Analysis: Indices

China seeks closer trade ties with Saudi Arabia as Gulf trade deal stalls

BEIJING -China's commerce minister urged closer ties in new energy and capital markets in talks with Saudi Arabia's visiting investment minister, the commerce ministry said on Wednesday, as Beijing...

Vietnam to make switch to ethanol-blended fuel in move to boost U.S. imports

HANOI -Vietnam is planning to switch completely to ethanol-blended gasoline from next year, opening up the possibility for the Southeast Asian country to import more ethanol and corn from the United...

China stocks on course for best hedge fund inflows in 6 months, Morgan Stanley says

HONG KONG -Global hedge funds ramped up their bets on China shares, with August on track to mark the biggest monthly buying since February, a Morgan Stanley note shows. Hedge fund...

Oil edges up on US crude stocks drop, impact of US tariffs on India

HOUSTON -Oil prices settled higher on Wednesday after data showed a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories and as investors weighed the potential impact from new U.S. tariffs on...

Nasdaq short interest rose 2.02% in mid August from late July

NEW YORK -Short interest on the Nasdaq rose 2.02% in mid-August, the exchange said on Tuesday. As of August 15, short interest rose to about 16.93 billion shares from 16.59 billion...

Brazil's beef tallow demand seen rising as exports hit by US tariffs

SAO PAULO -The use of beef tallow for biodiesel production in Brazil is expected to rise amid a forecast increase in domestic sales aimed at boosting output of the biofuel, industry sources said,...

Chinese trade negotiator to head to US for talks, may meet deputy-level officials

WASHINGTON/BEIJING -Senior Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang is expected to travel to Washington this week to meet U.S. officials, a United States government spokesperson said, with the two...

China's net gold imports via Hong Kong more than doubled in July

China's net gold imports via Hong Kong rose 126.81% in July from June, Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department data showed on Tuesday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT As the world's...

India explores using costly gas-fired power to meet peak demand

NEW DELHI -India is exploring the idea of using gas-fired power plants only to meet the surge of electricity demand during the peak summer months of May and June due to higher costs, an adviser to...

Saudi Arabia and India were biggest buyers of Russian fuel oil in July, data shows

MOSCOW -Saudi Arabia and India were the top destinations for Russian seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil exports in July, traders said and LSEG data shows. Since the European Union's...

Indonesia says US agrees tariff exemption for its palm oil, cocoa and rubber

JAKARTA -The United States has agreed in principle to exempt Indonesian exports of cocoa, palm oil and rubber from the 19% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump since August 7, Indonesia's top...

Malaysia's commodities ministry seeks tax exemption for palm oil raw materials

KUALA LUMPUR -Malaysia's commodities ministry is seeking to exempt crude palm kernel oil and palm kernel olein oil from the country's sales and services tax , it said on Tuesday. The...

Thailand aims to meet this year's rice export target by focusing on strong markets, official says

BANGKOK -Thailand is hoping to meet its rice export target of 7.5 million metric tons this year by seeking more deals in markets where demand is strong, commerce ministry official said on Tuesday. ...

Steep US tariffs set to hit Indian exports from Wednesday

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI -Indian exporters are bracing for a sharp decline in U.S. orders after trade talks collapsed and Washington confirmed steep new tariffs on the South Asian nation's goods will take...

Exclusive-Canada's Alberta eyes investment in Japan's refining to boost oil exports, sources say

CALGARY/HOUSTON -Canada's main oil-producing province of Alberta is considering a financial investment in Japan's refining sector, two sources familiar with the matter said, an attempt to reduce its...

US Interior Department proposes adding copper to critical minerals list

WASHINGTON -The U.S. on Monday proposed adding copper and potash among others to the draft critical minerals list for 2025, for their importance to the economy and national security. ...

Zimbabwe brings back maize import ban after bumper harvest

HARARE -Zimbabwe has brought back a ban on maize imports to boost local farmers, and has grown enough of its own this year to supply its millers after a bumper harvest, a senior agriculture ministry...

Nigeria's NNPC says pipeline theft has been nearly eliminated

LAGOS -Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC Limited said on Monday nearly all pipeline theft has been eliminated after coordinated efforts by the country's defence and intelligence agencies. ...

Activist Windward presses Cineplex to boost buybacks, sell non-core assets

Windward Management has called on cinema theater operator Cineplex to buy back more shares and sell non-core assets, pointing to a recovering box office as audiences return to theaters and demand...