Asia Business

• Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn announced that current restrictions on gold trading are effective and may be tightened further to stabilize the baht. • The current online gold trading limit is set at THB 50 million per person per day, but officials are considering reducing this cap to THB 30 million or less. • These measures are designed to manage the gold-baht link and curb speculative trading that could lead to currency volatility.

• Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) detected and blocked over 75 million cyberattacks across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during the first half of 2026. • Key threats included 3.4 million backdoor attacks, 2.4 million password stealer attempts, and 250,000 other malicious activities. • These figures highlight an increasingly active and volatile cyberthreat landscape targeting users and infrastructure within the APAC region.

• Asian stock markets are positioned for gains as oil prices continue to decline, providing relief to investors after persistent inflation and high yields pressured risk appetite. • Market attention is heavily focused on upcoming earnings reports from Nvidia, which are expected to serve as a key indicator for the tech sector. • LPL Financial chief economist Jeffrey Roach warns that while employment remains solid, fading expectations for income growth could hinder future consumer spending.

• The South Korean Kospi index fell 1.4% as Asian stock markets dipped amid investor caution. • Market volatility is being driven by focus on the artificial intelligence sector and anticipation of the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting. • Investors are also monitoring a scheduled Monday conference by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding a plan to economically isolate Iran.

• Indian equities are expected to open lower on August 25, 2026, as markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the upcoming Nifty expiry. • Key global triggers include Brent crude futures hovering around $92 a barrel and a general slip in Asian shares ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report. • Geopolitical instability has intensified following Iran's pledge to retaliate against expanded economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

• Most Asian share indices are heading for weekly losses on Friday, August 21, driven by persistent stress in global bond markets and rising inflation risks. • The Nikkei slipped 0.8%, bringing its total losses for the week to 4%, while Chinese blue chips dipped 0.1% and markets in South Korea and Taiwan also trended downward. • Oil prices have reached one-month highs due to a diplomatic deadlock in the Gulf, further pressuring equity markets.

• India has replaced Indonesia as the least-preferred stock market in Asia among global fund managers, according to a recent Bank of America survey. • The decline in investor sentiment is driven by concerns over high stock-market valuations, slowing economic growth, and a perceived lack of exposure to artificial intelligence. • This shift matters as it indicates growing caution among foreign investors regarding the pace of India's structural reforms and overall equity attractiveness.

• The KOSPI is showing a slightly weak trend as it nears the 7,000-point threshold, influenced by rebounding U.S. Treasury yields and a decline in U.S. stock markets. • KB Securities Executive Director Lee Euntaek warns that rising interest rates may reduce investor incentives to fund high-risk AI companies if government bonds offer competitive returns. • Market volatility is expected to continue based on upcoming catalysts, including Samsung Electronics' announcement of a significant shareholder return plan later this month.