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Bangkok: LianLian Global, the flagship brand of Hong Kong-listed digital payments provider Lianlian DigiTech, has announced strategic partnerships with Veem and 12Victory at the Money20/20 Asia conference in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, held from April 22 to 24, brought together global fintech leaders to discuss the future of financial technology. LianLian Global formalised the partnerships on April 23, with agreements to enhance cross-border payment solutions. The first agreement with Veem, a leading B2B cross-border payments platform, will focus on leveraging technological synergies to provide cost-effective and secure cross-border payment solutions for global B2B clients. In a separate deal, 12Victory, a prominent remittance service provider, will integrate LianLian Global’s LGPS (LianLian Global Payout Service) into its platform to enable real-time, transparent fund transfers between Thailand and China, supporting B2B, B2C, and C2C transactions. Tim Shen, CEO of LianLian Global, commented, “New e-commerce models are transforming the global payment ecosystem. Cross-border merchants today operate with unique complexities, including small-value transactions at high volumes, dispersed workflows, and varying regulatory requirements. Our unified payment solutions enable merchants to manage international capital flows seamlessly across markets.” The partnerships mark a significant step in LianLian Global’s expansion of its cross-border payment infrastructure, which currently serves over 5.9 million customers worldwide across sectors such as e-commerce, financial services, international trade, and education. During the conference, LianLian’s leadership also participated in discussions on emerging trends and innovations shaping the fintech landscape, further solidifying the company’s role as a key player in global commerce. –ANTARA

Qatar Airways is reportedly close to finalising a significant agreement to purchase approximately 100 widebody aircraft from Boeing. According to sources cited by Bloomberg News, the deal, which may also include an option for an additional 100 jets, is expected to be announced during US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East. The trip, scheduled to commence next week, will see President Trump make stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. It is anticipated that the visit will feature substantial investments in the aerospace and defence industries, with several major Middle Eastern airlines actively pursuing large-scale agreements ahead of the president’s arrival. Neither Qatar Airways nor Boeing has provided an official comment on the potential order. In April, Reuters reported that President Trump was preparing to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at over $100 billion. The new aircraft order from Qatar Airways would mark another significant investment in the region’s aviation sector. Qatar Airways, which has capitalised on a strong travel market by establishing Doha as a major international hub, is said to be finalising the details of the Boeing order. The deal is expected to further bolster the airline’s capacity to connect key global destinations. The acquisition would not only enhance Qatar Airways’ long-haul capabilities but also strengthen its competitive position among other prominent Middle Eastern carriers. –Reuters

Toyota Motor Corporation, the world’s largest automaker, is expected to report stable annual earnings on Thursday, driven by robust demand for its hybrid vehicles. However, investors remain cautious, anticipating potential impacts from US tariffs that could affect future profits. Industry experts are keenly observing whether Toyota will account for the effects of US tariffs, imposed by former President Donald Trump, which are expected to significantly impact automakers conducting business in the United States. Toyota will also face scrutiny regarding its plans for Toyota Industries, following recent confirmation that the automaker is considering investing in a potential buyout of the key parts supplier. Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory, noted that the primary focus will be on the company’s guidance for the fiscal year ending March 2026. However, he added that it remains uncertain whether the potential tariff impacts will be included. Earnings Forecast and Market PerformanceFor the fourth quarter, analysts project Toyota’s operating profit to increase by 2% year-on-year, reaching 1.13 trillion yen (£6.3 billion), marking the first rise in three quarters. Toyota’s global sales in the January-March period grew by 5% compared to the previous year, driven by strong demand in the United States and Japan. Despite steady hybrid vehicle sales, Toyota’s full-year operating profit for fiscal 2024 is expected to decrease from the previous year’s record. The company raised its profit forecast in February to 4.7 trillion yen (£26.7 billion), still marking a 12% decline from the prior year. Toyota’s decision to focus on gasoline-electric hybrids, such as the Prius and Camry, has proven beneficial. However, challenges persist, as suppliers face difficulties in keeping pace with production demands. Potential Tariff ImpactThe company could face an 800 billion yen (£4.5 billion) reduction in its fiscal 2025 operating profit due to US tariffs on Japanese exports. This estimate does not account for broader repercussions, such as a potential economic downturn in the US or the effects on Toyota’s production in Canada and Mexico. Toyota has maintained that it will continue regular operations and focus on reducing fixed costs rather than implementing drastic measures, such as increasing car prices. Insiders have revealed that the automaker is considering producing the next generation of its popular RAV4 SUV in the US to mitigate risks associated with tariffs and exchange rate fluctuations. Investment in Toyota IndustriesInvestors are also awaiting updates on Toyota’s potential buyout of Toyota Industries. The impact on Toyota’s market value will depend on the deal structure, according to James Hong, head of mobility research at Macquarie. Additional investment could be seen negatively, while addressing cross-shareholding issues might positively influence the market. Toyota Industries, a nearly century-old company, was originally spun off from Toyota Motor. As of last September, Toyota owned approximately 24% of Toyota Industries, while the latter held around 9% of Toyota Motor and over 5% of Denso, another Toyota affiliate. Toyota’s share price has fallen by 13% this year, compared to an 8% decline for the Nikkei 225 index. Analysts will be closely watching the company’s strategy for unwinding cross-shareholdings amid pressure from regulators and investors. –Reuters

HONG KONG : The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) intervened in the foreign exchange market once again on Tuesday, as the local currency surged to the upper threshold of its trading band against the US dollar for the fourth time this month. In response to mounting pressure, the HKMA purchased US$7.8 billion (equivalent to HK$60.5 billion) to stabilise the Hong Kong dollar, which has consistently reached 7.75—its upper limit in the pegged exchange rate system—since 2 May. Under Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate System, the currency is maintained within a narrow band of 7.75 to 7.85 against the US dollar. The latest intervention reflects growing volatility in global currency markets, triggered by a broader sell-off of the US dollar against several low-yielding Asian currencies. The rally in the Hong Kong dollar mirrors strong gains in regional counterparts, particularly the Taiwan dollar, which surged by an unprecedented 8 per cent across two trading sessions—marking a three-year high. Analysts point to improved sentiment around Sino-US trade relations and a shift in investor confidence away from the US dollar and Treasury debt as possible catalysts. While no formal conclusions have been drawn, some market observers speculate that the end of US-Taiwan trade discussions in Washington may have led to a tacit understanding favouring currency adjustments to facilitate trade deals. Taiwanese officials, however, have stated that foreign exchange policy was not part of the negotiations. The HKMA’s ongoing intervention carries broader implications for Hong Kong’s monetary environment. The aggregate balance—a key liquidity indicator in the city’s banking sector—is projected to rise to HK$161 billion by 7 May, a sharp increase from HK$44.6 billion recorded on Tuesday. As global markets continue to absorb shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics, further volatility in currency movements may prompt continued oversight and action from central monetary authorities in the region. –Reuters