By
B2B Asia News
on
This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 24 August 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 shares mostly declined on Monday, pressured by mounting bond market pressures, inflation worries, and anticipation of upcoming U.S. economic updates and sanctions.
- The Nikkei fell 0.5%, having fallen almost 4% last week. South Korea’s KOSPI slid 3.5%, while Taiwan lost 0.5%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 1.3%, while Chinese blue chips fell 1.2%.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 10.15 points or 2.1% to 493.43.
- Total trade volume was up with 546,931 shares changing hands at a total value of 2.8 billion riel or over $711,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, seven stocks were up, led by CAMGSM, while only one stock, Grand Twins International, was down.
- 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 Khmer riel to USD weakened slightly to 4,047 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 99.02.
- Looking at global commodities, oil prices slipped more than $1 dollar a barrel on Monday as investors took profits ahead of an expected announcement from Washington about imposing more sanctions on Iran that may further disrupt supplies from the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell 1.6% to $92.90 US dollars, while U.S.
- West Texas Intermediate crude was at $85.32 US dollars a barrel, down 2%. (0649 GMT)
- Gold prices hit their highest in more than three months as a subdued dollar lent support, while focus shifted to key U.S. inflation data and a speech later this week by the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair.
- Spot gold was up 0.9% at $4,643.63 US dollars per ounce, the highest level since mid May. Prices gained more than 5% last week. U.S. gold futures edged 0.4% higher to $4,699.10 US dollars. (0644 GMT)
Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin held near $77,600 US dollars. Ethereum continued to track the rally, trading firmly near $2,450 US dollars.
- Moving on now to other business-related news,
- On August 24, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) hosted a workshop for journalists on the directives on loan restructuring, aiming to reduce misunderstanding between NBC technicians and reporters. The session also addressed a leaked international letter claiming the NBC had banned loan restructuring, and the NBC clarified that the letter was an internal document. The NBC's trainer explained the procedures for handling nonperforming loans (NPLs) in Cambodia. The trainer clarified that ending loan restructuring does not automatically affect loans into NPLs, as each client is permitted to restructure a loan up to two times. Additionally, one of the trainers noted that opening a bank in Cambodia requires maintaining a 15 percent capital reserve, while the global standard is 8 percent.
- Cambodia’s reliance on imported fuel and fertiliser leaves its economy exposed to global energy disruptions, underscoring the need to protect vulnerable households while building long-term resilience, according to a new report published by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI). The report, The Economic Impact of International Energy Market Disruptions on Cambodia, is authored by experts from the Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the CDRI. The study examines the impact of rising global fuel prices and limited availability of fertiliser, both caused by disruptions in Middle East supply chains. The report models the global shock using a data-based simulation of the Cambodian economy. It then shifts to policy recommendations, which include accelerating energy diversification, building green skills, and establishing strategic fuel and fertiliser reserves to reduce exposure to external shocks. It also calls for targeted and time-bound support for vulnerable households, while preserving fiscal space for priority public spending.
- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Industry, Science Technology & Innovation, the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, and the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, visited Battambang province on August 22 to explore its economic and investment potential, including opportunities to expand agro-processing and value-added manufacturing. They were also joined by the Battambang Governor and other relevant officials. During their visit, provincial officials briefed the delegation on Battambang’s economic strengths, infrastructure and investment opportunities. Agriculture accounts for 62.32 percent of the provincial economy, while the province recorded more than 1.67 million tonnes of surplus paddy in 2025, providing a strong resource base for further development of agro-processing industries. Battambang has 628 factories, SMEs and handicraft establishments, including 184 registered rice mills. The visit highlighted opportunities to leverage Battambang’s agricultural base to attract investment, strengthen links between farmers and industry, expand local processing and increase the value and competitiveness of Cambodian products in domestic and international markets.
Watch the 24 August 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: