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Customers look at gold jewelry at a store in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China on March 23, 2026. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Commodities

Gold may reverse course once Iran war ends, Fed adopts policy easing

Gold has been on a wild ride this year, surging as much as 25 per cent before the war in Iran wiped out almost all the gains.

Business of climate change

Ganfeng Lithium sees surge in battery demand amid China-US energy rivalry

China stock market

Iran war hits stocks as Hong Kong IPO boom falters

Semiconductors

South Korea turns to Russia for naphtha as Asia’s chip industry feels squeeze

South Korea’s return to Russian naphtha – vital for semiconductor manufacturing – highlights Asia’s fragile supply chain amid Iran conflict.

South Korea relies on imports for about 45 per cent of its naphtha demand. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea relies on imports for about 45 per cent of its naphtha demand. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

Hong Kong tycoon-backed start-up raises US$300 million to scale battery push

The California-based firm will use new funding to scale manufacturing and expand globally, with Hong Kong anchoring its regional push.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks fall with Asia as Iran conflict drives oil prices higher

Most Asian markets retreat as surging oil prices fuel concerns over the economic fallout, while aluminium producers rally on supply fears.

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Hong Kong stock market

China’s CNOOC to boost oil and gas output amid Middle East strife

Country’s largest producer aims to increase output by up to 3 per cent from 2025’s record level.

An undated photo shows a CNOOC oil rig in the Lingshui 36-1 gas field in waters southeast of Hainan, China’s southernmost island province. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
An undated photo shows a CNOOC oil rig in the Lingshui 36-1 gas field in waters southeast of Hainan, China’s southernmost island province. Photo: Handout via Xinhua
China food security

China rushes to stabilise fertiliser market as Iran war chokes off imports

China is pushing firms to release their fertiliser reserves in time for the vital spring planting season, as supplies of key inputs tighten.

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Mergers & Acquisitions

China’s Zijin Mining clinches US$2.6b Chifeng Gold takeover in expansion drive

The acquisition boosts Zijin’s reserves amid resource nationalism, giving it control of Chifeng’s assets in Asia and Africa.

Commodities

Gold slides as hawkish Fed and strong US dollar override geopolitical fears

Market watchers point to fading hopes of interest rate cuts and oil-driven inflation concerns as key drivers of the decline.

A modest rebound driven by technical buying on Friday did little to alter the broader downtrend, with gold prices hovering around the US$4,500 level. Photo: DPA
Chinese offshore investment

China’s multibillion-dollar minerals investment lifts foreign economies: report

Country has invested more than US$120 billion in overseas mining and mineral processing projects since 2023, study says.

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The Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe plant in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, is run by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Photo: EPA-EFE
The Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe plant in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe, is run by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rebound after oil falls as Trump says Iran war could end soon

US objectives in Iran are ‘pretty well complete’ but the war could continue if Tehran attempted to stop global oil supplies, Trump says.

Energy

Oil above US$100 may persist as Goldman warns rally not over

Investors brace for prolonged disruption after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude to levels unseen since the 2022 energy shock.

Mainland China

China’s copper crash: from investment fad to scrap in a month

A brief speculative frenzy amid skyrocketing gold and silver prices leaves some retail investors holding shiny kilogram bars they can’t sell.

Copper bars were priced at a premium of as much as 200 per cent above the spot price of copper in January in China. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong budget 2026-27

Hong Kong seeks to hone edge as offshore yuan hub, digital-asset front runner

Market participants largely welcome Paul Chan’s renewed push to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.

Hong Kong’s renewed push to strengthen its position as an international financial centre has been welcomed. Photo: Felix Wong
Hong Kong’s renewed push to strengthen its position as an international financial centre has been welcomed. Photo: Felix Wong
China trade

US-Indonesia deal threatens China’s ‘entrenched position’ in nickel market: analysts

A new deal gives America unrestricted access to Indonesia’s nickel – and challenges China’s ‘preferential’ position in the market, analysts say.

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Gold in Hong Kong

Investment gold retailers move into vacant Hong Kong high-street shops

‘We see overwhelming demand for investment gold coins and bars,’ retailer San Gold Coins’ Sophia Chen says.

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Gold in Hong Kong

Hong Kong stocks and gold start the Year of the Horse on a mixed note

The Hang Seng Index fell 1.1 per cent on the first day of trading of the new year, while local gold prices rose 0.6 per cent.

(From left) HKEX chairman Carlson Tong, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKEX CEO Bonnie Chan attend the Lunar New Year market opening ceremony at the stock exchange on Friday. Photo: Karma Lo
(From left) HKEX chairman Carlson Tong, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKEX CEO Bonnie Chan attend the Lunar New Year market opening ceremony at the stock exchange on Friday. Photo: Karma Lo
Gold in Hong Kong

Gold’s volatile run set to continue as investors eye next breakout

Investors are like crocodiles waiting to strike, Jupiter says, as bullion eyes new highs amid continuing geopolitical and policy tension.

China economy

Strong Lunar New Year demand fuels China’s gold jewellery market

Retailers offer small discounts to spur holiday sales but are set to raise prices after the festival, as investment banks issue bullish outlooks.

Fintech

Can Hong Kong lead a digital gold trading revolution with blockchain innovation?

Beyond banks, asset managers, fintechs and crypto firms are racing to launch innovative tokenised gold products for investors.

Tokenised gold is giving investors a new way to hold the metal, easing pain points around access, custody, transfer and trading. Photo: Shutterstock
Mainland China

UBS China venture faces wrath of silver investors after valuation change

More than 200,000 people file complaints as UBS SDIC’s attempted remedy for sudden change of fund’s price benchmark falls flat with some.

Silver bars weighing 500 grams are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery in Vienna on February 3, 2026. Photo: AFP
Silver bars weighing 500 grams are displayed at the Austrian Gold and Silver Refinery in Vienna on February 3, 2026. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Chinese premier tours rare earths production hub amid rising US tech rivalry

Premier Li Qiang called for China to consolidate its lead in industries like rare earths, where Beijing has a strategic edge over Washington.

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China trade

China’s outbound investment surges to 7-year high amid data centre, energy boom

Chinese investment is increasingly focusing on energy and raw materials projects in low and middle-income regions, report finds.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla, Xiaomi vie for Chinese EV buyers with cheaper, longer loans

Low interest rates and seven-year payback periods replace price discounts while EV sales drop and materials costs rise.

A potential buyer discusses a Tesla YL with a staff member in a showroom in Beijing on February 3, 2026. Photo: AFP
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