Channel checks at Hangzhou’s Bainaohui computer mall show upstream storage-chip price rises have been passed through to consumers: memory modules and SSDs have surged, with some models doubling. 1TB SSDs have climbed from about 500 yuan to roughly 1,000 yuan; PS5-compatible 8TB SSDs are trading near 20,000 yuan. Dealers report reduced willingness to stockpile. The price surge, driven by structural AI compute demand crowding out capacity, is expected to persist through 2027.

Goldman Sachs cut its yen forecast, now projecting USD/JPY at 165 within a year (prior forecast 155), making it one of the most bearish institutions on the currency. Strategist Fishman cited widening US‑Japan rate differentials, Japanese fiscal pressure, elevated US Treasury yields and slow Bank of Japan tightening as drivers of further yen weakness, even as the currency appears deeply undervalued. Goldman raised its near-term USD/JPY forecasts to 162 in three months and 163 in six months (previously 160 and 158). The bank said official intervention would likely be short‑lived and the underlying causes of depreciation remain. Hedge funds’ short positions on the yen hit a high not seen since 2017 last month, and market-implied probability of USD/JPY at 165 by June next year is about 72%. Goldman also favors using the yen as a funding currency for carry trades.

Barnabas Gan, chief economist at a Malaysian bank, said in a note that intensifying economic headwinds and global geopolitical uncertainty are likely to weigh on consumer and business confidence and curb discretionary spending in H2, notably in fashion and entertainment. Elevated fuel and transport costs could pass through to broader consumer prices, lift inflation and erode purchasing power. The bank maintains its forecast for Singapore retail sales growth of 3.0% in 2026.