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Energy Markets

Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

The Iran-related energy spike reduces the room for rate reductions in emerging markets

Oil prices spiked due to the war in Iran, and for now this has halted any monetary easing efforts by emerging market central bankers from Poland to Turkey. This is because policymakers are coping with an increase in inflation expectations as well as a rise in risk aversion. After a series of shocks, from the COVID outbreak to Russia's invasion in?Ukraine, that have shook markets, slowed growth, and fueled inflation, central banks are finally becoming more optimistic about global economic resilience?and easing price pressures. The dollar gained ground, and U.S. Treasury Yields rose as a proxy of borrowing costs in...

Oil & Gas

Russian oil prices used to tax state revenues exceed budget targets

Calculations showed that the price of Russian crude oil, used to tax the country, has exceeded the budget target?for the first time since Jan 2025?because?of?the rise in global prices due to the Iran War. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in 2022, Russia has increased its military spending, increasing its deficit. In January-February, it was 3.45 trillion Russian roubles (43.70 billion dollars), or 1.5%. The Iran War, which involved U.S., Israeli and Iranian strikes on Iran, and Iranian strikes against Israel and U.S. military bases, as well as Gulf states has fueled a significant increase in demand for...

Oil & Gas

UK gilts suffer new decline as investors focus on oil reserves

The price of British government bonds?fell dramatically in early trade on Tuesday, as the markets questioned if the plans for a record releasing?of oil reserve could offset any potential supply shocks resulting from the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. As of 0906 GMT the short-dated gilt yields were up around 12 basis points, completely erasing Tuesday's large drops. Investors have also reduced their bets for a Bank of England rate cut in this year. The probability is now?roughly 20 percent, down from 50 percent a day ago. The British public is more vulnerable to a shock in energy prices...

Oil & Gas

Malaysia has enough fuel to maintain the subsidised price of transport fuel, says PM

Malaysia can continue to provide subsidies for a widely used fuel, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, amid the surge in oil prices worldwide due the Middle East conflict. The government has decided to 'keep the price for RON95 fuel at 1.99 ringgit per litre ($0.51) despite a spike in prices. Checks with the state energy company Petronas have confirmed this. Anwar, in a televised statement, said that the?reserves of oil will last until May. Anwar stated that the government was able to protect the people against the full impact of the rising prices for oil and other essentials. He...

Crude Oil

Mike Dolan: The dangers of US oil-driven redistribution

U.S. indexes of the stock market have so far weathered the oil shock this month well because investors are expecting only a slight GDP impact from higher energy prices. This'resilience' masks the fact that income is shifting from households to 'Big Energy, and this could be a very dangerous trend in an election year. As uncertainty continues to rage about the length and extent of the Iran War, the sharp and volatile rises in energy costs have caused oil and natural gas prices to look structurally higher for the coming year. Fertilizer shipments are also being held up in the...

Oil & Gas

Indian benchmark shares drop as investors remain on edge due to Mideast cues

Indian benchmark shares fell Wednesday - after a recovery in the previous session - as investors were uncertain about the impact of the Middle East War on inflation and growth. Oil prices were also fluctuating. As of 10:40 a.m. IST, the Nifty?50 dropped 0.7% to 24,087 while the BSE Sensex fell 0.8% to 77.556.77. In early trading, the indexes were unchanged. Devarsh Vakil is the head of Prime Research for HDFC Securities. He said: "There's still considerable geopolitical unrest and that's why markets are on edge." Israel and the United States launched what some have described as the war’s most...

Oil & Gas

AI stocks lift Japanese shares, as oil supply concerns ease

Investors bought down stocks and worries about oil supplies due to the Middle East conflict were eased. The Nikkei rose 2.3% as of 0220 GMT to 55,512.21, while the Topix increased 1.8% to 3,513.66. Naoki Fukuwara, Shinkin Asset Management's senior fund manager, said that investors were buying at lower prices, especially in areas that had been heavily sold off and where there are signs of a rebound. Price action has also been strong. Artificial intelligence-related shares, which suffered a heavy loss on Monday due to pessimism about the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, were the top performers of the...

Oil & Gas

WSJ reports that IEA is proposing the largest oil release ever from strategic reserves.

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the issue, reported that the 'International Energy Agency' has proposed the 'largest release in oil reserves history to lower a soaring crude price? due to the U.S./Israel war against Iran. WSJ reported that the release of oil would be greater than the 182,000,000 barrels?of crude oil that IEA members countries released in two releases in 2022, when Russia began its full-scale 'invasion' of Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported that the IEA will convene an extraordinary meeting with its member states 'on Tuesday. They are expected to 'decide on the proposal -...

Oil & Gas

White House to Americans - Energy prices will rise temporarily due to Iran

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, said on Tuesday that the American public would see oil and gas prices fall rapidly once the joint Israeli-U.S. war against Iran is fully accomplished. Leavitt told reporters that the increase in gas and oil prices was temporary and the operation would result in lower prices over the long-term. Prices of oil on Monday soared to $119 per barrel, their highest level?since June 20, 2022. Supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and other producers have stoked concerns about major disruptions in global supply. Leavitt said that Trump's energy team was closely monitoring the markets and...

Oil & Gas

Britain and allies support shipping through Strait of Hormuz

'Britain and its allies are working on a variety of options to support commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite iranian threats. The spokesman for Prime Minister Keir 'Starmer said that Tuesday, as the U.S. - Israel war against Iran is roiling oil prices. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has said that the war will end "soon." He also stated that the U.S. would escalate its attack if Iran attempted to block tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Downing Street read out a statement after speaking with the leaders of Germany, Italy and France late on Monday. They...

Oil & Gas

McGeever: The 2007 subprime credit warnings are echoed in the alarms of private lenders.

Each financial market crisis differs, but they all rhyme. Parallels are emerging between the 'tremors' now rippling across private credit and the subprime housing in the U.S. that led to 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis. It's not to say that a replay of the historic crash is imminent. There is a growing danger that the increasing stress in the private credit market - i.e., the lack of liquidity, the opaque pricing and the soaring redemptions – could spill?over into the public markets. BlackRock, with its $14 trillion in assets under management, announced?on? Friday that it had limited withdrawals after an influx...

Oil & Gas

Hugo Boss says Middle East conflict has not yet affected its profits, despite exceeding estimates.

The German fashion group Hugo Boss announced a better-than expected annual operating profit on Tuesday, despite a difficult market environment. It also said that it has not yet felt the impact of the Middle East conflict. The company's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), which were 391 million euro ($455million) in 2025, are up from 361 millions euros a year ago, and well above the average analyst forecast of 379million euros, according to a poll conducted by the company. Early trading saw a 4% rise in shares of the company. The stock has risen 1.3% from the beginning of the...

Fossil Fuels

Crude Oil

Japan will release part of its oil reserves before IEA decision, says PM

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Prime Minister, said that Japan will release 15 days of private sector oil reserves as well as one month of state oil reserves. This is in preparation for the International Energy Agency's action. She said that to avoid a disruption in gasoline and other petroleum products supplies, Japan would tap its reserves with the G7 and IEA. However, they will start releasing them 'from 16 March. Takaichi, in a broadcast, said that Japan would act before waiting for formal IEA?approval?of a coordinated release of international reserves to ease the global energy'market supply and?demand. It will release reserves...

Fossil Fuels

Minister says oil producers should invest in Nigeria in order to diversify their supply during times of crisis.

Yusuf Tuggar, the Foreign Minister, told?that the Middle -East conflict shows that Gulf oil and gas companies should view Nigeria as a 'partner, not a rival' to help diversify their supply in times of crisis. The remarks coincide with the war in Iran, which has disrupted shipments through Strait of Hormuz. This corridor accounts for about a quarter of global supplies, forcing exporters and price spikes. Tuggar stated that Nigeria's untapped oil and gas reserves provide Gulf States with an alternative source at a moment when global flows of crude are vulnerable. The demand for hydrocarbons will?remain high for many...

Fossil Fuels

AI stocks lift Japanese shares, as oil concerns ease

Japanese shares extended their rally on Wednesday for a second day, as investors purchased beaten-down stock and concerns about global oil supplies eased amid the Middle East conflict. The Nikkei closed at 55,025.37 after rising as high as 2.8% earlier, and the Topix edged 0.9% higher to 3,698.85. Naoki Fukuwara, Shinkin Asset Management's senior fund manager, said that investors were buying dips in areas with the highest levels of selling, where there are signs of a resurgence. The price action was also strong. Artificial intelligence-related shares, which were hit hard on Monday due to pessimism about the U.S./Israeli war against?Iran...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Aluminium rallys focus on Middle East supply disruptions

After a brief drop in prices triggered by Donald Trump's comments on the Iran war, aluminium prices rose?on Wednesday. Benchmark aluminium at the London Metal Exchange was 1.1% higher, trading at $3.442 per metric ton. It reached $3,544 per ton earlier this week, its highest level since April 2022. Trump predicted on Monday that the conflict would be over well before the four-week timeline he set out. Due to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, the war has effectively frozen shipments and posed a threat to global supplies of aluminium for use in packaging, construction and transport. Around seven...

Mineral Resources

Sources: Rio Tinto increases Q2 Japan Aluminium Premium Offer

Rio Tinto increased its offer of a?aluminum premium to?Japanese customers to $350 per ton for April-June primary shipments. This is up 79% compared to the current quarter. The revised offer, which is 40% more than Rio's prior proposal of $250, would, if accepted by the client, be the highest premium since the April-June 2015 quarter, when it reached $380 per ton. Japan is the largest?Asian metal importer and the premiums it agrees to pay each quarter for primary metal shipments over the London Metal Exchange cash price are the benchmarks for the region. Global?producers in late February offered Japanese buyers...

Mineral Resources

Shanghai Aluminium holds the top spot with Mideast Supply disruption in focus

Aluminum prices in Shanghai recovered on Wednesday, as the focus shifted to the loss in global supply due to conflict in the Middle East. This followed a brief sell-off that was triggered by Donald Trump's remarks about the Iran War. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded aluminium contract closed the daytime trading up 2.6% to 25,215 Yuan ($3,672.23) a metric ton. The contract fell 1.41% Tuesday, as Trump's remarks suggesting that the Iran War would soon be over temporarily eased supply concerns. Benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange eased 0.19% per ton to $3,399.5 by 0802 GMT. It...

Mineral Resources

Aluminium prices rise as focus shifts to the Middle East

After a short sell-off caused by the 'U.S.,' aluminium prices recovered on Wednesday as attention shifted to the loss of supply in the Middle East due to conflict. Donald Trump's comments on the Iran War. As of 0213 GMT, the most-traded aluminum contract on Shanghai Futures Exchange increased 2.31%, to 25,275 Yuan ($3,680.81) a metric ton. The contract fell 1.41% Tuesday, as Trump's remarks suggesting an end to the Iran war in the near future temporarily cooled supply concerns. The benchmark three-month aluminum?on London Metal Exchange rose 0.5% to $3,423 a ton. On Monday, it reached a high of $3,544....

Mineral Resources

Australian shares continue to recover as metal prices rise, boosting the rally of miners

Investors 'purchased' mining stocks on Wednesday, after a recent sale 'linked to the Middle East War, and stronger iron ore prices and gold prices boosted?the sector. As of 2339 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 index was up by 0.2% at?8,713.10. The benchmark closed 1.1% higher on Monday. After a recent sell-off sparked by inflation fears linked to volatile energy costs, stocks are now on the road to recovery. The Middle East conflict has nearly erased gains from earlier this year. This leaves the benchmark index flat year-to date. U.S. president Donald Trump predicted that the conflict would end soon, even as...

Mineral Resources

Aluminum prices fall as Trump's Iran War remarks cool supply fears

Aluminum prices fell on 'Tuesday as profit-taking impacted the market. Donald Trump's promise to end a Middle East conflict quickly eased supply concerns. After hitting its highest level since January 30, at 25,860 Yuan per metric tonne, the most traded aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange has pared earlier losses and closed daytime trade at 24,835 Yuan ($3,611.42). The benchmark three-month aluminum on the London?Metal Exchange dropped 0.78% at $3,359 a ton as of 0744 GMT. On Monday, the contract reached its highest level since March 2022. It was $3,544 per ton. Trump said on Monday that he expected...

Mineral Resources

INSTANT VIEW: China's imports of crude oil and iron ore in the first two months have surged.

Customs data showed that China's exports grew faster in January and February, keeping it on track to surpass the $1.2 trillion record trade surplus by 2026. Imports of crude oil and?iron ore also increased in the first half of 2026, compared to a year ago. China combined import data from January and February in order to reduce the impact of the Lunar New Year, which was a week long holiday that fell in February. Table of preliminary data on commodity trade Here are some comments from analysts about the commodity data: PEI HAO is an analyst at?FREIGHT INVESTOR SERVICES in...

Coal

China's iron ore imports for the first two months of 2018 are up on exports and domestic demand

Customs data showed that China's imports of iron ore in the first two months 2026 increased by 10% compared to a year ago, thanks to stronger exports from Australia, a major supplier, and a higher level of domestic demand. In January and February of this year, the world's biggest iron ore consumer imported 210.02 metric tons. This is up from 191.36 metric tons in previous years. Alexis Ellender is an analyst with the ship tracking firm Kpler. She said that this growth was due to Australia's strong exports in December. China combined import data from January and February in order...

Mineral Resources

LME will consider replacing warehouse rent cap with fixed daily loading rates

London Metal Exchange announced?on Monday? that the existing limits on'rent' charged by its warehouse network?could be replaced with a daily fixed rate of load-out. The LME may require that daily, 1.5% of the metal in its warehouses be loaded onto warrants - title documents conferring ownership. The current system reduces rent to 'zero' if a storage facility fails to deliver the metal required within 80 days. The consultation is open until May 8 and will look at exempting cancellations over 10,000 metric tonnages from the 1.5% requirement. This would ensure that larger warehouses do not feel discouraged from accepting more...

Mineral Resources

Dubai Gold Trades at Discount to London Due to Flight Disruptions

Analysts and traders say that gold in Dubai trades at a lower price than in London due to flight restrictions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Demand is also subdued because of the uncertainty over the length of the war. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has caused widespread cancellations of passenger flights across the Middle East. This has disrupted the flow of gold through Dubai, a major trading hub that supplies Switzerland, Hong Kong, and India. A Dubai-based dealer said, "The market is still at a discount. However, in thin trade, the variations are wide. They...

Mineral Resources

Aluminium reaches four-year highs due to Middle East shipping disruptions

Aluminum prices reached four-year-highs on Monday, as concerns over a'supply of metal' were fueled by fears of a prolonged disruption of shipping in the Middle East because of the U.S./Israel war against Iran. Benchmark 'aluminum' traded 1.8% lower, at $3,385 per metric ton. This is the highest price since March 2022, when the metal was used for transport, construction, and packaging, reaching a record of $4,073.50. The conflict in the Middle East has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which aluminum produced in that region is shipped to the U.S. Ed Meir, Marex analyst, said that the Europeans were...

Mineral Resources

LME Aluminium reaches nearly 4-year high amid supply fears

The escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Middle East has fueled concerns over a'shortage of global supplies. This is countering downward pressure on demand due to a stronger dollar. The benchmark?three-month Aluminium on the London Metal Exchange reached its highest level since March 31, 2020, earlier in the session, when it hit $3,544 per ton. By 0706 GMT, it was up 0.75% to $3,472 per metric ton. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded aluminium contract closed the daytime session up 1.61% to 24,950 yuan (US$3,607,84) per tonne after reaching its highest level since January 30, at 25,860?yuan. The...