Asia / Pacific

Valdis Dombrovskis, European Economic Commissar, said that the European Union is at risk of stagflation due to the increase in energy prices caused by 'the U.S. - Israeli 'war on iran. "The outlook is clouded with profound uncertainty. But it's clear that we run the risk of a shock, which is a situation in which a?slower?growth coincides?with a?higher inflation," Dombrovskis said at a?news conference?after a meeting?of EU finance ministers. This is true even if disruptions to energy supply are?relatively brief. Our analysis shows that in such a scenario the EU's growth in 2026 may be around 0.4 points lower than...

The Indian government bond market plunged Friday, ending a week-long loss, as New Delhi’s fuel excise tax?cut clouded fiscal outlook and intensified oil-driven anxieties. This also drove the yield on the 10-year note to its largest weekly increase in almost four years. The benchmark 6.48% bond yield for 2035 ended the session at 6.9419%. This is the highest 10-year bond yield since July 25, 2024. It closed at 6.8750% the previous day. Bond yields are inversely related to bond prices. The yield increased by 20 basis points for the week. This is the largest move since the week ending?May 6,2022...

The rupee is in a tailspin as foreign?investors pull out at record rates from Indian bonds and equities. This is due to the Iran War-driven rise?in oil price, which has sparked a flurry of 'worries about a possible increase?in inflation. Since the beginning of the war on February 28, foreign investors have sold an estimated $12.14 billion in Indian shares, marking the largest monthly outflow ever recorded. The net bond sales of foreign portfolio investors under the Fully Accessible Route, or FAR, reached 152 billion rupees (1.6 billion dollars), the highest amount since the category was first introduced six years...

The 'State Department' reported that U.S. Secretary Marco?Rubio met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on a Thursday. He reportedly expressed "gratitude" for the KRG allowing oil from Iraq to reach international markets, including Kurdistan in Iraq. The State Department issued a statement saying that "the secretary expressed his gratitude to Kurdistan Regional Government, for allowing oil from Iraq to reach the global markets, including the 'Iraq Kurdistan Region. The Iran War has risen oil prices and shook global markets. The State Department said Rubio had "offered his sincere condolences to families of those Peshmerga who were...

A Russian official said on Thursday that a drone attack from Ukraine damaged an industrial area near one of Russia's largest?oil refineries. According to reports on Wednesday, at least 40% of Russia's capacity for oil exports has been halted following Ukrainian drone strikes, a disputed assault on a major pipe and the seizure or tankers. According to Alexander Drozdenko, more than 20 drones have been shot down in the northern Leningrad area. "The attack has been repelled in the Kirishi district." Drozdenko told Telegram that there was damage to the industrial area. Drozdenko ?did not specify what part of the...

The markets overshoot and the recent dramatic increase in bets placed on higher interest rates due to the Middle East energy crisis is the latest example: although the move was logical, its magnitude remains questionable. The Iran War shows no signs of stopping and the?markets are still in flux. Rates traders may need to take a break and re-evaluate. The abrupt change in global 'rate outlook' reflects concerns about the short-term impact on inflation of the soaring prices for oil and gas. Federal Reserve now has a higher probability of raising U.S. interest rates in this year rather than cutting...

Confindustria, Italy's leading business lobby, forecast that the economy would grow by 0.5% in this year. This is a reduction from the 0.7% it had predicted in October. It also warned of'strong' 'downside risks' if the Iran conflict continues. The third largest economy in the Eurozone saw its gross domestic product rise by 0.5%, marking the third consecutive year of growth below 1%. Confindustria stated in its bi-annual report that the 0.5% growth scenario for 2026 was based on an "optimistic hypothesis" that?the conflict in Iran would be over by March's end. The business group warned that if the hostilities...

Sources familiar with the situation said that Indian billionaire MukeshAmbani's?Reliance Jio Platforms? has been in talks with?13?marquee investors to sell 8% of their individual stakes at the upcoming Mumbai listing for the company which will be transforming its telecoms into AI. Ambani’s Jio Platforms is expected to file for approval in Mumbai of its IPO as early as this coming week. The list includes Meta with a stake worth 9.99% and Google?with 7.73%. Vista Equity Partners, KKR and KKR are also big investors. Investors include three sovereign Gulf funds: the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Mubadala, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority....

The Philippines' ambassador to the United States stated that it is working closely with Washington in order to securing waivers and exceptions to allow oil to be purchased from sanctioned U.S. countries. This will 'ensure supply. The Philippines, which is heavily dependent on imported fuels, declared on Tuesday a national energy emergency in order to deal with Middle East War fallout, including oil procurement. In a series of phone messages, Jose Manuel Romualdez said: "We're working with the State Department on getting waivers or exemptions for oil purchases from sanctioned U.S. countries." Romualdez responded that "all options" are being considered...

The Iran War and the global energy crisis it unleashed could have "killed" the idea of an asset that fits all. It is not a novel concept given the poor performance of the U.S. Treasuries did well after the Russian invasion of Ukraine four years earlier. The extraordinary fall in gold prices since the U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran, February 28, has brought it into the spotlight. In times of increased economic, geopolitical or financial uncertainty, investors tend to flock to gold, Swiss franc, Treasuries and the dollar. These are the assets that will most likely serve as a...

Bharat Oil Corp, the state-owned Indian oil company, announced on Tuesday that its head of international trade, Manoj heda, will lead the trading unit in Singapore. BPCL has incorporated a fully-owned subsidiary Bharat Oil Global Energy Services Pte. Ltd. on February 26th, 2026 in Singapore. It said that the new entity would set up a "trading table for trading in crude oils, natural gases,?petroleum, and other petrochemicals" as well as associated activities. Sources said that the unit is expected to begin operations in April. Sources added that Manish Parikh would be the chief financial officer. Sources refused to identify themselves...

Local media reported that despite assurances from Australian ministers, the market was well-supplied. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that New 'South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, had 165 petrol stations without diesel and 298 with no gasoline at all. This is as consumers stockpile fuel in anticipation of the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Chris Bowen, the Energy Minister, confirmed in Parliament that there were shortages at petrol stations across multiple states. Bowen announced on Tuesday that fuel standards would be relaxed again, allowing more diesel to enter the market. This comes after Bowen had already lowered sulphur limits....

Rosimushchestvo, the federal agency for property management, said that a seized?stake? in Russian gold producer Uzhuralzoloto? (UGC?) could be sold at auction next month. The agency stated that the preparations for auction were in progress. The state owns 67.2% in the company, which at current market prices is worth $1.3billion. A Russian court ruled in July 2025 that Konstantin Strukov's?majority share?, which he had previously owned, should be transferred to?the state. This was part of an 'wider pattern' of 'nationalisations, of assets owned by Russian companies or fledgling Western firms. The Moscow law firm NSP estimated last year that the...

MOSCOW, 27 March - Severstal is one of Russia's four largest steelmakers and plans to reduce investment by a fifth?and labour by 5% by 2026. This is due to a falling?demand? for steel in the face of an economic recession. The demand for metals in Russia's major industries - construction, energy, automobile and machinery manufacturing - is decreasing as businesses halt investment because of high interest rates to curb inflation. Metals production has been affected by Western sanctions and drones from Ukraine. "The industry's situation is getting more difficult." The demand for steel in Russia has dropped 31% since 2024....

Iron ore futures were higher on Thursday due to a concern over the supply of iron ore from Australia, following the closure of key ports in the Pilbara region because of a cyclone. The most-traded May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange rose 0.18%, to 817 Yuan ($118.40), per metric ton. As of 0711 GMT, the benchmark April iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange was trading at $107.35 per ton. The operator of the iron ore port said that the key ports were closed on Thursday due to a tropical storm which struck the resource-rich Pilbara region. Pilbara...

Agincourt Resources, an Indonesian gold miner, announced 'on Thursday' that the 'environmental?ministry has given it permission to resume operations at their Martabe mine. The mine was closed after allegations of environmental violations. Agincourt is one of 28 companies whose permits have been revoked after the government claimed that the firm was responsible for the environmental damage which worsened the floods last year in Sumatra. At least 1,200 people were killed. Astra International is the parent company of Agincourt. Astra's largest shareholder is Jardine Matheson. Agincourt spokesperson Katarina Sibirian said, "The company welcomes the decision of the Environment Ministry relating to...

France is one of the countries that will invest in critical Australian minerals projects, according to Australia's Resources Minister on Thursday. Canberra's framework agreement with the U.S. encourages nations with advanced manufacturing industries to secure access to supply. Australia is on a mission for the past four years to create an industry that will produce?minerals? like rare earths, which are essential to technologies in future such as electronics and defense. Countries want to diversify away from China as their dominant supplier. Australia signed agreements with Japan, South Korea and India as well as France, Germany, Britain, France and Germany for...

After a brief dip in prices, copper prices fell on Thursday. This was due to rising'stocks' and weakening consumer demand, particularly in China, the world's largest consumer. Investors were also waiting for clarity about the possibility of ceasefire?in the Middle East. Benchmark 'three-month' copper on the London Metal Exchange dropped 1.17% to $13,177 per metric tonne by 0341 GMT, after finding some help from a weaker dollar the previous day. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract was down by 0.03% to?95.160 yuan per ton ($13.789.31), after reaching its highest price since March 19, at 96.590?yuan. The red metal,...

Iron ore futures rose Thursday on concerns about disruptions in Australian'supply due to ports being closed in the Pilbara area following a cyclone. As of 0226 GMT, the most-traded contract for?May?iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was trading 0.31% higher. It cost 818 yuan (US$118.45) per metric ton. The benchmark April Iron Ore on the Singapore Exchange rose by 2.15% to $107.45 per tonne. Pilbara Ports announced on Thursday that the ports at Ashburton and Cape Preston West were closed due to Tropical Cyclone Narelle. This has led to concerns about iron ore supplies from Australia, which is the...

Four?people with knowledge of the matter have said that discussions about a possible sale of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe to Jindal Steel International may be called off because of differences regarding pension liabilities, energy costs and investments. Despite the fact that?talks are still ongoing over a possible sale of 'Thyssenkrupp - Steel Europe (TKSE), and an agreement could still be reached, a deal now seems less likely. One person said that the companies may decide to stop official negotiations as early as next month. Thyssenkrupp tried to sell TKSE'several times over the last decades. If TKSE is not sold, it would...

Four people with knowledge of the matter said that discussions of a potential sale of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (TKSE) to Jindal Steel International may be cancelled due?to disagreements over pension liabilities and investments, as well as energy costs. The people say that while discussions over a possible sale of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe are ongoing and could still lead to an agreement, a?deal is less likely now after nearly six months' worth of due diligence. One person said that the companies may decide to stop official negotiations as early as next month. Thyssenkrupp tried to sell TKSE a number of times...

Mitsubishi Materials announced on Wednesday that it would stop processing copper concentrate at its Onahama facility - and all related smelting operations - by the end of March 2027. Mitsubishi Materials stated that the outlook for business was becoming more uncertain due to an intensifying competition with overseas smelters, and a steep decline in treatment and refinement charges (TC/RCs). It is expected to book an impairment loss of 132 million yen (21 billion yen) in the fourth quarter of this year's financial year, which ends on the end of this month. This loss will be mainly due to the fixed...

Iron ore futures fell on Wednesday, after a?three-session rally. Fears of production 'cuts' in China’s steelmaking center of Tangshan pushed the price down. However, losses were?limited, as possible supply disruptions in Australia curbed declines. As of 0332 GMT, the?most-traded? May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange fell by 1.46% to 89.5 yuan (US$117.47) per metric ton. Iron ore benchmark April on the Singapore Exchange fell 1.46%, to $106.1 per ton. According to a WeChat announcement by the local authorities, Tangshan activated an emergency response of 'level two' on March 25 due to heavy air pollution. This stoked concerns...

Goldman Sachs has raised its LME aluminum average price forecast for the second quarter to $3,200 per tonne, up from $3,100. They cited a loss of supply due to 'Middle East disruptions' and the'shutdown of Mozal Smelter in Mozambique. LME Aluminium traded at $3.260.50 as of 2215 GMT. Goldman has removed approximately 850,000 tonnes of its supply forecast for 2026. This is due to the reduced production at Qatalum, in Qatar, which operates at 60% following a controlled shutdown. The bank also assumed a 30 percent drop in Iranian production due to damage to the energy infrastructure?and reduced Mozal’s 560,000-tonne...