smartphone, keep it now has another
0:07:37 > 0:07:43is bring to its bow. The on line dating industry is worth $500
0:07:43 > 0:07:47million every year and on line users are now spoilt for choice. There are
0:07:47 > 0:07:51apps which try to find your potential partner, everything from
0:07:51 > 0:07:56your music taste to your DNA. The BBC's Tom Davies hit the streets to
0:07:56 > 0:07:59find out more.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Tender. Tender. I've been known to tender a bit. Used tender but I
0:08:03 > 0:08:08didn't like it. We've all be on tender, of course with all got the
0:08:08 > 0:08:15Apple.Too tall, too sporty, to gain. Many of the traditional dating
0:08:15 > 0:08:19websites try to baggy that special someone by asking you about your
0:08:19 > 0:08:23personal preferences. And while experts agree on line dating is good
0:08:23 > 0:08:30for over an -- widening the pool, is this the solution to finding Mr or
0:08:30 > 0:08:37Mrs Wright?The research is now clear that using individual level
0:08:37 > 0:08:41information for personality, values and preferences, to try to predict
0:08:41 > 0:08:45who will be compatible in the future, is a losing game. You might
0:08:45 > 0:08:50just set up people who are similar to them. It is a reasonable
0:08:50 > 0:08:53hypothesis but no one has the able to find consistent evidence that
0:08:53 > 0:08:58idea.So if data is not helping us to find out perfect partner, howls
0:08:58 > 0:09:02can be used to cut down soulmates? One firm has the answer and they
0:09:02 > 0:09:07think love is all about chemistry.I am one of the cofounders and Chief
0:09:07 > 0:09:19Executive officer.They're more is dating app that matches people based
0:09:19 > 0:09:24on genetics. We send you a genetic get. We extract the portion of the
0:09:24 > 0:09:34DNA. You are able to see who you would be attracted to.DNA and
0:09:34 > 0:09:38pheromones are what love at first sight is all about.Many of us
0:09:38 > 0:09:43singletons are pinning our host -- our hopes on love at first swipe
0:09:43 > 0:09:47rather than love at first sight and although there are more and more
0:09:47 > 0:09:52apps available, now the problem may be there is just too much to choose
0:09:52 > 0:09:57from.
0:09:57 > 0:10:13There is not a lot of love in the Asia-Pacific markets:
0:10:13 > 0:10:19investors are watching the date which could clear the way for more
0:10:19 > 0:10:24games but the US markets gaining overnight with the Dow Jones up by
0:10:24 > 0:10:2539 points.