Author: Arabian Media staff

This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get the newsletter delivered every weekday morning. Explore all of our newsletters hereGood morning and welcome back to FirstFT Asia. On today’s agenda: Donald Trump has threatened to increase levies on Japan and cast doubt that the US would reach a deal with its Asian ally, as he escalated his trade rhetoric days before his pause on some steep tariffs is set to expire. What happened: Speaking to reporters yesterday, Trump said he would impose new levies on…

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Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldDonald Trump has threatened to increase levies on Japan and cast doubt that the US would reach a deal with its Asian ally, as he escalated his trade rhetoric days before his pause on some steep tariffs is set to expire. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the US president said he would impose new levies on countries that failed to agree a trade deal by July 9, when the “reciprocal” tariffs unleashed in April are set to resume. He also singled…

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Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the US banks myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.Investors reaped the rewards of looser bank supervision as Wall Street’s biggest banks announced a flood of shareholder payouts on Tuesday after passing regulatory “stress tests” that imposed easier conditions than in years past. JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and others said they would raise quarterly dividend payments to shareholders, and JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley also said they would buy back billions of dollars’ worth of their shares. Goldman said it would raise its dividend 33 per cent to…

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When an unexpected financial crisis hits, an emergency fund is the ideal safety net to cover surprise expenses. However, an alternative—and sometimes the only option—for relief is your retirement savings. Dipping into your 401(k) or IRA early has real financial consequences, including taxes, penalties, and lost future growth. But if you’re in a bind and have to make a choice, which account should you tap? Key Takeaways Early withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs before the age of 59 1/2 trigger a 10% tax penalty in addition to income tax owed. Each type of account has exceptions that allow penalty- and…

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How does immigration affect the economy? Discussions about the economic effects of immigration are often influenced by larger ethical and political stances around this topic, positions grounded in questions about the kind of world in which people want to live. Many arguments against immigration, for instance, tend to emphasize rates of cultural change or assimilation, while those in favor often point toward the history of immigration and America’s moral promises. Economically, those in favor of immigration argue that immigrants boost the economy by increasing the labor supply and promoting innovation. Those against it argue that immigrants harm low-skilled laborers by…

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A real estate deal is generally a long and stressful exercise that involves many steps and procedural formalities. Closing on a house occurs when you sign the papers that make the house yours but a long list of things has to happen before that day arrives. Twelve steps must be taken between the time your offer is accepted and when you get the keys to your new home. Key Takeaways Real estate deals are generally completed over weeks and they have many moving parts.Deals begin with opening an escrow account and end with a final walk-through before signing on the…

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One investment that offers enormous potential upside is space. Once synonymous with governments and zero financial gain, the sector is now heavily privatized, innovative, and attracting capital from the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The global space-based economy is expected to triple in value to $1.8 trillion by 2035 as space-based technologies play an increasingly important role in life on Earth. Some say they will become as important to everyday life as semiconductors. Key Takeaways You can invest in established companies that generate a portion of their revenues from space ventures or smaller, up-and-coming companies focused solely on…

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