A day after defending his authority to order US companies out of China, Mr Trump started Sunday by conceding that he was having "second thoughts" about a new round of levies on Chinese goods. Within hours, he abruptly reversed himself again, saying that he only regretted not raising tariffs even higher. On Friday, Trump bumped existing levies to 30% from 25% and planned duties to 15% from 10%. China said it will follow through with tariffs on $75 billion of U.S. goods and vowed to fight the trade war to the end as it prepares for the worst.

Australia's biggest banks are expected to cut dividend payments and tap bond markets for more funding to cope with tougher capital requirements as regulators look to safeguard the sector from future market volatility, according to analysts and bankers.

Tensions flared again in Hong Kong as an effort to form a peaceful human chain across the city culminated in police clashes that led to the firing of a weapon and the deployment of water cannons for the first time. In the 12th weekend of disturbances, police and protesters were involved in several violent clashes in the New Territories district.

Singapore-based ride-hailing firm Grab is set to invest “several hundred million dollars” in Vietnam where the company sees its next major growth market, just weeks after it unveiled a $2 billion plan in Indonesia. The proposed investment is the latest example of a top-notch regional brand deepening its commitment to Vietnam, one of Asia’s fastest growing economies. It also shows the eagerness of Grab, which has raised billions of dollars from investors, to put its cash to work.

Source: SGX Masnet, The Business Times, Bloomberg, Channel NewsAsia, Reuters, PSR