South-East Asia

MSCI's global equity gauge fell on Tuesday, with technology stocks leading the losses on Wall Street. The dollar rose broadly after the latest U.S. Economic data. In precious metals, silver outperformed the gold following a recent drop. Prices of oil?were slightly lower. Oil prices spiked Tuesday, after the United States shot a drone belonging to Iran and armed boats approached an American-flagged ship in a major waterway. U.S. Treasury Yields initially lost some steam following ADP's National Employment Report, which showed a slower-than expected growth in January. Private employment increased by 22,000 after a downwardly-revised 37,000 job increase in December,...

On Wednesday, global shares fell as fears grew over the impact of artificial intelligence on key sectors in the technology sector. Gold, however, was heading for its largest two-day increase in 17 years. The oil prices spiked briefly after?the United States shot a drone from Iran and armed boats approached a U.S. flagged vessel in a major waterway. Anthropic launched plug-ins on Friday for its Claude Cowork Agent, which raised concerns about the AI-driven disruption of these industries. European stocks dropped from record highs. Shares in companies like LSEG, RELX REL.L, and Wolters Kluwer WLSNc.AS, both of the Netherlands, fell...

The mood was lifted by the resurgence of gold and Asian stocks on Tuesday, as the trade tone cooled down after the wild swings seen in the metals market. A?deal reducing U.S. Tariffs against India also helped. Meanwhile, the Australian Dollar rose 'after an interest rate increase. The central bank of Australia joined Japan in tightening policy. It said that above-target inflation, coupled with a tight labour markets, justified the unanimous decision to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points. The markets had anticipated this move but are now trying to price in the follow-up for May, which was...

Gold and the dollar fell on Friday as global stocks rose, but the dollar rose. Nominated Kevin Warsh is his choice for the next Federal Reserve Chair. Warsh is a former Fed Governor and is seen as a supporter of lower interest rates. He is also considered one?of the?less radical choices from amongst all those who were suggested. The MSCI World Index was last 0.16% up as European shares rose, despite a drop in Asia-Pacific stocks. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was last 0.72% up, retaining gains made after Trump's announcement. It was on course to end January with a...

He said that the top Democrat of a U.S. House investigation committee had questioned global trading companies Vitol and Trafigura regarding any correspondence?with Trump's administration prior to the U.S. arrest?of a?Venezuela leader. This was done in order to find out who benefited from this action. Robert Garcia, a Representative from California, asked Vitol CEO Russell Hardy & Trafigura CEO Richard Holtum to provide all communication between their companies & any members of Trump's administration since January 2025. The U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the first few days of this month. Trump's administration said that it would manage Venezuela's...

The dollar recovered its footing after it had fallen sharply on Tuesday, when U.S. president Donald Trump appeared to "shrug off" its recent weakness. Meanwhile, positive earnings kept the world stock market near record highs ahead of a Federal Reserve interest rate decision. The?U.S. The?U.S. European stock markets declined, but U.S. futures indicated a positive opening for Wall Street. Japan's blue chip Nikkei also gained. The MSCI World Stock Index was hovering at record highs. "Last Week, when it seemed like there was a flight away from the U.S., you saw equities fall, Treasuries take a hit, and the Dollar...

Analysts and traders said that Russia's exports of naphtha to Asia will?fall? in January. The storage volumes are increasing as U.S. Sanctions pressure key buyers such as Taiwan, India, and Venezuela, forcing Moscow to find new markets. After Washington imposed sanctions against top Russian oil producers, buyers have become more cautious. Sellers are now forced to store naphtha in foreign storage or on ships, so that it can be reexported. Armaan Ashraf is the director of Asia oil and natural gas liquids at FGENexant. He said that this would mean premiums for "legitimate barrels" of full-range heavy naphtha or discounts...

After a steep sell-off on Wednesday, the dollar found its feet. U.S. president Donald Trump seemed to shrug its recent weakness. Meanwhile, upbeat earnings kept global stocks near record levels?before? a Federal Reserve rate announcement. The U.S. dollar dipped from four-year lows, but sentiment was fragile after the biggest selloff since Trump’s tariffs blitz shook markets in April. European stock markets declined, but U.S. futures indicated a positive opening for Wall Street. Japan's blue chip Nikkei also gained. The MSCI World Stock Index was hovering at record highs. "Last weekend, when it seemed that there was a flight away from...

Asian shares reached a record high on Tuesday, as investors hoped that the U.S. earnings of large-cap companies would be positive. However, uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff moves against South Korea has boosted gold and Silver. Trump said late Monday that he will increase tariffs to 25% on imports of goods from Asia's 4th largest economy. The Nasdaq Futures rose 0.5% as investors prepared for the slew earnings that will be released by Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla on Wednesday. Even South Korea's KOSPI surged by over 2% and reached a new high. The EURO STOXX futures are pointing to...

Investors hoped that a barrage?U.S. Mega-cap earnings were a big factor, but uncertainty due to President Donald Trump's tariff moves against South Korea capped broader gains. Trump increased tariffs to 25% on autos, lumber, and pharmaceutical imports to the U.S. from Asia's 4th-largest economy. The Nasdaq Futures rose 0.2%, as investors prepared for the earnings of the Magnificent Seven, including Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla, on Wednesday. Even South Korea's KOSPI reversed earlier losses and was last to gain 0.8%. Silver surged 6.4% to $110.60 per ounce and is not far off the record set just on Monday. Christopher Louney is...

Gold surged above $5,000 per ounce?Monday. This was boosted by safety flows amid dollar strength following a turbulent last week, where investors were rattled by tensions regarding Greenland and Iran, while markets remained on edge after violent spikes of the yen. After sharp spikes in the yen on Friday, speculation about possible intervention grew. Sources say that the New York Federal Reserve checked rates on Friday. This raises the possibility of a joint U.S. and Japanese intervention to stop the currency's decline. The market is inclined to short the yen, but with the possibility of coordination it is no longer...

Trafigura, a trading house, sold a 'cargo' of Venezuelan oil, to a Spanish refiner. Vitol, a rival, was preparing to export Venezuelan fuel as shipments from the OPEC nation accelerated, according to oil industry sources. U.S. officials reported that Vitol, Trafigura and other companies obtained their first U.S. licensing to load and export Venezuelan crude oil earlier this month. Initial sales reached $500 million or approximately 11 million barrels last week, they said. U.S. officials said that other companies, such as U.S. giant Chevron, were waiting for Washington's exemptions from U.S. sanctions against Venezuela before expanding exports. According to industry...

Tianqi Lithium Corp announced on Wednesday that it would raise approximately HK$5,86 billion ($750m)?via a convertible bond and share placement, and hoped to sell a?small stake?in Chilean'miner SQM?to bolster liquidity. The Chinese lithium producer listed on the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock exchange announced that it had struck a deal with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to issue 65,000,000 new H shares for HK$45.05 per share, or a discount equivalent to 9% of Tuesday's closing HK$49.50. This is worth approximately HK$2.9billion. Tianqi has also entered into a'subscription agreement' for 2.6 billion yuan ($375m) in zero-coupon convertible bonds due February 9, 2027. These...

Goldman Sachs & Macquarie raised their nickel price forecasts for 2026, citing a tighter ore supply in Indonesia after Indonesia signaled its intention to reduce production. Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil lahadalia, sparked an increase in nickel prices by mid-December when he pledged to reduce production. An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed that Indonesia will reduce this year's mining permits to 250 to 260 millions wet tons ore, down from 379 million in 2025. Nickel, the main component of batteries, is produced in Indonesia. Goldman Sachs has raised its nickel price forecast for 2026 to an...

Eramet fell on the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday after the sudden firing of its CEO, just months into his term, caught investors off guard and raised concerns about governance at the nickel-manganese-lithium miner owned in part by the French state. Eramet announced on Sunday that it had fired Paulo Castellari because of disagreements over "operating methods". It temporarily reappointed Christel Bories as Chairwoman, a role she had handed to Castellari in May last year. Analysts were stunned by the decision, and credited Castellari for his early efforts in restructuring the group. The group had?faced declining profits and rising debt...

Vietnam's President?said Thursday that the two sides had agreed to intensify diplomatic ties. Both sides are seeking to expand their international partnerships in light of disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs. The move is primarily diplomatic and does not involve any binding commitments. However, it carries political significance at a moment when the EU and Vietnam both seek to deepen and expand their international ties in light of the higher tariffs they are both facing on their exports to the United States. At the start of the meeting in Hanoi with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, Luong Cuong described...

According to a draft of a joint statement that will be adopted by the two sides on Thursday, they want to increase trade and investments in critical minerals, semiconductors, and infrastructure. The document is eight pages long and subject to changes. It states that the EU will explore a possible transfer of defence tech to Hanoi as both sides strive for closer cooperation in "trusted" networks, at a moment when Chinese companies are winning contracts to develop 5G technology in Vietnam. The statement will be signed by the European Council's President Antonio Costa when he meets Vietnam's leaders on Thursday...

Goldman Sachs raised its London Metal Exchange aluminum price forecast for the first half of 2026 to $3,150 per tonne, up from $2,575. The investment bank cited a balanced global market that had supported investor confidence, without triggering an explosive production increase. Goldman Sachs also raised its forecast for the fourth quarter of 2026 to $2,500 from $2350, but kept its projection for 2027 at $2400. Goldman has revised its forecast for 2026 surplus from 1.1 million to 0.8 millions tonnes, but kept the 2027 surplus unchanged at 1.6million. It also raised its 2028 forecast to 2.3million, anticipating a higher...

A spokesperson for the country’s forestry taskforce told reporters that Danantara Indonesia, a sovereign wealth fund, will be taking over land taken from 28 companies linked to flooding and landslides on Sumatra. Last week, President Prabowo revoked business permits for the companies for 'alleged environmental violations that worsened floods in Sumatra last year. Barita Simanjuntak, spokesperson for the task force, said that the handover was already underway. She added that there would be "a comprehensive process" to minimise the impact on the workers and the surrounding communities of the removals. These companies are active in a wide range of sectors,...

The nickel price has been on a rapid rise as investors bet that Indonesia, which is the world's biggest producer of battery metals, will slow down its explosive output growth. The London Metal Exchange (LME) 3-month metal has risen from a low of $14.235 per metric tonne in mid-December to a peak of $18,905 on January 14, a level last traded in 2022. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources minister Bahlil lahadalia, in mid-December, triggered a nickel resurgence with his?promise? to cut production. An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed that this year, the annual mining permits for ore will be...

The nickel price has been rocketing as investors bet that Indonesia, which is the world's biggest producer of battery metals, will slow down its explosive output growth. The London Metal Exchange's (LME) 3-month metal price has risen from a low in mid-December of $14,235 to a high of $18,905 on January 14, a level that was last traded in 2022. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil?Lahadalia, mid-December, sparked the nickel revival with a promise of reducing production. An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed that this year's annual "mining" permits will be reduced to 250-260 millions wet tons ore,...

Copper prices rose on Friday, after Capstone Copper announced that a workers’ strike forced a production?halt at the Mantoverde Mine in Chile. The most traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed daytime trade up 0.64% at 101,340 yuan ($14.553.65) per metric ton but ended the week lower by 0.52%. As of 0700 GMT, the benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal Exchange had gained 1.30% and was expected to finish the week with a gain of 0.93%. The strike was triggered after Capstone and the largest union of mine workers failed to reach an agreement on collective bargaining....

Copper prices rose on Friday as supply concerns grew after Capstone Copper, a miner in Chile and a local trade union reported that a strike had forced the company to halt production at its Mantoverde Mine. As of 0330 GMT, the most traded copper on the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen?0.32%, to 101,020 Yuan ($14,507.49), a metric tonne, but was expected to end the week with a loss of 1.15%. The benchmark copper for three months on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.01%, to $12.884.50 per ton. The strike was triggered after Capstone and the largest union at the mine...

Shanghai Copper finished off its lows on Tuesday as investors shrugged off the sluggish market and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE)'s move to increase margin requirements for certain contracts. After a drop of more than 1%, the most traded copper contract on the?SHFE?closed trading daytime up 0.04% to 101,280 Yuan ($14,544.41) per metric ton. As of 0740 GMT, the benchmark three-month price for copper at the London Metal Exchange increased by 1.10%. It now stands at $12,894.50 per ton. Red metal prices remained near record highs despite the sluggish demand for spot metals. The?SHFE also increased daily price limits and...