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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 18 March 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 rallied on Wednesday as oil prices paused gains, with markets turning to the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting to see how policymakers will balance growth and inflation risk amid conflict in the Middle East.
- MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan were up 1.6%, and South Korea surged more than 4%.
- Japan's Nikkei also rallied 2.6%.
- Chinese blue-chips bucked the trend with a decline of 0.5%.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 0.42 points or 0.1%, to 431.52.
- Total trade volume was down with 216,128 shares changing hands at a total value of over 1.2 billion riel, or over $318,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, four stocks were up, led by Pestech Cambodia, while only one stock, Royal Group Phnom Penh SEZ, was down.
- Over on the growth board, DBD Engineering and JS Land were up while Picasso City Garden stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the KHR stayed flat at 4,013 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar Index hovered around 99.60.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices fell on Wednesday after Iraq resumed crude exports via pipeline to Turkey's Mediterranean port, providing hopes for some relief amid disrupted supply from Gulf producers.
- After rising more than 3% on Tuesday, Brent futures were down 0.3% to $103.12 US dollars a barrel.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 1.6% to $94.65 US dollars. (0902 GMT)
- Gold prices ticked down, as investors weighed the risk of a more hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve policy stance, with high oil prices increasing concerns over renewed inflation pressures.
- Spot gold fell 0.4% at $4,986.79 US dollars per ounce.
- U.S. gold futures for April delivery fell 0.3% to $4,990.70 US dollars. (0915 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin remains stuck near $75,000 US dollars ahead of a closely watched U.S. Federal Reserve interest-rate decision.
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the World Bank (WB) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening a "fruitful" partnership aimed at driving sustainable economic development across the Kingdom. The pledge followed a high-level meeting on March 17 between the NBC Governor and a World Bank delegation.
- APD Bank issued another notice on March 18 warning customers to be wary of false information circulating about the bank. APD Bank has said legal action will be taken against those who continue to spread false claims.
- The Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation received a delegation from the Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) on March 17 to discuss and exchange views on potential areas of collaboration to support Cambodia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs). During the discussion, both sides exchange views on potential areas of collaboration to support Cambodia’s small, and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation.
Watch the 18 March 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: