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…
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…
FTSE Russell confirmed on April 7 that Vietnam will be added to its global equity indices as a secondary emerging market beginning September 21, 2026, with a phased inclusion extending into 2027. The VN Index surged 4.7% the following day, reaching its highest level since early March. The confirmation was expected, but the market’s response…
Japan’s Nikkei 225 traded above 58,000 early this week, maintaining levels near its all-time high as multiple regional catalysts converged. China’s National People’s Congress opened on March 5, with the formal adoption of the 15th Five-Year Plan expected to set the economic framework for 2026 to 2030. The growth target of 4.5% to 5%, a…
The Japanese yen began 2026 trading near 157 to the U.S. dollar, a level that confounds the straightforward narrative that Bank of Japan rate hikes should strengthen the currency. The BOJ raised its policy rate to 0.75% in December, the highest in three decades, yet the yen has barely responded. The disconnect between a tightening…
