14/02/2018 Asia Business Report

than 30 counts of child

abuse involving 11 boys.

Now on BBC News, all the latest

business news live from Singapore.

Japan's economy keeps growing but is

it running out of steam? All the

latest GDP numbers are up next. And

could your DNA be the key to finding

your true love? A new matchmaking

app puts the idea to the test. Glad

you could join us this exciting

addition of Asia Business Report.

Japan's latest economic figures have

just been released. Its GDP grew by

half a percent in the last three

months of 2017 compared to the same

quarter a year earlier. The numbers

were a little softer than expected.

It is the eighth straight quarter of

expansion for Japan's economy.

Earlier, we were told why the

economy is building strength.

There

are some seasonality, some

volatility but the big issue is, for

the first time in 30 years, it's 30

years, you've got wages, jobs, the

quality of jobs are improving so the

overall environment for consumption

is now a positive one. While over

the last 30 years, it was a negative

one. That's the key point that was

driving the steady expansion of

Japan.

In the financial markets,

there is one word that is making

investors shake in their boots right

now. Inflation. It is the benchmark

which measures how quickly prices

for goods and services increase but

investors think inflation is on the

rise and they expect several banks

will raise the cost of borrowing to

cool down the economy. Basri's

wildfires -- while Dwyer was caused

by expectations that a strong US

economy would lead to more rate

rises. Later today, the US

government releases its consumer

Price number. I asked Peter McGuire

what he thinks the numbers will

show.

We are expecting to see a

decline for core and CPI rates to

1.9 and 1.7 respectively, down from

2.1 and 1.8. We are expecting to see

a downturn in those inflation

numbers. It is a wait and see

approach.

If we don't see a downturn

but arise, which is something market

analysts do not expect, could this

bring back market mayhem?

It

probably could, there is no doubting

that. The market is very centred on

a fall in those particular inflation

numbers. If we do see a rise,

volatility will pick up and we could

see a return to what we experienced

last week. That will be naturally

across all markets, taking on board

Asia.

But if the number is what you

expect to be lower than the previous

month, could this calm down the

markets and clear the way for more

gains.

Certainly the other side as

far as what the Fed is prepared to

do. The market is tipping we will

seek to rate rises or possibly three

and it's all stemming from inflation

numbers.

You expect two, three or

four rate hikes this year, from the

US Central Bank, when will be the

first one?

The next 60 days,

something by April. You may see it

sooner. Just depends what they are

prepared to do as far as voting for

it. Ratcheting it up relatively

quickly. And then that mindset, as

far as do they introduce that bird

rate rise later in the year?

Shifting our attention to India and

Citi has banned the use of its card

-- cards to purchase Bitcoin and

other crypto currencies. What is the

current standard India regarding

these crypto currencies?

It is a

bitter irony on Valentine's Day

because there is no love lost

between the Indian government and

the cryptocurrency. The Indian

government has earlier linked

cryptocurrency trade in India to a

'Ponzi' scheme. Two recent Budget by

the Finance Minister, there was

speculation that could be a complete

ban on cryptocurrency in India but

now, the government says it is

monitoring any tax evasion on

cryptocurrency. They are not to be

used as legal tender, like money to

buy goods in India. There are 11

cryptocurrency exchanges in India.

Bitcoin being the most popular.

After Citibank's global move to not

allow users to use debit and credit

cards to purchase cryptocurrency,

the Indian branch is doing the same.

It will be a setback but these

exchanges in India. Devina Gupta in

India.

The US is set to become the

country piles --a world's leading

oil producer at some point next

year. That is according to the

International energy agency which

says that cracking bird could lead

to the world's biggest economy

overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Just a few years ago, when the oil

price started to slump, because

global demand weakened, like the

American trucking industry which is

based mainly in Texas and New

Mexico, it was on its last legs

because it could no longer be

profitable. What's happened since is

they have gotten more efficient.

Lots of cost-cutting measures and

loads of tracking sites have come

back on line and this has led to a

huge glut in supply. It's quite good

news for America. We saw a shipment

of oil from the US to the UAE and

the Middle East. The topsy-turvy

energy market. What's not good is

the supply is higher than the

demand. There are still quite of

pressure on energy prices and oil

prices.

In other business news

making headlines, Sher and the

NASDAQ listed Chinese search engine

Baidu surging. The firm reported a

29% jump in quarterly revenues. $656

million in profits. Valentine's Day

is here but thanks to the

smartphone, keep it now has another

is bring to its bow. The on line

dating industry is worth $500

million every year and on line users

are now spoilt for choice. There are

apps which try to find your

potential partner, everything from

your music taste to your DNA. The

BBC's Tom Davies hit the streets to

find out more.

Tender. Tender. I've been known to

tender a bit. Used tender but I

didn't like it. We've all be on

tender, of course with all got the

Apple.

Too tall, too sporty, to

gain. Many of the traditional dating

websites try to baggy that special

someone by asking you about your

personal preferences. And while

experts agree on line dating is good

for over an -- widening the pool, is

this the solution to finding Mr or

Mrs Wright?

The research is now

clear that using individual level

information for personality, values

and preferences, to try to predict

who will be compatible in the

future, is a losing game. You might

just set up people who are similar

to them. It is a reasonable

hypothesis but no one has the able

to find consistent evidence that

idea.

So if data is not helping us

to find out perfect partner, howls

can be used to cut down soulmates?

One firm has the answer and they

think love is all about chemistry.

I

am one of the cofounders and Chief

Executive officer.

They're more is

dating app that matches people based

on genetics. We send you a genetic

get. We extract the portion of the

DNA. You are able to see who you

would be attracted to.

DNA and

pheromones are what love at first

sight is all about.

Many of us

singletons are pinning our host --

our hopes on love at first swipe

rather than love at first sight and

although there are more and more

apps available, now the problem may

be there is just too much to choose

from.

There is not a lot of love in the

Asia-Pacific markets:

investors are watching the date

which could clear the way for more

games but the US markets gaining

overnight with the Dow Jones up by

39 points.