Asia / Pacific

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...

Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on Friday, after an escalation of fighting in Lebanon threatened the chance that an interim deal to end the war in Iran would become a lasting Middle East Peace Deal. U.S. - Iran talks?in Switzerland scheduled for Friday have been cancelled due to the fighting in?Lebanon. This has created new uncertainty regarding the timing of the negotiations crucial to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened to global shipping. Just before 4 pm, Lebanon time (1300 GMT), a senior U.S. government official announced that a ceasefire was to be implemented...

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...

Reliance Jio Platforms, owned by Indian billionaire MukeshAmbani, filed?regulatory documents for an IPO that would raise $3.8 billion. This is the largest-ever stock offer in India. The National Stock Exchange of India is preparing to launch another IPO, which will likely be worth $3.3 billion. The five biggest Indian IPOs so far: HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIANA In October 2024, Hyundai, India's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer and the third-largest carmaker in the world, raised $2.95 billion in India's largest-ever IPO. The South Korean parent company of the manufacturer sold a 17.5% share in a "pure offer for sale", where existing shareholders sold...

Rumen Radev, Bulgaria's Prime Minister, said that the country will veto the latest European Union sanctions package against Russia. This is because they may negatively impact its economy. Also, because their government does not agree with the sanctions against a Russian Bishop. The EU's sanctions list was expanded on Monday by adding a total of?34 people and 47 entities that are linked to Russia’s military and industrial complex. It also includes a shadow fleet?of?oil-and-gas tankers?and others who have been involved in political interference. This includes a Russian Orthodox bishop. Radev said that the operation of Lukoil, the Russian oil company,...

The Russian 'anti-monopoly' watchdog asked for an explanation on Thursday from a major petrol retailer in Moscow after they raised prices by 19% for 95-octane fuel in the past week. FAS, the watchdog sent the request?to Neftmagistral a company that runs about 100 petrol stations in the Moscow area and the capital. The price hike was a result of Ukrainian drone attacks against a Moscow oil refining facility, which supplies fuel to the Moscow region. Neftmagistral declined to comment on the regulator's request. On Thursday, the price of 95-octane gasoline at Neftmagistral was around 95 roubles per litre ($1.30), up...

Aramco chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan stated on Thursday that the Iran War had disrupted energy supplies through the 'Strait of Hormuz. Rumayyan is the governor of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF. Rumayyan spoke at the FII PRIORITY Europe'summit', held in Rome by the 'Saudi non profit institute Future Investing Initiative, which has the backing of PIF. FII organizes Riyadh’s annual flagship summit. Known to some as “Davos in the Desert”, this event brings together world leaders and bankers, along with business executives. Rumayyan stated that PIF has invested EUR98 billion ($112,86 billion) in Europe and Britain from 2017 to 2025...

Sources say that Aramco invited banks to bid for Project Yellowstone last month. One source estimated that the sulphur stake sale could generate up to $7 billion. Sources said that Aramco also considers the sale of oil terminals and real estate, as well as power plants. By Hadeel Al Sayegh, Federico Maccioni and ?Yousef Saba DUBAI, 17 June - Saudi Aramco, the world's largest crude exporter, is "considering" the sale of its sulphur business, according to three sources familiar with the matter. This strategy extends a strategy that taps into its infrastructure assets in order to raise tens and tens...

Donald 'Trump' said on Wednesday, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use "softer touches" in his fight against Hezbollah militants. This is the latest public rebuke from the U.S. President to his partner in war on Iran. Trump said to reporters at the end of the G7 summit on Wednesday that Netanyahu is a good person, but he gets a bit 'excited' sometimes. According to U.S. officials and Israelis, the Israeli leader convinced Trump to go to war with Iran and participated in attacks launched on 28 February. Netanyahu 'insisted that Israel was not bound by any U.S.Iran agreement...

U.S. president Donald?Trump stated on Wednesday that a?girls' school in Iran was not attacked deliberately in February. He cited?an investigation of the incident. First reported that an initial internal U.S. Military investigation indicated U.S. Forces were most likely responsible for the deadly strike in Minab, southern Iran. Since then, the Pentagon has elevated its investigation but hasn't acknowledged any preliminary results. According to Iranian officials, the strike on February 28th, the first day in the conflict, resulted in the deaths of more than?175 teachers and children. Trump said, "That is under investigation" at a press event held on the sidelines...

Sources say that Aramco invited banks to bid for Project Yellowstone last month. Sources estimate that the sulphur stake sale could generate up to $7 billion. Sources claim that Aramco also considers the sale of oil terminals and real estate, as well as power plants. By Hadeel Al Sayegh, Federico Maccioni and ?Yousef Saba DUBAI, 17 June - Saudi Aramco is considering selling a stake in the sulphur business, according to three sources familiar with the matter. This would be part of its strategy of tapping into its infrastructure assets for tens and tens billions of dollars. Aramco is the...

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, made his comments at the end of a G7 summit in France on Wednesday. He said he didn't want an economic disaster that could have resulted from a prolonged war in the Middle East. "The one thing I did not want to see was an economic catastrophe. Trump said to reporters at the resort on Evian-les-Bains' lake that if you had kept going with this, "that could have happened." The?U.S. The?U.S. The conflict, which began on February 28, with U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, and has since spiraled out of control, has caused energy prices to...

The London Metal Exchange saw a rise in copper?prices on Monday as the market digested the weekend's tense U.S. Iran?peace talks. Benchmark three-month Copper?on LME gained 0.71% to $13,692?a metric tonne by 0700 GMT. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract fell by 0.08%, to 104 890 yuan per ton ($15 476.21). After the peace talks between the U.S.A. and Iran, traders closely monitored the macroeconomic climate. David Wilson, BNP Paribas' head of metals strategy, stated that the market was just waiting and watching to see what would happen. Mediators confirmed that the first round of high level peace...

?Gold recovered from a more than one-week-low on Monday as oil prices dropped after Iran cited the progress of U.S. - Iran peace talks. However, bets on higher interest rates following hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve signaling weighed on metal's prospects. As of 0608 GMT spot gold was up 0.8% to $4,194.99 an ounce after dropping to its lowest level since June 11, on Friday. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell 0.8% to $4213.10. According to Press TV, the first round of talks between senior U.S. officials and Iranian officials took place in Switzerland on Monday. An Iranian spokesperson for...

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...

?Gold recovered from a more than?one week low on Monday as oil prices dropped after Iran cited the progress of U.S. - Iran peace talks. However, bets for higher interest rates following hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve signalling limited the metal's gain. As of 0424 GMT spot gold was up 0.4% to $4,176.34 an ounce after dropping to its lowest level since June 11, on Friday. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell 1.2% to $4194.40. According to Press TV, the first round of talks between senior U.S. officials and Iranian officials ended in Switzerland on Monday. An Iranian spokesperson said...

China's futures for coking coal continued to fall on Monday. They were weighed down by the prospect of rising supplies amid a continued production resume after a fatal mine accident in coal rich Shanxi, and?growing imported coal. By 0330 GMT, the most traded coking coal contract at the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), had fallen 1.93% to $187.32 per metric ton. The DCE's most actively traded coke contract dropped 0.74%, to 2,010.5 Yuan per ton. According to a survey conducted by Mysteel, as of June 17, 63% of the coal mines which had suspended production after the fatal mine disaster in...

The copper price fell on Friday for the second consecutive session, and is now heading towards a weekly loss. This was after 'peace talks' between Iran and the United States were postponed. The benchmark three-month 'copper price on the London Metal Exchange was 'down 0.7% to $13,594 per metric ton, in open outcry official activity. Switzerland announced that U.S. negotiations with Iranian negotiators to end the Middle East Conflict would not be taking place on Friday. Meanwhile, fighting erupted in Lebanon, increasing uncertainty over whether a lasting "truce" can be reached. Copper's four-day winning streak was aided by the prior...

A Mozambique executive said that the new law, which requires the state to have a 15% share in all mining ventures, could discourage foreign investment. The'southern African nation' is among the world's leading producers of graphite. This material is used to make batteries for electric cars and energy storage. Mozambique claims it has amended its mining law to "strengthen its management of strategic resource in defence of?national interests", but the Chamber of Mines of the country fears that it may upset?investors. Geert Kok, vice-president of the industry group, said at a mining conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, "We regret...

Gold prices remained stable on Thursday, despite a hawkish Federal Reserve policy and a stronger Dollar. The U.S. Iran ceasefire agreement, which reduced inflation fears and sent oil prices lower, also helped to keep gold at a reasonable level. At 10:30 am, spot gold was down by 0.3% to $4,246.55 an ounce. ET (1430 GMT). Last week, prices reached their lowest level since November 2025. U.S. Gold Futures dropped 2.7% to $4.264.30. The Fed's hawkish tilt yesterday was most important. The dollar is at new record highs, and this keeps gold under pressure, according to Peter Grant, senior metals analyst...

Riccardo Orcel - a former senior banker of the Russian state-backed VTB Group, and brother to UniCredit's CEO Andrea Orcel – helped broker a deal for UniCredit to sell its Russia business. His involvement, which was previously unknown, provides insight into the way Italy's second largest bank negotiated a deal with Russia. He drew on the expertise of the former VTB executive - who was one of the most well-known Western bankers working in Moscow. Riccardo orcel left VTB in the past, and it is now subject to Western sanctions. In a press release, the bank stated that "UniCredit?confirmed" that...

Gold prices rose on Thursday, as a lower oil price following the?U.S. Iran ceasefire agreement countered pressures from a stronger US dollar and hawkish Federal Reserve language. Gold spot was up 0.2% to $4,264.67 an ounce by 0913 GMT following a 1.7% drop on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures dropped 2.2% to $4285.00. Oil prices dropped after the U.S. signed an interim deal with Iran that would 'end their conflict,' reopen Strait of Hormuz, and lift U.S. sanctions against Tehran oil. This boosted the outlook for oil supplies. Han Tan, Bybit's chief market analyst, says that gold is on the rise,...

Gold prices rose on Thursday, as lower oil costs following the 'U.S.-Iran truce deal' helped bullion recover losses from the previous session caused by Federal Reserve rhetoric that was hawkish. As of 0830 GMT on Thursday, spot gold rose 0.6% to $4,284.67 an ounce after falling 1.7% Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures dropped 1.8% to $4304.30. Oil prices dropped after the U.S. and Iran signed a temporary agreement to end the Iran War, reopen?Strait of Hormuz and lift U.S. sanctions against Tehran's oil. Han Tan, Chief Market Analyst at Bybit, said that gold is rebounding today after markets quickly moved past...

Metals such as lithium, copper and rare earth elements, which are associated with the energy transition, have been the most consistently bullish commodities in recent years. Iron ore miners want to add their product?to the list. Steel demand in South and Southeast Asia is expected to remain robust and will more than offset the decline in production in China and Western Europe. This was the consensus opinion at this week's industry meeting in Singapore. The optimism of iron ore miners was not shared by those who advocated decarbonising the steel industry. They realised that green steel would be extremely expensive...