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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 30 July 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 struggled for direction on Thursday, nursing steep losses for the week on mounting investor jitters around the AI trade, while a divided U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady, leaving bond markets questioning where rates are headed.
- MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose over 1% in early trading.
- Japan's Nikkei was 2% higher, but set for a 3% drop in the week.
- The KOSPI rose 4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed 0.2% higher, and the Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.62% lower.
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was up 2.77 points or 0.61% to 457.42. Total trade volume was down with 225,107 shares changing hands at a total value of 721.8 million riel or close to $180,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, two stocks were up, led by CAMGSM, while four stocks were down, with Royal Group Phnom Penh SEZ as the biggest loser of the day.
- Over on the growth board, Picasso City Garden was up, while JS Land and DBD Engineering stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the Khmer riel to USD weakened slightly to 4,043 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 101.81.
- Looking at global commodities, oil prices rose for a second day on Thursday as renewed attacks between the United States and Iran disrupted oil flows through key shipping routes.
- Brent futures rose 1.17% to $91.80 US dollars a barrel after touching a low of $89.02 US dollars in the session.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 0.46% to $84.85 US dollars a barrel after hitting a session low of $83.21 US dollars. (0812 GMT)
- Gold prices held steady as investors assessed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged this month and rising tensions in the Middle East that have heightened inflation concerns, clouding the policy outlook.
- Spot gold was little changed at $4,062.30 US dollars per ounce. U.S. gold futures for August delivery rose 0.7% to $4,060.60 US dollars. (0841 GMT)
Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin traded near $63,900 US dollars, easing slightly, as U.S. stock futures rose on strong results from Microsoft that reassured investors the heavy spending on AI is starting to pay off. Bitcoin has tracked that trade closely, moving with the chip and AI complex rather than on anything crypto-specific.
- Moving on now to other business-related news,
- The Cambodian government, together with financial institutions and development partners, opened the National Business Financial Forum 2026 on July 30 to strengthen coordinated financial support for a more resilient and sustainable national economy. Under the theme “Integrating Government Financing Support for Economic Resilience,” the two-day forum was inaugurated by H.E. Phan Phalla, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, at Phnom Penh Hotel. Participants included representatives from relevant ministries and institutions, development partners and entrepreneurs. The forum aims to explore financing opportunities, promote networking and experience‑sharing, and strengthen institutional and private‑sector capacity.
- Cambodian and Indian companies explored business, investment and technology partnerships in electronics, software and information and communications technology (ICT) at a business interaction held in Phnom Penh on July 30. Organised by the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh, in collaboration with the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), the event brought together 11 delegates from nine leading Indian technology companies and more than 100 representatives from government, businesses, associations, financial institutions, technology firms and startups from both countries. The Indian delegation represented a wide range of advanced technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, cybersecurity, big data analytics, FinTech, AgriTech, business automation, electric vehicle solutions, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, health IT, drones, and mobile and web applications.
- Cambodia’s First National Forum on “Promoting Cambodian Tourism Handicrafts and Souvenir Products for Domestic and International Tourists” kicked off on July 30, highlighting efforts to promote locally made tourism products and souvenirs among domestic and international tourists. The forum was held at the Sokha Siem Reap Hotel and chaired by H.E. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, alongside H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, and H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation. In her remarks, the minister of commerce highlighted the close collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, and Siem Reap Provincial Administration in promoting Cambodian tourism products and souvenirs. She emphasised that Cambodian tourism products and souvenirs are not merely souvenirs, but also expressions of national identity, culture, tradition and heritage.
Watch the 30 July 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: