ASEAN Countries

Global stocks fell on Monday, with a selloff of technology and semiconductors shares leading the way. Investors were bracing for a more aggressive Federal Reserve response to inflation. Wall Street saw the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lead losses. Semiconductors?and?some megacaps were also under pressure. Nvidia shares fell 3%, Tesla shares dropped 5%. Shares of SpaceX recovered from their initial declines and traded up 1.6%. Chip stocks fell 7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.06%. The S&P 500 dropped 1%. And the Nasdaq Composite fell by 1.6%. Amanda Agati is the chief investment officer of PNC Asset Management Group. The...

Investors shifted to bonds and the dollar as they grew more confident that the Federal Reserve would be more aggressive about tackling inflation. Futures on the Nasdaq fell more than 2.5%. This suggests that Monday's 1.3%?slide could continue into Tuesday. SpaceX shares struggled to reach positive territory during Tuesday's premarket after losing nearly 17% the previous day. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft all also fell. S&P 500 futures fell 1.2%. STOXX 600 dropped 0.8% under pressure of declines by European chip and semiconductor makers. This followed declines among tech stocks in Japan, South Korea and South Korea. Seoul's KOSPI Index...

Investors expect the Federal Reserve will take more aggressive measures to combat inflation even after a 16% decline in oil prices this month. STOXX 600 dropped 1.2% under pressure of 'declines by?European chip-equipment manufacturers, following declines in tech shares in Japan and South Korea. Seoul's KOSPI Index fell 10%, its biggest one-day drop since March. Futures on Nasdaq are down over 2.5%. This suggests that Monday's 1.3% decline could continue into the second day. SpaceX shares fell by nearly 17% on Monday after the company tapped the bond markets following its blockbuster IPO earlier this month. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and...

After the U.S. lifted sanctions against?Iran on Tuesday, oil prices rose and traders were concerned that the Federal Reserve might take more aggressive measures to combat inflation in the second half of the year. S&P 500 futures and MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan both fell by 0.5%. Brent crude rose 0.2% to $78.03 a barrel. The Nikkei was down 0.6%. This is a reversal of some losses. Data showed that Japan's manufacturing industry experienced robust growth in the month of June. New orders surged at their highest rate in over four years. South Korean stocks fluctuated between gains, losses,...

The global stock market was mostly flat Monday, while oil prices dropped. This was due to a combination of 'expectations' that higher interest rates would be imposed on the U.S. Treasury. U.S. Vice-President JD Vance stated in Switzerland that Iran has agreed to let nuclear inspectors enter the country. The conversations about the inspections could begin as early as this week. Treasury Department of the United States authorized Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products sales through August 21. This eases decades-old sanctions and pushes towards a final peace agreement with Iran. In exchange for?commitments to nuclear inspections and free...

Asia's crude oil imports are expected to return to pre-Iran Conflict levels, but the flow of refined products is still constrained. Fuel prices reflect this supply stress. According to data compiled by Kpler, the world's largest energy consumer region is expected to import 22.18 millions barrels of crude per day in June. This represents an increase from 20.35million bpd imported in May. The arrivals in June are still below the 26.76m bpd average for the three months leading up to the United States' and Israel's attack on Iran, which took place on February 28. The figures are still well above...

After Iranian negotiators announced that 'progress was made in peace negotiations with the United States, this helped calm fears about the fragile process of ending the Iran War. Qatari and Pakistani officials also released a joint statement announcing that the first round of talks was over and that progress had been made in a roadmap for a final agreement to be reached within 60 days. The talks were overshadowed earlier by Tehran's announcement that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping had slowed down after U.S. Central Command?said 55 ships passed on Saturday. This prompted U.S. president...

Asia's crude oil imports are expected to return to pre -Iran Conflict? levels, but the flow of refined products is still constrained. Fuel prices reflect this supply stress. According to data compiled by Kpler, the world's largest energy consumer region is expected to import 22.18 millions barrels of crude per day in June. This represents an increase from 20.35million bpd imported in May. The arrivals in June are still below the 26.76m bpd average for the three months leading up to the United States' and Israel's attack on Iran, which took place on February 28. The figures are still well...

The Crude Oil differentials in Europe that help set the Brent benchmark for the world have dropped further this week, as increased flows via the Strait of Hormuz has eased fears about Middle East supply disruptions. JD Vance, the Vice president of the United States, said that on Thursday 12.5 million barrels flowed through strait since the U.S. signed an interim agreement with Iran to end their conflict. Since the beginning of the fighting in late February, the strait has been closed to oil flow. It used to carry up 20 million barrels a day before. Six grades are used...

MSCI's global equities index rose?on Thursday, while oil prices dropped. An interim agreement to end the U.S. - Iran war allowed the reopening?of the Strait?of Hormuz. This fueled hopes that inflation?could?ease and that the U.S. Federal Reserve might not have to?tighten monetary?policy? this year. On Wednesday, the United States and Iran reached an agreement that extended a ceasefire declared in April for another 60 days. This will allow both sides to negotiate a peace. The agreement also allows for the full resume of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz "without charge". Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has threatened to...

The global stock market was torn Thursday between optimism and concern over the possibility of an increase in U.S. interest rates?this coming year following the Federal Reserve meeting. The United States and Iran released their agreement on Wednesday, which extends the ceasefire that was announced in April for another 60 days. This will allow both sides to negotiate a peace. The agreement also calls for the full resume of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz "without charge". Oil dropped 2.8% more to $77 per barrel. This is the lowest price since early March. Futures and shares fell in Europe,...

Investors assessed the progress made in ending the Middle East war after the U.S. president and Iran's president signed an interim peace agreement, but uncertainties still lingered. The text of the agreement was released by both countries. It had circulated widely prior to its publication. The agreement extends the ceasefire that was announced in April for another 60 days, allowing both sides to negotiate an end to hostilities. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has threatened to resume his attacks on Iran and to kill Iranian officials who fail to honor their commitments. Kyle Rodda is a senior analyst for Capital.com....

Norilsk Nickel, the world's biggest palladium producer said that it expects to have a global palladium surplus of 0.3 million (Moz), excluding investments and stock movements, in 2026. The demand for palladium, excluding investments, is expected to reach 9.1 Moz by 2026, and 9.3 in 2027. Meanwhile, the supply will be at 9.4 and 9.5 respectively. Nornickel stated in a review of the market that preliminary estimates indicate investment demand for palladium may reach 0.3 Moz in 2026. This would effectively bring the market into balance. A similar trend is expected in?2027. Nornickel expects that global primary palladium output will...

Four?sources? with knowledge of the situation said that Cargill aims to sell its iron ore and trading business by late July?or early august, as it refocuses its operations on food and agriculture. According to Cargill, the Singapore-based company is a large one, with a trading volume of 60 to 70 millions metric tons of iron ore per year and up to 4 million tons steel. This makes it a target for companies that are looking to expand their physical trading. Sources say that the original deadline for the sale was late May, which is the end of Cargill’s financial year....

Guinea, a country in West Africa, is now the world's largest producer of bauxite - the raw material that ultimately becomes aluminium. It is now trying to use its newfound dominance in order to exert greater control over price and industry structure. Just as Indonesia did in nickel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in cobalt. Three resource giants struggle to control mining sectors which have?grown too large too fast, flooding global markets and crashing the prices. Indonesia uses mining quotas. The Congo has export quotas. Guinea is considering a combination of the two to stop operators from exporting more...

Data showed that the Middle East crude market fell sharply, and even slid into discounts. This was after the United States, Iran, and other countries reached a framework agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz. The 'Asian refining market led by China is still subdued despite months of?run-cuts.' Hopes for higher supply following the deal have pushed Dubai and Middle East benchmarks to contango, and provided rare arbitrage opportunities in Europe and the United States. Benchmark Dubai’s premium to swaps fell into a 46-cent discount on Tuesday. This is the first contango structure in January. A contango market structure is one...

Singapore is establishing an over-the counter gold clearing system and introducing central bank gold vaulting services. This comes as the city state looks to establish itself as a gold trading hub. Gan Kim Yong, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals conference on Monday that the Singapore Exchange will?establish a gold clearing system over-the-counter for Loco Singapore or physical gold in Singapore by the end this year. He said that six banks will be clearing members: DBS, Deutsche Bank ICBC Standard Bank J.P. Morgan OCBC, UOB. Gan stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will offer central...

The mining firm Sinda filed for a U.S. IPO on Friday, marking billionaire Thomas Kaplan's'second attempt' to enter the public markets, following Sunshine Silver's listing a 'day earlier', as 'interest in IPOs' rebounded. The filing did not reveal the terms of?the?offering. The U.S. IPO Market exploded in 2026. A variety of sectors were eager to list and take advantage of the excitement among investors for new listings. Elon Musk’s SpaceX will?start trading in New York in what is expected to be the largest IPO ever. Anthropic, a leading AI company, also filed a confidential application to go public last week....

Thailand's Siam Cement announced on Friday that its unit sold a nearly 15% stake in Indonesian conglomerate Chandra Asri Pacific at the beginning of June for $24.9 billion ($763.10 millions). According to LSEG, SCG Chemicals is the second largest shareholder of Chandra Asri, behind Indonesian business magnate Prajogo Pangestu's Barito -Pacific. Chandra Asri didn't immediately respond to a comment request. The MSCI removed the Indonesian firm from its domestic global standard index in May, causing it to lose over 80% of their value. Stock market in the country has also suffered, as investors have lost confidence due to fiscal concerns,...

China's finished exports of steel to 'India' more than doubled to their highest level in at least two years in April, causing concern amongst the steel makers in India that they would be overwhelmed by low-cost products despite tariffs. According to data provided by the Indian government, China exported around 232,000 metric tonnes of finished steel during April. It was the largest exporter of this steel into the South Asian country. This is despite the fact that?India, which is the second largest crude steel producer in terms of production, had imposed import tariffs on certain grades from December for a...

China's steel exports to India have more than doubled to the highest level in at least two years. This has caused concern among India's steelmakers who fear that they will be overwhelmed by low-cost products despite tariffs. According to data provided by the Indian government, China exported around 232,000 tons of steel finished in April. It was the largest exporter of this steel into the South Asian country. India, the second largest crude steel producer in the world, had imposed import tariffs on certain grades of steel for a three-year period that had managed?to slow imports from China. The data...

A rebel army claimed that at least 55 people died in an explosion in Kaung Tat, Myanmar. The blast was caused by a?accidental explosive of material to be used in mining. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (Ta'ang NLA), which controls the village close to the Chinese border and is currently in a truce with the Myanmar military, has confirmed that there have been fatalities without specifying how many. BBC and Shwe?Phee Myay News Agency, a local news outlet, reported that at least 55 people, including 30 women and 25 men, had been killed, and dozens of others were injured. The...

On Wednesday, copper prices reached their highest level since mid-May, as lower oil prices eased inflation worries for the metal that is vital to growth. Aluminium prices remained 'near 4-year highs' amid concerns about reduced supply in the gulf region. The price of three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange dropped 0.2% in open-outcry official trading to $13,597 per metric ton after reaching $13,746, which was its highest level since May 15. Aluminium fell 0.3% to $3.663, after reaching its four-year peak of $3.707.50, on Tuesday. The Iran War has hampered deliveries in the Middle East. September alumina contracts in...

Aluminum prices reached their highest level in over four years on Tuesday as rising feedstock prices, alumina,?added?to persistent concerns?about a tightening?market amid a?reduced supply from Gulf producers. The London Metal Exchange's three-month aluminium rose by 1.4%, to $3,698.50 at 0937 GMT, after reaching $3,707.5. This is the highest level since March 24, 2020. On March 7, 2022 the metal reached a record high of $4.073.5, as markets grappled with the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. A 5% increase in September alumina contracts on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which rose to their highest level since early May due to...