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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 23 April 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. Most Asian markets gave up early gains to end lower Thursday, following reports that the U.S. had intercepted at least three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, stoking concerns that the Middle East conflict could drag on.
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended Thursday’s session 0.75% lower.
- South Korea’s Kospi reached an all-time intraday high in early trade and ended 0.90% higher.
- Mainland China’s CSI 300 index slipped 0.28%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.92%.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 0.62 points or 0.14% to 435.05.
- Total trade volume was up with 94,029 shares changing hands at a total value of 559.8 million riel, or over $139,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, two stocks were up, led by CAMGSM, only one stock, Grand Twins International, was down.
- Over on the growth board, DBD Engineering and JS Land stayed flat, and Picasso City Garden was down.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the Khmer riel to USD remained stable at 3,999 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 98.65.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices extended their gains on Thursday, rising more than $1 dollar in the wake of stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States and as both nations maintained restrictions on the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Brent crude futures rose 1.2% to $103.17 US dollars a barrel, after settling above $100 dollars for the first time in more than two weeks on Wednesday.
- West Texas Intermediate futures were also up 1.3% at $94.16 US dollars. (0630 GMT)
- Gold fell on Thursday as elevated oil prices fuelled fears of inflation and prolonged high interest rates, while investors looked for clarity on the stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks. Spot gold was down 0.5% at $4,716.03 US dollars per ounce.
- U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 0.4% to $4,733.20 US dollars. (0754 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin briefly touched $79,388 US dollars before easing back to about $77,800 US dollars, standing out as the only major cryptocurrency in positive territory over the past 24 hours while leading weekly gains against mostly flat or weaker rivals. The rally’s concentration in bitcoin, alongside negative funding rates that have persisted for roughly 47 days, suggests a narrow, derivatives-skeptical bid rather than broad-based enthusiasm across digital assets.
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- According to an announcement from the Ministry of Commerce, the Director General of the General Directorate of Trade Support and Services took part in a 2026 Business Dialogue meeting at the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Cambodia on April 22. The Director General delivered remarks focused on "Trade Policies, Import/Export Needs of the Cambodian Market and Opportunities for Businesses in Both Countries", with the overall meeting intended to strengthen economic cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam, and encourage increased investment and business activities from Vietnam to Cambodia. Cambodia and Vietnam have set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade volume to $20 billion US dollars in the near future.
- A private sector delegation from Cambodia met with officials from Tochigi prefecture in Japan at the Tochigi Prefectural Government headquarters on April 15. According to an announcement made by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce on April 22, the Commercial Attaché to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Japan, Sin Saray, also attended the meeting aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries. The announcement added that the Cambodian and Japanese sides have agreed to organise investment seminars and business matching programmes in the future to promote investment in agriculture, labour, education, technology, and transportation, promote bilateral tourism, promote human resource development, and strengthen the transfer of agricultural technology to Cambodia.
- A new gold refinery operated by Cambodian K88 Industry Co., Ltd. was officially inaugurated on April 22, marking a significant expansion of Cambodia’s extractive industry. The refinery, located in an area spanning both Kampong Thom and Kratie provinces, represents a total investment of approximately $40 million US dollars. According to company officials, Cambodian K88 Industry began mineral exploration in 2020. Following the discovery of economically viable gold deposits in 2023, the firm moved forward with the construction of the refining facility. The project is set to create 375 local jobs and boost national revenue while strictly adhering to international safety and environmental standards.
Watch the 23 April 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: