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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 19 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 stock markets have fallen sharply after attacks on natural gas facilities in Qatar, Iran and the United Arab Emirates spelled new turmoil for global energy supplies.
- Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled nearly 3%.
- The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 2.7% reflecting broad regional declines amid fears of lasting energy supply disruptions.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was down 1.53 points or 0.35%, to 429.99.
- Total trade volume was down with 77,563 shares changing hands at a total value of 454.4 million riel, or nearly $113,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, only Sihanoukville Autonomous Port was up, while three stocks were down, with CAMGSM as the biggest loser of the day.
- Over on the growth board, DBD Engineering stayed flat while JS Land and Picasso City Garden were down.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the KHR stayed flat at 4,013 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar Index hovered around 100.24.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices jumped on Thursday, with benchmark Brent rising to its highest in more than a week to more than $115 US dollars a barrel, after Israel's strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, a major escalation in the war, which caused Iran to retaliate by attacking energy facilities across the Middle East.
- Brent futures were up 5.7% at $113.46 US dollars a barrel, after climbing almost $8 dollars to the highest since March 9 to a session high of $115.10 US dollars.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.6% to $96.89 US dollars a barrel, after earlier gaining almost $4 dollars to trade at $100.02 US dollars. (0814 GMT)
- Gold prices fell to their lowest level in more than a month, pressured by a stronger dollar and rising Treasury yields, while a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve further dampened bullion's appeal.
- Spot gold fell 2.2% to $4,710.88 US dollars per ounce, its lowest since February 6.
- U.S. gold futures for April delivery fell 3.6% to $4,721.40 US dollars. (0920 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin experienced a pullback, dropping around 5% to settle near the $70,000–$71,000 US dollar range. This decline followed a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve decision, which signaled fewer interest rate cuts, causing a "sell the news" reaction after an eight-day rally.
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- Cambodia has launched a new Cambodia–China Tourism Debit Card and cross-border payment service, aimed at improving convenience for Cambodian, Chinese, and international tourists through seamless digital transactions. The event was organised by the Bank of China, Phnom Penh Branch, with participation from representatives of the Chinese Embassy, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), and key stakeholders from the tourism and financial sectors.
- The Minister of Commerce chaired a meeting to review and monitor the progress of the draft ‘Cambodia Trade Policy Framework (CTPF) Towards 2030’ on March 18. The framework aims to formulate strategies and policy directions to address challenges and develop the trade sector in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy Phase I. This is especially critical as Cambodia prepares for LDC graduation by 2029.
- The Ministry of Commerce announced on March 19 that the Commercial Attaché to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Japan met with CEOs from Jumbo Tours (Japan) and Magokoro Cambodia last week to discuss expanding trade, investment, education, and tourism cooperation, while boosting Cambodian product markets in Japan. The Commercial Attaché also visited the FOODEX Japan trade show to promote Cambodian exports, including Kampot pepper, salt, cashews, and handicrafts, while networking to expand bilateral food and beverage trade.
Watch the 19 March 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: