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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 20 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 markets traded mostly lower, weighed down by escalating Middle East tensions following attacks on energy infrastructure in Iran and Qatar, causing oil prices to surge.
- The KOSPI managed a slight gain, ending up 0.3%.
- The Hang Seng dropped 1%.
- The Shanghai Composite fell 1.2%.
- The Nikkei 225 was closed on Friday for a holiday.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 1 point or 0.23%, to 430.99.
- Total trade volume was down with 67,698 shares changing hands at a total value of 419.1 million riel, or nearly $104,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, three stocks were up, led by CAMGSM, while two stocks were down, with Phnom Penh Autonomous Port as the biggest loser of the day.
- Over on the growth board, JS Land was up, Picasso City Garden was down, and DBD Engineering stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the KHR strengthened to 4,011 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 99.46.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices gained on Friday despite leading European nations, Japan and Canada offering to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. outlining moves to boost oil supply.
- Brent futures rose 1.1% to $109.85 US dollars a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude added 0.1% to $96.20 US dollars. (0923 GMT)
- Gold prices edged up on technical buying, but were headed for a third consecutive weekly decline, pressured by a firm U.S. dollar and as a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve dampened hopes for near-term interest rate cuts.
- Spot gold rose 0.6% to $4,675.23 US dollars per ounce, rebounding from a near two-month low hit in the previous session.
- U.S. gold futures for April delivery rose 1.6% to $4,676.90 US dollars. (0702 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin is experiencing heightened volatility and has dipped below $69,000 US dollars, marking three consecutive days of losses driven by geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices, and correlation with falling U.S. equities
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- The Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association have signed a memorandum of understanding on March 19, aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment through driving investment and private sector support for women-led businesses, launching joint programs to enhance skills and market linkages, and strengthening the voice of women entrepreneurs while promoting gender-responsive business policies.
- The National Bank of Cambodia organized an event to celebrate Riel Day on March 20, marking the 46th Anniversary of the Reintroduction of the Riel, back in 1980. During the event, the Deputy Governor of the NBC shared the results of two key research papers conducted in collaboration with the National Assembly and the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia: A summary report on the research findings of: "Dollarisation and Its Impacts on the Garment, Footwear, Travel Goods, and Bag Sectors in Cambodia”, and, a research report titled: "Survey on Currency Usage in the Public Sector”
- The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and the representative office of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in New Zealand have formed a partnership to promote Cambodian rice trade. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two parties on March 20 in Auckland, aiming to boost Cambodian rice exports to the New Zealand market, while establishing a framework for market information exchange and business connections between traders of both countries.
Watch the 20 March 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: