Bank of Japan Signals Possible September Rate Hike
BOJ likely to raise rates in September, may accelerate pace of hikes amid inflation concerns.
Economy
Indonesia's Prabowo expands state export watchdog role, flags $5 billion gap
Indonesia's president says the new state export firm will expand monitoring to 50 ports and more commodities, citing a $5 billion price discrepancy.
Persistent Drought Parches Central Europe, Threatening Farms and Beer
A severe drought across Central Europe is drying up farmland and threatening beer production, forcing farmers and brewers to adapt.
Dry Weather and Fertiliser Costs Hit Western Australia's Grain Crops
Western Australia's wheat and barley production forecasts have been cut due to dry weather and high fertiliser costs.
Hormuz transits slip as US and Iran trade control claims
Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dipped below its August average as Washington and Tehran exchanged rival claims over the waterway.
Malaysia's Q2 GDP expands 6%, outpacing forecasts on exports and spending
Malaysia's economy grew 6% year-on-year in Q2, beating the 5.8% forecast, driven by exports and household spending.
Prabowo defends food security push as investor doubts grow
Prabowo's Independence Day speech defends food self-sufficiency, acknowledges challenges, as investors await budget clarity.
JGB yields ease as Treasury rally offsets BOJ hike expectations
Japanese government bond yields fell on Friday, tracking a U.S. Treasury rally, even as markets firm up bets on a Bank of Japan rate hike next month.
Gold Slips From Two-Month Peak as Investors Book Profits
Gold prices fell on Friday as investors locked in gains after a two-month high, with soft US inflation data reducing expectations of a September Fed rate hike.
Indian Rice Export Prices Climb to Near One-Year High on Tight Supply
Indian rice export prices hit a near one-year high this week, driven by tight supplies and steady African demand. Vietnam and Thai prices also rose.
Azul trims Q3 capacity, eyes Q4 growth after fuel shock
Azul cuts Q3 capacity 4% after Q2 fuel crisis, expects Q4 growth as it transitions to widebody fleet.
Oil prices hold steady as US signals indefinite Iran blockade
Oil prices edged higher after the US threatened an indefinite naval blockade of Iran, reviving supply concerns, though weak demand forecasts capped gains.
Yen's weekly slide revives talk of fresh intervention
Yen heads for biggest weekly drop since May, prompting bets on another round of official buying.
Baby Bunting shares jump 25% as retailer lifts profit outlook
Baby Bunting shares surged after the retailer forecast higher FY27 profit and reported strong early trading.
Azul's Q2 Revenue Hits Record, But Fuel Costs Crush Core Earnings
Azul's Q2 revenue rose to a record, but EBITDA fell 55% on a 61.8% jump in fuel costs per liter, squeezing margins.
Yen Weakness May Trigger Joint Intervention, Faster BOJ Hikes: Ex-Diplomat
Japan's ex-top FX diplomat warns the yen is 'clearly too weak,' flags possible joint US-Japan intervention, and urges faster BOJ rate hikes toward 1.5-1.75%.
Nubank posts first $1 billion quarterly profit, shares surge
Nubank's Q2 net profit crossed $1 billion for the first time, beating estimates and sending shares up 9.5%.
Olam's First-Half Profit Surges Sixfold on Asset Sale Gains
Olam Group's H1 profit jumped nearly sixfold to S$1.91 billion, driven by asset sale gains and a revaluation; it declared a special dividend.
Canada, US Signal Shared Goal for Trade Deal Ahead of August 19 Tariff Deadline
A Canadian source says Washington also wants a deal before August 19 tariffs. Minister LeBlanc met USTR Greer again Thursday.
Bessent warns of unprecedented economic measures against Iran
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says new measures will bring unprecedented economic isolation to Iran, with announcements due next week.