A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm on Oct 20, in Tokyo. (AP)
BANGKOK, Oct 20, (AP): Asian markets surged Monday after Wall Street finished a winning week, overcoming worries over bank lending and the trade war with China. US futures edged higher while oil prices fell. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 2.9%, to 48,970.40, setting a new record, after its governing Liberal Democrats found a new coalition partner, securing support for its leader Sanae Takaichi to become the country’s first female prime minister.
Takaichi is expected to push for market-supporting policies such as low interest rates and higher government spending. China reported its economy grew at a 4.8% annual pace in the last quarter, supported by relatively strong exports as companies increased shipments markets other than the U.S. Still, it was the slowest pace in a year.
The world’s second largest economy is still struggling to emerge from a prolonged downturn in its property market and to encourage consumers and businesses to spend more. China’s ruling Commumist Party leadership convened a meeting Monday in Beijing that is expected to set policy goals for the coming five years and also tackle personnel changes.
The outcome of the closed door meeting this week will likely emerge gradually and be formally endorsed at the annual session of the national legislature in early March. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 2.5% to 25,884.81, while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.7% to 3,866.77. In South Korea, the Kospi surged 1.3% to 3,796.64, setting another record on hopes for a trade deal with Washington and strong demand for semiconductors.
SK Hynix gained 3.3% while automakers Kia Corp. rose 2.7% and Hyundai Motor Co. climbed 2.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% to 9,009.10. On Friday, US stocks cruised higher after banks recovered some of their sharp losses from the day before. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 6,664.01. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.5% to 46,190.61 and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5% to 22,679.97. It was the best week for the S&P 500 since early August.
Group photo of the heads and owners of Amara Raja, Bendera and representatives of Amaron, in the presence of the Deputy Head of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: Amaron, a leading automotive battery brand from India’s Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Ltd (ARE&M) has selected Kuwait to debut its Middle East portfolio expansion in partnership with Bandira Auto Parts, the brand’s official distributor in Kuwait. This strategic move reflects Amaron’s confidence in Kuwait’s dynamic business environment, strong aftermarket fundamentals, and growing demand for high-performance automotive products.
Kuwait’s automotive lubricants market is expanding rapidly, with annual consumption estimated at around 45 million Ltrs. Driven by high vehicle ownership, a well-established service network, and a growing focus on vehicle performance and maintenance, this growth positions Kuwait as a strategic market for Amaron’s regional expansion.
As part of this expansion, Amaron introduced its complete range of automotive lubricants, Amaron Hi-Life Lubes, to the Kuwaiti market during an event held at Al Baraka Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Al Thuraya City, Kuwait. The event was attended by Amara Raja Executive Director Mr. Harshavardhana Gourineni, CMO, International Automotive Business (ARE&M) Mr. Indeevar Govardhanagiri, Business Head – MEA (ARE&M) Mr. Maneesh Khanna, Bandira Auto Parts owners Mr. Jassim Al Tamimi and Mr. Joyab Ali Patel, along with the leadership team from Amara Raja International Business, local automotive dealers, and workshop partners.
Executive Director of Amara Raja, Mr. Harshavardhana Gourineni said, “Our vision for AMARON in Kuwait is not only to enter Kuwait’s dynamic automotive lubricant sector but also to achieve a 5% market share in the automotive lubricant aftermarket within the next five years. The launch of Hi-Life Lubes today is a strategic step in our broader expansion into the auto-allied segment.”
He added, “Hi-Life Lubes has already been successfully launched in India, earning nationwide recognition and ranking among the top five brands in the motorcycle oil segment. Kuwait marks our first international launch market outside India in this category.”
Bandira Auto Parts Owner, Mr. Jassim Al Tamimi said, “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Amaron since 2008 as their exclusive distributor in Kuwait. Today marks a significant milestone as we introduce Amaron’s new automotive lubricants to the market. We look forward to bringing more high-performance and reliable products to customers, including motorists, fleet operators, and service workshops across Kuwait, helping extend vehicles engine life, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs.”
Amaron Hi-Life Lubes is designed to deliver maximum engine protection and performance, featuring unique Molybdenum enriched PENTACORE Technology advanced base oils, and premium additives. Tested for high thermal stability and oxidation resistance, and meeting international OEM and API standards, these lubricants provide long-lasting results and ensure engines remain protected even in the harshest conditions, making them ideally suited for GCC climate.
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: Agility KSCP, a supply chain services, infrastructure and innovation company, announced the successful conclusion of its sponsorship of the 2025 “Watheefti” career fair, Kuwait’s biggest national job event, as part of its commitment to strengthening its workforce with national talent and attracting Kuwaiti graduates.
Watheefti was held under the patronage of Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, at the Arena, Grand Hyatt Kuwait, from Oct. 16 to 18. The fair drew more than 30,000 candidates for three days of interviews and networking. The event provided Agility with a key platform to meet graduates and job seekers and highlight career opportunities across its diverse business units.
Working at Agility KSCP offers Kuwaiti nationals a valuable opportunity to contribute to the development of the country’s logistics sector, support national economic priorities, and participate in advancing Kuwait’s infrastructure. In June, Agility KSCP announced a new strategy built around the growth opportunities emerging from Kuwait’s evolving economy, positioning the company as a dedicated platform that supports the country’s national development goals. Under this strategic direction, Agility KSCP will build on its longstanding commitment to developing the Kuwaiti human capital that will be the driving force behind its implementation.
Agility actively seeks to attract national talent through its regular participation in career fairs. The company has taken part in the American University of the Middle East (AUM) Career Fair and the K-Tech Career Fair under the theme “With You Along the Road 4,” as part of its efforts to support Kuwaitization, promoting local employment, and empowering Kuwaiti youth to help shape the country’s future.
In a rapidly shifting world, it’s become vital for individuals to truly understand themselves before they can comprehend anyone else. One’s personality traits aren’t just understood at face value—they’re like a sturdy foundation built for success in not just work but also in relationships and the daily decision-making that colors one’s life. Understanding your personality type—how you think, how you react under different circumstances, what truly lights your motivational fire, or what gets your goat—gives you the clearest of maps to see how you function in life. That awareness is truly a superpower when it comes to navigating a work environment. Many conflicts or misunderstandings between individuals don’t arise from bad intentions. In fact, they’re often the byproduct of differing styles that rub each other the wrong way. An analytical person on a Precision Path sees only what should be there, while a creative person on the Big Picture Highway sees what’s in front of them and what’s probably just around the corner. When each understands the other’s style, lives become a whole lot smoother, and a work environment can transform from a field of friction to a space of collaboration.
Understanding personalities also plays a large part in the societal component of life. People keep making the same mistakes in their jobs and their relationships, and they never stop to consider whether the problem lies in either of those two scenarios or in the way they’re just coping with life. Getting a hold of the ol’ personality is the first step in the gigantic, laborious, crawl-to-the-next-level kinda self-developing that we all do. It’s how we become better leaders, better friends, and better humans—more conscious, more accepting, and generally more capable of not going through life on some unguided tour to the same old spots.