Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged traders to counter his efforts to strengthen Japan's currency, saying when he makes market calls these days he's effectively doing so with inside information. Bessent, a former hedge fund executive, was reviewing occasions when he's intervened in markets, including the joint purchases of yen he mounted with Japan's government on July 31. While the yen initially jumped, gains ebbed in subsequent sessions, in part as traders highlighted the Treasury's limited firepower to deploy in foreign-exchange purchases. We spoke to Bloomberg MLIV Strategist Mark Cranfield.

And - One of the largest institutions in South Korea, KB Financial Group, will be holding its KBFG Korea Conference. Bloomberg's Stephen Engle spoke to Gavekal CEO Louis-Vincent Gave.