ASEAN Countries

The dollar recovered its footing after it had fallen sharply on Tuesday, when U.S. president Donald Trump appeared to "shrug off" its recent weakness. Meanwhile, positive earnings kept the world stock market near record highs ahead of a Federal Reserve interest rate decision. The?U.S. The?U.S. European stock markets declined, but U.S. futures indicated a positive opening for Wall Street. Japan's blue chip Nikkei also gained. The MSCI World Stock Index was hovering at record highs. "Last Week, when it seemed like there was a flight away from the U.S., you saw equities fall, Treasuries take a hit, and the Dollar...

Analysts and traders said that Russia's exports of naphtha to Asia will?fall? in January. The storage volumes are increasing as U.S. Sanctions pressure key buyers such as Taiwan, India, and Venezuela, forcing Moscow to find new markets. After Washington imposed sanctions against top Russian oil producers, buyers have become more cautious. Sellers are now forced to store naphtha in foreign storage or on ships, so that it can be reexported. Armaan Ashraf is the director of Asia oil and natural gas liquids at FGENexant. He said that this would mean premiums for "legitimate barrels" of full-range heavy naphtha or discounts...

After a steep sell-off on Wednesday, the dollar found its feet. U.S. president Donald Trump seemed to shrug its recent weakness. Meanwhile, upbeat earnings kept global stocks near record levels?before? a Federal Reserve rate announcement. The U.S. dollar dipped from four-year lows, but sentiment was fragile after the biggest selloff since Trump’s tariffs blitz shook markets in April. European stock markets declined, but U.S. futures indicated a positive opening for Wall Street. Japan's blue chip Nikkei also gained. The MSCI World Stock Index was hovering at record highs. "Last weekend, when it seemed that there was a flight away from...

Asian shares reached a record high on Tuesday, as investors hoped that the U.S. earnings of large-cap companies would be positive. However, uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff moves against South Korea has boosted gold and Silver. Trump said late Monday that he will increase tariffs to 25% on imports of goods from Asia's 4th largest economy. The Nasdaq Futures rose 0.5% as investors prepared for the slew earnings that will be released by Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla on Wednesday. Even South Korea's KOSPI surged by over 2% and reached a new high. The EURO STOXX futures are pointing to...

Investors hoped that a barrage?U.S. Mega-cap earnings were a big factor, but uncertainty due to President Donald Trump's tariff moves against South Korea capped broader gains. Trump increased tariffs to 25% on autos, lumber, and pharmaceutical imports to the U.S. from Asia's 4th-largest economy. The Nasdaq Futures rose 0.2%, as investors prepared for the earnings of the Magnificent Seven, including Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla, on Wednesday. Even South Korea's KOSPI reversed earlier losses and was last to gain 0.8%. Silver surged 6.4% to $110.60 per ounce and is not far off the record set just on Monday. Christopher Louney is...

Gold surged above $5,000 per ounce?Monday. This was boosted by safety flows amid dollar strength following a turbulent last week, where investors were rattled by tensions regarding Greenland and Iran, while markets remained on edge after violent spikes of the yen. After sharp spikes in the yen on Friday, speculation about possible intervention grew. Sources say that the New York Federal Reserve checked rates on Friday. This raises the possibility of a joint U.S. and Japanese intervention to stop the currency's decline. The market is inclined to short the yen, but with the possibility of coordination it is no longer...

Trafigura, a trading house, sold a 'cargo' of Venezuelan oil, to a Spanish refiner. Vitol, a rival, was preparing to export Venezuelan fuel as shipments from the OPEC nation accelerated, according to oil industry sources. U.S. officials reported that Vitol, Trafigura and other companies obtained their first U.S. licensing to load and export Venezuelan crude oil earlier this month. Initial sales reached $500 million or approximately 11 million barrels last week, they said. U.S. officials said that other companies, such as U.S. giant Chevron, were waiting for Washington's exemptions from U.S. sanctions against Venezuela before expanding exports. According to industry...

Asian stocks fell Tuesday as trade war concerns resurfaced and caused a sell-off in U.S. ?assets. Investors are rushing to secure assets such as the Swiss Franc or gold in response to U.S. president Donald Trump's threat to impose additional tariffs on Greenland. This could fuel trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe. Talk of the "Sell America" trade has been revived after the tensions. This is where investors sell U.S. stocks, dollars and Treasuries. The trade seemed to be gaining momentum during Tuesday's Asian hours. Nasdaq futures and S&P500 futures both fell 1% during the early trade. The dollar...

U.S. Stock Futures fell on Monday, after President Donald Trump threatened to slap additional tariffs on 8 European nations until Greenland was allowed by the U.S. The?dollar dropped against the safe haven currencies of the Swiss franc and yen. Concerns about the impact of a full-blown trade war between Europe and the U.S. on global growth and demand led to a gold and silver price jump. The holiday on the U.S. equity markets and bond market led to thin trading, which likely contributed to a drop of 0.7% in S&P futures and 1.0% in Nasdaq. EUROSTOXX Futures and DAX Futures...

U.S. Stock Futures fell on Monday, after President Donald Trump said he would impose?extra tariffs? on eight European countries until the U.S. was allowed to purchase Greenland. This pushed the dollar lower against the yen (a safe haven currency) and the Swiss franc. The holiday on the U.S. bond and equity markets led to thin trading, which?likely? contributed to a drop of 0.9% in S&P futures and 1.1% in Nasdaq. Nikkei Futures also pointed to a weak start for Asian stocks. Trump announced that he will impose an additional 10% on imports of goods from Denmark and Norway. He also...

On Thursday, oil prices fell from their multi-month highs and gold, a safe-haven asset, eased from its record high after U.S. president Donald Trump 'calmed the market's anxiety over a possible U.S. war against Iran. Investors have been looking for bargains elsewhere in the market as they move away from high-flying names in chip and artificial intelligence. Currency markets paused to catch their breath after the yen fell overnight against the U.S. Dollar to its lowest level since July 2024. The yen then rebounded sharply amid warnings about possible Japanese intervention. Japanese bond yields have eased from record highs following...

Asian stocks rose Wednesday, boosted by Japanese shares. Investors?prepared for a quick election in Japan, which could lead to fiscal stimulus. Worries about central bank independence, and 'benign U.S. data on inflation, whipsawed currencies. Gold prices reached a new record high as geopolitical tensions erupted across the globe. Oil prices also rose after U.S. president Donald Trump encouraged Iranians to continue protesting and said that help was on its way. Iran accused Trump, in turn, of inciting violence and encouraging political instability. Early Asian hours saw the Japanese yen at its lowest level since July 20,24, at 159.415 to the...

According to a draft of a joint statement that will be adopted by the two sides on Thursday, they want to increase trade and investments in critical minerals, semiconductors, and infrastructure. The document is eight pages long and subject to changes. It states that the EU will explore a possible transfer of defence tech to Hanoi as both sides strive for closer cooperation in "trusted" networks, at a moment when Chinese companies are winning contracts to develop 5G technology in Vietnam. The statement will be signed by the European Council's President Antonio Costa when he meets Vietnam's leaders on Thursday...

Goldman Sachs raised its London Metal Exchange aluminum price forecast for the first half of 2026 to $3,150 per tonne, up from $2,575. The investment bank cited a balanced global market that had supported investor confidence, without triggering an explosive production increase. Goldman Sachs also raised its forecast for the fourth quarter of 2026 to $2,500 from $2350, but kept its projection for 2027 at $2400. Goldman has revised its forecast for 2026 surplus from 1.1 million to 0.8 millions tonnes, but kept the 2027 surplus unchanged at 1.6million. It also raised its 2028 forecast to 2.3million, anticipating a higher...

A spokesperson for the country’s forestry taskforce told reporters that Danantara Indonesia, a sovereign wealth fund, will be taking over land taken from 28 companies linked to flooding and landslides on Sumatra. Last week, President Prabowo revoked business permits for the companies for 'alleged environmental violations that worsened floods in Sumatra last year. Barita Simanjuntak, spokesperson for the task force, said that the handover was already underway. She added that there would be "a comprehensive process" to minimise the impact on the workers and the surrounding communities of the removals. These companies are active in a wide range of sectors,...

The nickel price has been on a rapid rise as investors bet that Indonesia, which is the world's biggest producer of battery metals, will slow down its explosive output growth. The London Metal Exchange (LME) 3-month metal has risen from a low of $14.235 per metric tonne in mid-December to a peak of $18,905 on January 14, a level last traded in 2022. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources minister Bahlil lahadalia, in mid-December, triggered a nickel resurgence with his?promise? to cut production. An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed that this year, the annual mining permits for ore will be...

The nickel price has been rocketing as investors bet that Indonesia, which is the world's biggest producer of battery metals, will slow down its explosive output growth. The London Metal Exchange's (LME) 3-month metal price has risen from a low in mid-December of $14,235 to a high of $18,905 on January 14, a level that was last traded in 2022. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil?Lahadalia, mid-December, sparked the nickel revival with a promise of reducing production. An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed that this year's annual "mining" permits will be reduced to 250-260 millions wet tons ore,...

Copper prices rose on Friday, after Capstone Copper announced that a workers’ strike forced a production?halt at the Mantoverde Mine in Chile. The most traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed daytime trade up 0.64% at 101,340 yuan ($14.553.65) per metric ton but ended the week lower by 0.52%. As of 0700 GMT, the benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal Exchange had gained 1.30% and was expected to finish the week with a gain of 0.93%. The strike was triggered after Capstone and the largest union of mine workers failed to reach an agreement on collective bargaining....

Copper prices rose on Friday as supply concerns grew after Capstone Copper, a miner in Chile and a local trade union reported that a strike had forced the company to halt production at its Mantoverde Mine. As of 0330 GMT, the most traded copper on the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen?0.32%, to 101,020 Yuan ($14,507.49), a metric tonne, but was expected to end the week with a loss of 1.15%. The benchmark copper for three months on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.01%, to $12.884.50 per ton. The strike was triggered after Capstone and the largest union at the mine...

Shanghai Copper finished off its lows on Tuesday as investors shrugged off the sluggish market and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE)'s move to increase margin requirements for certain contracts. After a drop of more than 1%, the most traded copper contract on the?SHFE?closed trading daytime up 0.04% to 101,280 Yuan ($14,544.41) per metric ton. As of 0740 GMT, the benchmark three-month price for copper at the London Metal Exchange increased by 1.10%. It now stands at $12,894.50 per ton. Red metal prices remained near record highs despite the sluggish demand for spot metals. The?SHFE also increased daily price limits and...

The Shanghai Futures Exchange increased margin requirements on certain copper contracts, which led to a drop in the price of copper in China. As of 0330 GMT, the most-traded metric ton?copper contract traded on SHFE fell 0.65%, down to 100,580 Yuan ($14440.15). However, the benchmark three-month?copper? on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.65%, to $12,836.50 per ton. SHFE announced on Tuesday it will increase the margin ratios for certain metals, including copper, silver, gold, and aluminum futures contracts, and expand daily price limits from January 22, 2019. This?move was widely seen as a way to stabilize the market, since copper...

The price of copper dropped on Tuesday as industrial consumers began to resist paying high prices for inventory levels that are multi-year highs. Benchmark -three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange fell?0.8%?to $12,868 per metric ton by 1045 GMT. The previous session saw a 1.3% rebound. LME copper prices have risen by 30% in the last six months. Last week they reached a record high of $13,407, driven by speculation on the backs of fears that disruptions at mines would lead to shortages. Ole Hansen is the head of commodity strategy for Saxo Bank, Copenhagen. He said: "Copper can't run...

The copper price rebounded Monday, thanks to a lower dollar and better-than-expected data from China, the world's largest metals consumer. After two consecutive sessions of declines, the benchmark three-month 'copper price on London Metal Exchange rose 0.6% to $12,885 per metric ton at 1030 GMT. LME copper fell to a low of one week on Friday due to profit-taking, and worries about weak Chinese demand. It had fallen from its record high of $13,407 on Wednesday. The price of coal has risen 31% in the last six months on fears that shortages may occur this year due to mine disruptions....

Indonesian authorities could seize mining operations on 190,000 acres (733.59 sq mi) of illegally cleared forest. The deputy forestry ministry said this in a parliamentary hearing. Authorities are tackling what they call 'illegal extraction' throughout the resource-rich island archipelago. Indonesia's unprecedented crackdown has caused the industry to be unnerved. It has pushed up the price of palm oil due to fears that it would affect production, and more recently has fueled rallies in metal prices like tin. Rohmat Marzuki, Deputy Forestry minister, said that 191,790 acres (mines), which are not covered by forestry permits and could be considered illegal. He...