16 October 2026 - Daily Update - B2B Asia News

This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 16 October 2026, reviewing regional and global markets, and covering the daily business news you shouldn’t miss. 

Watch the video in English above.

• We start with a quick look at regional markets. Asian shares mostly advanced on Friday, a day after a tech sell-off dragged stocks lower. South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index jumped 2.1% after tumbling 7.6% the day before on a sell-off of shares related to artificial intelligence. 
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.4% after falling 4.9% a day earlier. Taiwan’s Taiex, which also benefited from the AI frenzy, was up 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.4%, and the Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.2%.
• Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was down 1.19 points or 0.19% to 618.24. Total trade volume was up with 859,112 shares changing hands at a total value of 4.2 billion riel or over $1.04 million US dollars.
• On the main board, two stocks were up, led by Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, while three stocks were down with Royal Group Phnom Penh SEZ as the biggest loser of the day. Over on the growth board, JS Land and Picasso City Garden were down while DBD Engineering stayed flat.
• Shifting to the exchange rate, the Khmer riel to USD strengthened slightly to 4,067 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 101.69.
• Looking at global commodities, oil prices eased on Friday but were heading for weekly ​gains on uncertainty over Middle East supplies and a larger-than-expected draw from US crude stockpiles, while ‌European diesel margins dropped following the IEA's decision to release more diesel. Brent crude futures were down 0.44% at $105.45 US dollars a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 0.63% to $97.35 US dollars. (0747 GMT)
• Gold edged higher on Friday as the dollar weakened, but the metal was still on track for a small weekly loss as investors weighed signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve on interest rates. Spot gold rose 0.2% to $4,177.82 US dollars per ounce, but was down 0.5% so far in the week. US gold futures for December delivery climbed 0.7% to $4,199.10 US dollars. (0433 GMT)

• Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin’s price briefly fell below $80,000 US dollars following a 6.3% rise in US Producer Price Index inflation, triggering hawkish comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials signaling potential aggressive rate hikes. Despite the dip, large Bitcoin holders are accumulating, suggesting confidence among major investors, while retail traders show bearish sentiment. Bitcoin since recovered above $80,000 dollars, but technical indicators point to weak momentum, with resistance near $82,580 US dollars.

   

• Moving on now to other related news,
  • Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. plans to launch technical training courses for the automotive industry by the end of 2026 The plan was discussed at a working meeting on October 16, between H.E. Chea Vuthy, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and a delegation from Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. During the meeting, the company’s representative updated the Cambodian Investment Board on its business operations in Cambodia and outlined plans to establish a technical skills training centre for the automotive industry. The proposed centre would serve not only the company’s employees but also the wider Cambodian public. The company confirmed that it would launch automotive technical training courses by the end of 2026 in collaboration with the JVC Technical Institute.
  • The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia, in partnership with the European Union, hosted the NTTI BizConnect Cambodia 2026 forum on October 14 to bridge the gap between technical and vocational education institutions, employers, and young job seekers amid shifting industry demands. Co-chaired by the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, H.E. Heng Sour, and EU Ambassador to Cambodia, Igor Driesmans, the opening ceremony at the National Technical Training Institute (NTTI) gathered over 300 stakeholders, including Royal Government officials, international dignitaries, corporate representatives, educators, and students. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers and the private sector. It focuses on enhancing technical skills, work-based learning, and soft skills tailored to modern industry standards, while offering a platform for direct dialogue on labour market requirements.
  • Tanmia Global Strategic Development Advisory (TGA), a Kuwaiti state-owned enterprise, is actively seeking investment and project development opportunities in Cambodia across oil and gas, renewable energy, and green technology sectors. The investment scope was discussed during a meeting on October 15 at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Kuwait City between the Cambodian Ambassador to Kuwait and the Managing Director of TGA. During the meeting, the TGA Managing Director detailed TGA’s strategic focus on offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration, fuel storage, refining, solar power, energy storage systems (ESS), and green industrial tech—including solar components and advanced battery manufacturing. The firm is also exploring prospects in logistics and cold-chain storage, as well as solar-powered water purification systems.

Watch the 16 October 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: