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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 19 May 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 markets were mixed, as oil prices eased on hopes of a U.S.-Iran deal, though elevated crude levels capped investor appetite for risk.
- The Nikkei 225, it was down 0.44%, while KOSPI was down 3.25 percent.
- MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down more than 1%.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 1.61 points or 0.38% to 428.09
- Total trade volume was down with 174,741 shares changing hands at a total value of 944.7 million riel or over $235,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, three stocks were up, led by Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS), while only one stock, PESTECH Cambodia, was down.
- Over on the growth board, JS Land was up, while DBD Engineering and Picasso City Garden stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the Khmer riel to USD weakened slightly to 4,019 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 99.14.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices fell on Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned attack on Iran to allow for negotiations to end the war in the Middle East. Brent futures for July were down 1.5% at $110.37 US dollars a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery, which expires on Tuesday, slipped 0.60% to $108.03 US dollars.
- The more active July contract fell 0.8% to $103.56 US dollars. (0825 GMT)
- Gold prices fell on Tuesday, but stayed above a 1 and a half month low hit in the last session, as markets consolidated while awaiting further developments after U.S. President Donald Trump paused a planned attack against Iran. Spot gold fell 0.5% to $4,544.17 US dollars per ounce.
- U.S. gold futures for June delivery lost 0.2% to $4,547.70 US dollars. (0820 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin has fallen about 6% from $82,000 to $76,800 US dollars, but underlying data point to more than routine pullback. U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have seen over $1.5 billion US dollars in outflows since May 7, signaling sustained institutional selling pressure.
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- The Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) organised a One-Window Service meeting to review and discuss registration applications for seven qualified investment projects (QIPs) worth a total investment capital of approximately USD 450 million, on May 19. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Chea Vuthy, Secretary General of the CIB, with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries, institutions, and provincial administrations. These seven reviewed QIPs have a total investment capital of approximately USD 450 million and are expected to create around 900 jobs.
- EuroCham Cambodia officially launched its Whitebook 2027 on May 19 at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, with senior government officials and business leaders in attendance. The 2027 EuroCham Whitebook follows the last edition released in 2024 and offers various policy recommendations and potential solutions from the chamber’s 50% European-linked members across 12 sectoral committees. The 2024 White Book's progress report showed 20% of issues resolved or partially resolved, with notable achievements like the asbestos ban and digital skills roadmap. The 2027 edition includes 18 new recommendations and updates to 14.
- H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), attended the Tsinghua PBCSF Global Financial Forum held on May 18 in Chengdu, China.The forum was organised by Tsinghua University in order to exchange views on the evolving global financial system and strategic financial priorities. The NBC Governor also participated in a panel discussion on “Digital Currency and Cross-border Payments,” which explored emerging opportunities and challenges in the digital finance landscape.
Watch the 19 May 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: