Asia / Pacific

India, the world's largest thermal coal importer, is reducing the cost of overseas purchases by increasing the percentage of domestic fuel used in power plants that run on imported coal. They said that the South Asian nation has already used domestic coal to operate 5.7 gigawatts of its total 18.7 GW capacity in imported coal-based plants this year. The switch is being expanded to 4.3 GW. Import-based plants previously used coal from Indonesia and South Africa, as well as Russia. Data from Indian coal trader iEnergy Natural Resources show that imports from Indonesia and South Africa dropped by 21% and...

The Republican-majority U.S. Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would halt U.S. military action against Iran. However, it is not clear what impact it will have on the war while President Donald Trump's Administration negotiates a deal with the Islamic Republic. The Senate voted in favor of a concurrent resolution that was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. This reflects a growing concern among Trump's Republicans over the unpopular conflict which began on February 28, despite the majority of Republicans voting for it. Four 'Republicans joined all Democrats except one in voting for the resolution. ?Two Republicans did...

Mark Lashier, CEO of Phillips 66 in the U.S., said 'on Tuesday that it will take some time for crude supplies to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.' This is because there remains uncertainty about a return to normal shipping activity. The Strait of Hormuz continues to be used on a limited scale, which eases immediate concerns about supply and lowers crude prices. Energy companies monitor how quickly crude flow, inventories, and shipping activity returns to normal. Lashier, speaking at a JPMorgan Conference, said that between 90 and 100 million barrels of crude oil remain trapped in this strait. They...

Under the interim agreement to end the war with Iran, the U.S. began lifting some sanctions. However, it will be difficult for any comprehensive agreement to unravel the tangled webs of restrictions that restrict the country's trade and activities. It is for this reason that any attempt to lift the sanctions against Iran may take many years, and foreign investment could be slow to return. WHEN WILL THE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN BE RELEASED? Since decades, the U.S. has imposed sanctions, trade 'embargos' and asset freezings on Iran over its nuclear program, human rights record, and support of groups in the...

The U.S. Treasury Department approved the production, sale and delivery of Iranian oil on Monday. This was a promise made by Washington and Tehran in an agreement last week. The general license announced by the two sides as they continue their talks to reach a final agreement on peace allows for the production, sale and delivery of crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products with Iranian origin through August 21. In a recent post on X, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iran had 'committed' to allowing free and open passage through the Strait of Hormuz as well as allowing?International Atomic...

Gazprom shares fell below 100 roubles ($1.35) for the first time since 2009 on Monday, according to data from the Moscow Exchange. Gazprom shares have been hit by a number of factors, including Europe's decision not to buy Russian energy due to the conflict in Ukraine, the decline in oil prices as a result of progress made between the United States, Iran and the United Nations, as well as the failure to sign a new deal for gas with China. Analysts claim that the 'drone attack' on an oil refinery in Moscow, owned by Gazprom neft (the oil arm of...

STOCKS: The benchmark BSE Senex added 0.38% to 77 094.07, while the broader NSE Index rose 0.37%?to?24,102.90. Reliance Industries led this rise,?following?its annual meeting, and a rebound of IT stocks. Meanwhile, improved sentiments from Middle East Peace Talks and lower oil prices helped to support broader risk appetite. RUPEE: The Indian rupee fell 0.38% against the?U.S. The dollar dropped to 94.6775 on Monday and ended a six-day run of gains. GOVERNMENT BONDS The benchmark 10-year bonds were quoted at 100.6475 Rupees with the yield remaining largely unchanged at 6.8473%. Traders were cautious due to the lingering U.S. Iran truce risk...

Indian shares rose on Monday, led by Reliance Industries following its annual general meeting, and a rebound of IT stocks. Meanwhile, improved'sentiment' from Middle East peace talks and lower oil prices boosted broader risk appetite. After a tense start, marked by Tehran's announcement that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again and U.S. president Donald Trump repeating threats to resume attacks on Iran, investors were able to calm their nerves. The benchmark Nifty 50 index in India rose 0.37%, to 24,102.90. Meanwhile, the Sensex gained 0.38%, to 77,094.07. The two indexes posted their sixth gains in seven sessions. This...

Mediators said that U.S. officials and Iranian officials had made "encouraging progress" during a first round of discussions in Switzerland, which ended early Monday morning, despite the tensions over Lebanon and Strait of Hormuz. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the parties agreed on a roadmap to a final deal to end their war within 60 days. This was despite the initial tension as 'Tehran' again closed the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to restart attacks against Iran. The two sides said they had agreed on a mechanism that would end the fighting between U.S.-ally Israel and...

The prices of China's coal futures continued to decline on Monday. This was due to the prospect of a rising supply following the resumption of production in coal-rich Shanxi, as well as from increasing imports. The Dalian Commodity Exchange's (DCE) most traded coking coal contract closed the daytime trading 1.39% lower, at $188.20 per metric ton. This is approximately 14% lower than the 1,486.5 Yuan that was reached on June 8th, the highest level since Oct 2024. The most active DCE contract dropped 0.49%, to 2,015.5?yuan per ton. According to a survey conducted by the consultancy Mysteel, as of June...

Indian shares rose in the early trade on Monday, following their Asian counterparts after the?U.S. - Iran peace talks at the weekend raised hope that the long-running?conflict might be coming to an end. The first round of 'U.S.-Iran 'talks ended on a positive note, with progress made on a roadmap to a final agreement within 60 days. This helped calm investor nerves following a tense start marked by Tehran announcing it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz. As of 10 a.m. IST, India's benchmark Nifty rose by 0.5% to 24,133. The BSE Sensex gained 0.52%, reaching 77,192.54. 13?of...

On Sunday, the United States and Iran will begin 'peace talks' in Switzerland. U.S. officials have disputed Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Iranian state media reported that high-level Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland to hold peace talks with the U.S. The U.S. and Iran had agreed on a 60-day truce while negotiations are taking place. However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, despite the U.S. Military stating that commercial vessels have continued to operate in the waterway. These developments could complicate negotiations between the two sides to implement an...

Investors weighed conflicting signals about the U.S. - Iran peace talks as they assessed rising bets that U.S. interest rates would rise. Gold spot fell 0.5% at 0609 GMT to $4,088.97 an ounce, after hitting its lowest level since June 11. U.S. gold for August delivery fell 1% to $4106.30. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Tuesday that Iran agreed to nuclear inspections indefinitely. However Tehran claimed it had not made any such concessions during negotiations. This raises questions about their fragile peace agreement. Both sides disagreed on the specifics of a provision which would give Iran access to...

The 'London Metal Exchange' saw aluminium prices remain near their three-month lows on Wednesday as the strong 'dollar and expectations of Middle East supply returning weighed. LME benchmark?aluminum for three months edged up by 0.17% to $3,238 per metric tonne at 0300 GMT after plunging in the previous session. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded aluminium contract fell 1.12%, to 23,480 Yuan ($3,453.50), a ton. It fell earlier in the session to a three month low of 23,320 Yuan per ton. After three months of war, there was hope that tensions would ease between the U.S. The LME Cash-to-three Month?Premium...

Gold fell on Wednesday, reaching its lowest level for 'almost two months, as the dollar rose amid rising bets that the U.S. would raise interest rates, and investors analyzed conflicting signals regarding the U.S. Iran peace talks. Gold spot fell 1%, to $4,067.51 an ounce, at 0236 GMT. It had earlier fallen to its lowest level since the 11th of June. U.S. gold contracts for August delivery fell 1.6% to $4.083.90. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that Iran agreed to nuclear inspections in "infinity" on Tuesday. Tehran denied this and said they had not made such a concession during...

South Korea's KOSPI recovered sharply on Wednesday morning. It surged 4.1% in the first 30 minutes after nearly a 10% plunge just a day earlier. Retail?investors were rushing to buy a dip. KOSPI increased by more than 330 points, to 8,550.21, just moments after trading started at 0000 GMT. Market leader Samsung Electronics jumped more?than 9% and SK Hynix gained 5%. Seo 'Sang-young is a strategist with Mirae Asset Securities Co. He said that the rebound immediately recouped the double-digit losses of the previous session as retail investors filled the order books. Seo stated that "retail investors are a major...

The?U.S. dollar?hit a one-year high on Tuesday, outweighing support from lower oil prices amid progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Dollar?hit a year-high on expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. This outweighed support from lower oil prices in light of progress in U.S. Iran talks. By 11:45 am, spot gold had fallen by 1.2% to $4138.79 an ounce. ET (1545 GMT). U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell by 1.1% to $4156.40 an ounce. The U.S. Dollar rose to its highest levels in over a year, making gold more expensive for foreign buyers. Right now, gold and silver don't look...

?Gold prices fell on?Tuesday as the U.S. Dollar hit a year-high on expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike, which outweighed support from softer prices for oil amid progress in U.S.Iran negotiations. By 9:26 am, spot gold had fallen 1.7% to $4118.73 an ounce. ET (1326 GMT). U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery?fell by 1.6% to $4135.60 an ounce. The U.S. Dollar rose to its highest levels in over a year, Tuesday. This made gold more expensive for buyers from abroad. "At the moment, gold and silver aren't looking at the Middle East." Bob Haberkorn is a senior market analyst...

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...

The price of aluminum fell to its lowest level in nearly three months on Tuesday, as the United States granted Iran an?60-day sanction waiver following initial peace talks. This improved prospects for a resumed Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. By 0944 GMT the benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange had fallen 3.0% to $3,262.50 per metric ton after having hit $3,225.5 - its lowest level since March 26. Ole Hansen is the head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. He said that "aluminum prices have been impacted by expectations?that Middle Eastern supplies may gradually improve following...

Executives have revealed that Orion Critical 'Mineral Consortium is in advanced talks to establish three new public-private partnership in Asia as it looks to fund a?global? pipeline of $20 billion opportunities. The consortium will form a third leg of investment in Asia to complement the $1.8 billion raised last year by the group to improve access to critical minerals such as copper, lithium and rare earths. The project is being led by Orion Resource Partners a mining-focused private equity firm, and backed up by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ. Orion Resource Partners...

Copper prices fell on Tuesday amid fears of growth headwinds resulting from a Federal Reserve rate hike after yesterday's closely watched U.S. Iran talks. By 0300 GMT, the benchmark three-month copper price on?the London Metal Exchange?fell by 0.51%. It was now $13,580 per?metric?ton. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract was down by 0.61% to 104,060 Yuan ($15.353.97) per ton. Many banks have predicted that the Fed will raise interest rates in this year because of persistent inflation, and due to a hawkish attitude from new chair Kevin Warsh. Increased interest rates can dampen industrial metals' growth prospects by...

The?U.S. dollar was stronger on Tuesday and this pushed gold prices down?more that 1%. ?dollar fell?more than 1% on Tuesday,?pressured by a firmer 'U.S. As of 0414 GMT, spot gold was down by 1.1%, at $4,142.61 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell 1% to $4160.20. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst at KCM Trade. He said that while gold had received some relief this week from lower oil prices, it was not getting any help from the U.S. Dollar, which "continues" to rise on expectations of Fed interest rate hikes. Gold is less affordable for buyers...

Iron ore prices continued to fall on Tuesday, hitting a near -four-month-low. This was due to expectations of rising shipments by major suppliers as we approach the end of the second quarter and a seasonally weakening steel demand. The most traded iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange fell 0.74% by 0300 GMT to 737 Yuan ($108.81), after reaching its lowest since February 24, 736 yuan. By 0250 GMT the benchmark 'July Iron Ore' on the Singapore Exchange had fallen 0.45% to $97.8 per ton. This was its lowest price since February 25. For a fourth consecutive session, the...