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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 21 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 stocks came close to reclaiming their highest level since last week's selloff in regional trading on Wednesday, buoyed by gains on Wall Street and early signs of a strong corporate earnings season.
- MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 1.1%, led by a 3.3% gain for Korean shares, while Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.9%.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 0.16 points or 0.03% to 617.56.
- Total trade volume was down with 212,178 shares changing hands at a total value of 1.03 billion riel or over $254,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, three stocks were up, led by Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, while four 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 up, while DBD Engineering stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the Khmer riel to USD weakened slightly to 4,072 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 101.77.
- Looking at global commodities, oil prices gained over $1 on Wednesday as escalating Middle East tensions fuelled fears of supply disruptions, while falling US crude and product inventories lent support to the market.
- Brent crude futures rose 1.5% to $110.40 per barrel US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1.5%, to $99.27 per barrel. (0630 GMT)
- Gold eased for a fourth session as higher oil prices stoked inflationary concerns, while investors looked ahead to next week's U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting for clues on the future path of interest rates.
- Spot gold was down 0.2% at $4,115.96 per ounce while US gold futures for December delivery slipped 0.2% to $4,133.60 per ounce. (0717 GMT)
Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin traded near $82,800, recording a modest daily gain of roughly 1% as the asset continued a period of range-bound trading well below its October 2025 all-time high.
- Moving on now to other business related news,
- Cambodia and the European Union (EU) are further strengthening and expanding their cooperation in environmental protection, with a focus on conserving natural protected areas, combating illegal deforestation and land encroachment, promoting low-carbon agriculture and reducing plastic waste. The Ministry of Environment announced the development following a meeting between the Cambodian Minister of Environment, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, at the Ministry’s headquarters on October 21. During the meeting, the Minister of Environment reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to protecting natural protected areas through stronger law enforcement and cooperation with relevant stakeholders. He also emphasised the importance of promoting climate-smart, low-carbon agriculture to ensure that farming activities do not encroach on protected areas while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Cambodia showcased a wide range of high-potential agricultural goods and handicraft products at Global Festa Japan 2026, held from October 17 to 18 in Tokyo, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce issued on October 21. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Japan joined the event and set up an exhibition space to promote national exports, foster business linkages, and attract foreign direct investment. Co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japan NGO Centre for International Cooperation (JANIC), Global Festa Japan celebrated its 35th anniversary this year. Held under the theme "Connected to the World, My Everyday Life, Creating the Future Together," the event gathered nearly 200 exhibitors, including government agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations, NGOs, and private companies, to highlight international cooperation and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs held bilateral talks in Phnom Penh on October 20, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place during the Croatian Minister’s official visit to Cambodia from October 19 to 20, as the two countries mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Following the talks, the two Ministers signed two documents: an Agreement between the Governments of Cambodia and Croatia on Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic Passports; and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Cambodia’s National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations and Croatia’s Diplomatic Academy.
Watch the 21 October 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: