A pullback in gold prices is sending some Asian investors back into equities, as portfolio managers reduce defensive positions and rebuild exposure to technology, financials and consumer stocks. Wealth advisers say the shift is most visible among clients who bought bullion during recent volatility and are now taking profits after a strong run. Gold remains…
An IPO revival is building across Hong Kong and Mumbai as improving equity sentiment, stronger domestic liquidity and a backlog of delayed listings create a more active pipeline for the second quarter. Bankers say issuers that postponed offerings during last year’s volatility are testing investor appetite again, particularly in technology, healthcare, consumer brands and financial…
Foreign funds are returning selectively to Chinese and South Korean equities as improving earnings expectations and cheaper valuations draw investors back into markets that were heavily underweighted last year. The flows remain cautious, but brokers say global accounts are again asking for exposure to technology hardware, internet platforms, automakers and industrial exporters. China’s market has…
A subtle but significant repricing is underway across Southeast Asian sovereign debt markets, and most Western investors have yet to take notice. Over the past six months, yield spreads on Indonesian, Malaysian, and Philippine government bonds relative to U.S. Treasuries have widened by 30 to 55 basis points, a move that reflects more than routine…
Asian equity markets traded mostly higher on Friday after reports emerged that Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to “monitor transit” through the Strait of Hormuz, raising cautious hopes that the crucial waterway could partially reopen. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that tanker traffic through the strait “should be supervised and coordinated”…
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Thursday, joining Brent crude in triple-digit territory and confirming that the Hormuz crisis has become a global rather than purely Asian energy event. WTI jumped almost 12% during the session to trade at $112.06, while Brent surged approximately…
Asian equities opened April on a firmer footing as traders bet that the worst of recent geopolitical risk had been priced into markets. Regional benchmarks rose across Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and parts of Southeast Asia, supported by lower volatility, bargain hunting in technology shares and renewed inflows into export-sensitive names. The move followed…
Brent crude closed at $103.14 per barrel on Friday, its highest settlement since 2022, after diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire or a framework for reopening the Strait of Hormuz failed to produce results. The IRGC reaffirmed its declaration that the strait was closed, and Brent surged to $114 after Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum expired without…
Oil prices fluctuated violently on Monday as markets digested President Trump’s weekend ultimatum threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran fails to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Brent crude traded above $113 per barrel, reversing initial losses as the deadline approached without any indication that Iran would comply. Iran’s parliament…
Prime Minister Takaichi’s scheduled White House meeting with President Trump on Wednesday takes place against a commodity market backdrop that has transformed the bilateral agenda from trade and defense into an energy security negotiation of existential importance for Japan’s economy. Dubai crude, the benchmark most relevant to Asian physical oil markets, has surged toward $166…
