China

Each financial market crisis differs, but they all rhyme. Parallels are emerging between the tremors rippling now through private credit, and those that led to the Global Financial Crisis in 2007-09. It's not to say that a replay of the historic crash is imminent. There is a growing danger that the mounting pressure in private credit, which includes?opaque prices, scarce or nonexistent liquid, and high redemptions, could spill over to public markets. BlackRock, a?world-leading?asset management firm with over $14 trillion in assets under management, announced on Friday that it had restricted withdrawals from its flagship debt fund following a spike...

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...

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...

The United States, China and other major countries are making miscalculations, and retreating to their narrow interests, which threaten to turn the conflict in Iran into an international crisis for the supply of refined oil products. The media focuses a lot on the price for crude oil. Brent crude futures, which are the benchmark, jumped up to 20% in the early Asian trading on Monday, reaching $111.04 per barrel. This is the highest level since July 2022. The price of refined fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel, has risen even more than crude oil. These are the fuels...

The U.S. and Israel war against?Iran disrupted oil imports from the Middle East into?Asia. Some Asian refineries had to reduce their runs, while petrochemical firms declared force majeure. The newest developments are listed below: Zhejiang Petrochemical Corp, a major ?Chinese ?refiner backed by Saudi Aramco, has shut a 200,000-barrel-per-day unit, bringing forward maintenance in response to the Middle East conflict's impact on crude supply. Two industry sources said that FREP (Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co.), a Chinese refiner backed up by Aramco and operating its 80,000 bpd unit – its smallest – had shut down its 80,000 bpd unit for...

According to data and analysts, Asian refining margins are at their highest level since 2022 due to Iranian threats against shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. These threats have disrupted crude flow and forced refineries to reduce runs. As a result of the U.S. - Iran war, trade has been suspended through the chokepoint which typically handles over 20% of global daily oil supplies. Singapore's complex refinery margins LSEG data shows that the market was roiled on Wednesday by fears of a further reduction in refining runs, which could lead to a tightening of fuel supplies. China and Thailand also...

People with knowledge of the discussions said that Chinese investors Guoxin Guotong Fund and CNIC Corporation are considering selling their 33.3% share in Spanish 'gas network operator Redexis' as the country prepares to introduce a new framework for remuneration. Three sources confirmed that the two investors had begun a process of hiring?advisers in order to evaluate the sale. Two sources say that a?deal could value Redexis between 2 billion and 2.5 billion?euros (2.3-$2.9billion). * In 2018, the two Chinese investors bought?33.3% Redexis. According to the website of Redexis, pension funds?Arbejdsmarkedets Tillaegspension?and Universities?Superannuation Scheme own each 33.3%. Sources say that pension...

Bloomberg News reported that many Chinese 'financial companies are reducing their exposure to Middle Eastern debt due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The report stated that a major bank had taken the unusual step of limiting the drawdown on a bi-lateral loan to one?of Abu Dhabi's financial entities. It did not name the bank. According to the report, another mid-sized lender wants to sell down portions of syndicated loan to Middle Eastern borrowers. This includes sovereign wealth fund ADQ’s $4?billion facility that was agreed upon last year. Bloomberg reported that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has asked...

Bloomberg News reported that many Chinese financial firms have reduced their exposure to Middle Eastern debt as a growing conflict intensifies scrutiny over 'the Asian country’s extensive lending in the'region. The report said that a major bank had taken the unusual step of limiting the drawdown of a bilateral credit to one of Abu Dhabi's financial institutions, but did not name the bank. According to the report, another mid-sized lender aims to reduce portions of syndicated loan facilities to Middle Eastern borrowers. This includes sovereign wealth fund ADQ’s $4 billion facility that was agreed last year. Bloomberg reported that the...

According to the ministry, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, told Gideon Saar, his Israeli counterpart, that China opposes the military strikes by Israel and the U.S. on Iran, and demanded an "immediate cessation" of hostilities. "Force is not a solution to problems. It often causes new ones, and has serious long-term effects." It quoted Wang in a phone call as saying that the real value of military power is not in combat but in preventing conflict. The U.S. and Israeli air 'war against Iran' has caused explosions in?Tehran, Beirut and around the globe. Wang said that China is committed...

The majority of Gulf'stock markets fell Tuesday. Qatar's benchmark continued to fall after the country stopped liquefied natural gas production amid a escalating air war in the area, and Egypt also?fell? for a third consecutive day. Israel expanded its campaign by launching new strikes against Iran and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Iran launched missiles and drones towards Israel, several Gulf States and a British base in Cyprus. QatarEnergy's, a state-owned company in Qatar, whose 82% clients reside in Asia, had planned to declare force majeure for its LNG shipments following Iranian drone attacks against facilities at the sprawling Ras Laffan Complex. Qatar...

The majority of Gulf stock markets fell on Tuesday. The benchmark Qatar index continued to decline after the country stopped?liquefied gas production amid an escalating air conflict in the region. Israel has 'extended' its campaign by launching new attacks on Iran and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel, several Gulf States, and a British base in Cyprus. QatarEnergy's, a state-owned company in Qatar, whose 82% clients reside in Asia, had planned to declare force majeure for its LNG shipments following Iranian drone attacks against facilities at the sprawling Ras Laffan Complex. Qatar's benchmark stock index fell 0.9%,...

After a brief drop in prices triggered by comments made by the U.S. Donald Trump's comments on the?Iran war. Benchmark aluminum?on the London Metal Exchange?was up 1.1% at $3,444 per metric ton as of 1704 GMT. 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 his four-week timeline. Due to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, the war has effectively "frozen" shipments and threatened global supplies of aluminum used for transport, construction and packing. Around seven million metric tonnes of?aluminium smelting is...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The price of aluminium in 'London has reached its highest level for nearly four years, due to the conflict in the Middle East, which is escalating. This increased concerns about a possible shortage in global supplies. The benchmark?three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange reached its highest level since March 31, 2020, earlier in the session, when it hit $3,544 a metric ton. By 0305 GMT, it was up 1.77% to $3,507 per metric ton. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded aluminium contract rose by 3.29%, to?25.310 yuan per ton ($3,658.15), after reaching its highest level since January 30, at...

The price of iron ore rose on Friday as the?increasing restrictions' on China's top buyer BHP to buy new seaborne cargoes raised supply concerns, which outweighed declining demand. As of 0206 GMT, the?most traded iron ore?contract at China's Dalian Commmodity Exchange (DCE)? grew 0.85% to $768 yuan ($111.21), a metric tonne. As of 0156 GMT, the benchmark April iron ore traded on the Singapore Exchange rose 1.03% to $101.05 a ton. People with knowledge of the situation said that China's state iron ore buyer instructed traders to purchase fewer seaborne shipments of BHP's flagship product: Mac fines and lumps. China's...