East Asia

Wild swings in stock prices could indicate a market that is in its final stages of a speculative frenzy. Wall Street's fear gauge is dozing. It may take some good news to get it moving again. The AI boom is accelerating and attracting more and more tech and chip names from around the world. Even companies with a market cap of more than $200 billion have seen a 20% to 30% one-day increase. Dell's stock soared by 32% after its disastrous results on Friday. Hewlett Packard Enterprise soared 28% Tuesday after its own earnings report. Marvell Technology gained 25 percent...

Summit Therapeutics shares rose up to 7% before bell ringing?after its ivonescimab treatment with China-based Akeso helped advanced lung cancer patients?live 15% longer than BeOne Medicines Tevimbra immunotherapy. Late-stage trial results revealed that in a head to head study conducted in China, patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer squamous who were treated with ivonescimab, chemotherapy and Tevimbra lived on average 27.9 months compared to 23.7 months when they received Tevimbra, chemotherapy and Tevimbra. Tyler Van Buren, TD Cowen's analyst, said: "This is a significant advancement in a situation?where other treatments have never found success." Ivonescimab belongs to a class of...

Chinese coking coal prices slid on Friday, but are headed for the best week in six as Beijing's calls to ensure energy supplies during?the summer peak demand period? only partially offset supply fears sparked by mine closures following a fatal accident. According to a late-night statement posted on WeChat by China's official planner, efforts should be made to ensure the production and supply primary energy sources like coal and natural gases to meet peak electricity generation needs. Analysts said that this helped ease concerns about coal supply losses caused by?production halts at coal-rich Shanxi Province mines after a deadly gas...

VCI, the German chemicals lobby, said on Friday that the first-quarter production, sales, and prices all fell. The sector is also facing a lack of optimism due to the 'increase in energy, raw materials, and transportation costs linked to the Iran war. Chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, saw a 6% decline in production figures for the quarter. VCI reported that producer prices dropped by 1%, and sales fell 5.4% compared to a year earlier. Third-largest industrial sector in Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany, can be seen to be a barometer for the region's economy. It produces components that are used across industries ranging...

Chinese coking coal fell on Friday, but are headed for their best week in six weeks. Beijing's call to ensure energy supplies during summer peak demand only partially offset the supply fears sparked by mine closures following a fatal accident. According to a late-night statement posted on China's WeChat account, efforts should be made to ensure the production and supply primary energy sources like coal and natural gases to meet peak electricity generation needs. Analysts said that this 'helped ease concerns about coal supply losses caused by production halts in mines?in coal rich Shanxi Province after a deadly gas explosion...

The U.S. announced on Thursday that it had imposed 'new sanctions' on the?Irani military oil trade. Washington and Tehran have reached an agreement to extend the ceasefire and remove restrictions on shipping in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury Department announced that it sanctioned eight vessels transporting Iranian crude and petroleum products to international markets. The eight vessels were the Flora oil tanker, flagged by the Marshall Islands; the Hauncayo crude oil tanker, flagged by the Comoros; and the Ill Gap tanker, flagged with the Panamanian flag. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a press release that "we...

State media reported that a preliminary investigation into the 'deadliest mining disaster in China in over 15 years' revealed unmarked tunnels, fake doors, and missing trackers. The government has pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly, despite the fact that it is still early in the process. A gas explosion at the Liushenyu Mine in the coal-rich Shanxi province in northern China killed 82 people late Friday night. State media reported that two people were still missing and 128 others hospitalized. This is the worst mining accident to have occurred in China since 2009. A gas explosion in the Xinxing Mine,...

Three trade sources familiar with the issue said that China will only see a small increase in refined fuel exports from May to June, because Beijing plans to maintain export restrictions for a fourth month in order to protect domestic supply. Two sources said that June exports were estimated to be around 550,000 metric tonnes or slightly more than expected, compared to about 500,000 tons in May. The two sources and another person said that state oil firms must now seek approval from the government on a regular basis for every shipment they export. This is because China, the world's...

Hengli Group has been thrust in the middle of a geopolitical struggle. The group, which was built over 30 years by a husband and wife team from a failed textile mill to a Fortune Global 500 company and one of China’s largest private oil refiners is now a Fortune Global 500 firm. The United States imposed sanctions on its Hengli Petrochemical unit, which operates a 400,000 barrel per day refinery in Dalian (northeast China), for allegedly buying Iranian oil. Hengli, along with about 40 other shipping?firms? and vessels? were blacklisted as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met and Washington was...

Analysts and traders alike predicted a market Armageddon if U.S. - Iran war continued and the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. Five weeks after the peace talks stalled and the strait remained largely closed, oil prices did not rise but instead fell to between $100-$110 per barrel. This fall was caused by several factors: Chinese refiners reduced refining and imports, and used crude oil from their tanks instead. The United States' refiners, traders and producers exported more fuel and oil to the global market to fill the supply gap from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz was the route...

Data exclusively shared with shows that demand for electric vehicles has risen in Europe as fuel prices linked to the 'Iran War' have pushed sales of second-hand and new EVs. This is a boost for the auto industry. While?sales for fully electric cars in Europe are expected to grow 30% by 2025, the adoption of EVs on the continent is still behind industry expectations. 'Carmakers - from Fiat-owned Stellantis to Volkswagen, who had invested heavily to meet the expectation of a much higher EV market, have booked multi-billion dollar charges in the past year to cover asset writedowns. The rise...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on allies on Tuesday to disrupt Iran's.financing network and said that the Treasury would clear its outdated sanctions list to.make it easier for the financial institutions to.root out the most sophisticated terrorist funding schemes. Bessent said that after the G7 finance leaders met at Paris, participants in an anti-terrorism funding conference should "stand in full measure with us" against Iran. Bessent stated that "this will require our European partners, for example to join the United States by taking action against Iran, including by designating its financiers and unmasking their shell and front company, closing its...

Copper prices fell on Wednesday, as investors locked-in profits after the metal reached a two week high. However, uncertainty around a U.S. Tariff on the metal limited losses. As of 0245 GMT, the benchmark three-month price for copper at the London Metal Exchange fell?0.43%. It was $13,980.50 per metric ton. It?touched an over two-week-high and surged beyond the $14,000 mark on Tuesday. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most active copper contract gained 0.78%, to 106 820 yuan (15 785.90 dollars) per ton. This is lower than the evening trading high of 107.420 yuan, which was set three weeks ago. As the...

Iron ore fell on Wednesday due to a thinning of steel margins and a seasonal decline in demand from the top consumer, China. As of 0309 GMT, the most-traded contract for iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange dropped 0.57%, to 780 yuan ($115.27), per metric ton. As of 0259 GMT, the benchmark July iron ore traded on Singapore Exchange fell 1.22% and was at its lowest level since April 15, $103.95 per ton. In a post on WeChat late Tuesday, the steel association, a state-backed organization, said that the steel market had entered its traditionally low demand season sooner...

The market was supported by tighter supply and tariff uncertainty outside the United States, as well as by a rise in copper. Aluminium also reached a four-year high. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 1% to $13,966 per metric tonne at 0915 GMT, after touching $13,994 earlier. Investors will be waiting for a possible tariff recommendation by the U.S. Department of Commerce at the end of this month. Last year, the prospect of a similar duty helped to boost prices. However, it never materialised. Tom Price, an analyst at Panmure Liberum, said that investors with whom...

Two sources with knowledge of the matter said that China Mineral Resources Group, a state iron ore buyer, has instructed some?domestic iron ore producers not to discuss a new product with?Australian Fortescue. The demand 'has stoked' speculation that CMRG might impose a purchase ban on certain Fortescue products, as it did in the long-running negotiations with BHP which concluded earlier this summer. Sources who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the matter said that CMRG and Fortescue are in negotiations over a new contract. CMRG didn't immediately respond to a comment request. A Fortescue spokesman said...

China's finished exports of steel to 'India' more than doubled to their highest level in at least two years in April, causing concern amongst the steel makers in India that they would be overwhelmed by low-cost products despite tariffs. According to data provided by the Indian government, China exported around 232,000 metric tonnes of finished steel during April. It was the largest exporter of this steel into the South Asian country. This is despite the fact that?India, which is the second largest crude steel producer in terms of production, had imposed import tariffs on certain grades from December for a...

China's steel exports to India have more than doubled to the highest level in at least two years. This has caused concern among India's steelmakers who fear that they will be overwhelmed by low-cost products despite tariffs. According to data provided by the Indian government, China exported around 232,000 tons of steel finished in April. It was the largest exporter of this steel into the South Asian country. India, the second largest crude steel producer in the world, had imposed import tariffs on certain grades of steel for a three-year period that had managed?to slow imports from China. The data...

Syrah Resource, an Australian company, said that Tesla had withdrawn its notice of intent to terminate the?graphite deal. This ended a long process of negotiation in which both companies extended a deadline for resolution four times. Syrah planned to provide 8,000 metric tonnes of graphite-anode materials over a period of four years from its Vidalia facility in the United States. The 2021 contract covers the state of Louisiana. The Vidalia plant is the only large-scale vertically integrated producer of anode material outside China. This helps reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese supplies that dominate the market. The market is dominated by...

Two sources who are familiar with the matter confirmed that SAIC Motor would sell a 10% additional stake in JSW MG Motor in India. This will make JSW, the local partner, the largest shareholder in the unit. SAIC Motors' decision comes after the Chinese company struggled to expand operations and raise equity due to New Delhi investment restrictions, even though it had trimmed its ownership to 100% and brought in domestic partners including Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Group. SAIC owns a 49 percent stake in JSW MG Motor. Sources?said that SAIC will sell a stake of 10% to JSW. JSW's stake...

Shanghai copper prices rose on Friday as hopes for a U.S. Iran peace deal pushed the oil price?and dollar lower. This eased fears of higher inflation, and a global slowdown. As of 0324 GMT, the most traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen?0.8% to 104,900 Yuan ($15472.55). The contract has increased by 3.7% this month. The price of three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange remained unchanged at $13,699 per metric ton. Both contracts rose for the second consecutive month. Sources told? that the United States and Iran had reached an agreement on Thursday to extend their...

On Wednesday, copper prices reached their highest level since mid-May, as lower oil prices eased inflation worries for the metal that is vital to growth. Aluminium prices remained 'near 4-year highs' amid concerns about reduced supply in the gulf region. The price of three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange dropped 0.2% in open-outcry official trading to $13,597 per metric ton after reaching $13,746, which was its highest level since May 15. Aluminium fell 0.3% to $3.663, after reaching its four-year peak of $3.707.50, on Tuesday. The Iran War has hampered deliveries in the Middle East. September alumina contracts in...

Aluminum prices reached their highest level in over four years on Tuesday as rising feedstock prices, alumina,?added?to persistent concerns?about a tightening?market amid a?reduced supply from Gulf producers. The London Metal Exchange's three-month aluminium rose by 1.4%, to $3,698.50 at 0937 GMT, after reaching $3,707.5. This is the highest level since March 24, 2020. On March 7, 2022 the metal reached a record high of $4.073.5, as markets grappled with the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. A 5% increase in September alumina contracts on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which rose to their highest level since early May due to...

The disparity between China's low steel production and its robust imports of?iron ore is still evident, but it is now starting to appear as a structural shift instead of a temporary dislocation. China, which accounts for just over half the world's total steel production, produced 86.63 metric tons of steel in April. This is a 2.8% drop from the same period in 2025 and the lowest April figure since 2018. Steel production for the first four months of the year was 331.12 millions tons, down 4.1% from last year's same period. According to official statistics, however, iron ore exports increased...