Flash News

TREE NEWS reports: Morgan Stanley’s co-head of global oil trading, Brendan Ross, said traders are shunning long-term positions due to geopolitical tensions from wars in Iran and Ukraine. Speaking at an Asia Pacific petroleum conference in Singapore on Wednesday, Ross noted that traders are concentrating derivatives in shorter-dated contracts and becoming more ‘rational’ about risk. They now favor selective, specific instruments over broad exposure.

TREE NEWS update: At the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, the China Bilateral Investment Report 2026 shows China remains a top global destination for foreign investment. Existing FDI is stable with diverse sources, and high-tech, high-value-added sectors are key targets for foreign companies. Despite external pressures, FDI inflows show resilience.

TREE NEWS update: The 16th round of the second-phase China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations took place in Beijing from August 31 to September 4, 2026. Both sides conducted in-depth discussions on cross-border services trade and negative-list market access, achieving positive progress. They agreed to accelerate talks and aim for an early conclusion to boost bilateral service and investment openness.

TREE NEWS reports: France’s industrial production declined 0.4% month-on-month in July, missing expectations of a 0.2% rise and following a 0.1% increase in June. The data signals weakening momentum in the eurozone’s second-largest economy.

TREE NEWS reports: French manufacturing output fell 2% year-on-year in July, compared with a -1.7% decline in the previous month. The data indicates a deepening contraction in the sector.

TREE NEWS reports: Hedge funds are betting the dollar-yen rate will fall below 150 by year-end, with some longer-dated options targeting as low as 140. CME data show Tuesday’s most active dollar-yen option was a November put with a strike of 142.86, and put volume for year-end expiries was over triple call volume. Citigroup’s Jerry Minier notes leveraged investors have been active, positioning for a possible market shift.

TREE NEWS update: SoftBank will repay early the $25.9 billion bridge loan used to fund its investment in OpenAI, with repayment scheduled for September 15. The move comes ahead of the original loan maturity, reflecting the company’s financial strategy.

TREE NEWS reports: Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed 0.2% lower at 65,142.78 points, while the broader Topix index fell 0.1% to 4,046.64. In South Korea, the KOSPI composite index gained 1.4% to close at 7,051.64.

TREE NEWS update: On September 8, the Chongqing Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) held a meeting to deepen reform of state-owned enterprises. Party Secretary and Director Li Dian stressed accelerating restructuring and integration in key sectors, urging full internal integration post-reorganization to shift from ‘physical integration’ to ‘chemical reaction’.

TREE NEWS update: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said any attack on Saudi Arabia could trigger the Mecca Defense Alliance, warning that an attack on any member state would be considered an attack on all signatories. The statement underscores regional security commitments amid tensions.

TREE NEWS update: Russia said it attacked a vessel bound for Odesa, Ukraine. The statement adds to rising tensions in the Black Sea region, with potential implications for shipping and grain exports. No further details were provided.

TREE NEWS reports: The Japanese yen strengthened 0.7% against the U.S. dollar, trading at 152.95. The move reflects ongoing currency market dynamics amid global economic conditions.

TREE NEWS update: The death toll from landslides triggered by a glacial outburst in Nepal’s border region on August 26 has risen to 1,367 as of 11:00 local time on September 9, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The disaster caused significant casualties.

TREE NEWS update: The Korea Exchange will introduce after-hours stock trading on September 14. The new session allows investors to trade listed stocks beyond regular market hours, aiming to enhance market accessibility and align with global practices.

TREE NEWS reports: The U.S. dollar weakened 0.5% against the Japanese yen, trading at 153.21. The decline reflects ongoing currency market movements as investors monitor economic data and central bank policies.

TREE NEWS update: China’s National Healthcare Security Administration concluded on Sept. 8 its on-site negotiations for the 2026 National Basic Medical Insurance Drug List, with 124 out-of-list drugs entering bidding. Innovative drugs for oncology, rare diseases, chronic conditions and pediatric use may be included. The final list and a commercial health insurance innovative drug catalog are due in November, taking effect Jan. 1, 2027.

TREE NEWS reports: Spot gold surged past $4,400 per ounce on Tuesday, trading at $4,400.41, up about 1.0% on the day. The precious metal continues its rally amid market uncertainty, with investors seeking safe-haven assets.

TREE NEWS update: Israel has notified Britain that its consulate in Jerusalem must close, with diplomats losing accreditation within 30 days. The move, reported on June 9, escalates diplomatic tensions over the contested city.

TREE NEWS update: Kwon Hyuk-bin, founder of South Korean gaming giant Smilegate, must transfer 35% of his company stake to his wife Lee Hwa-jin as part of their divorce property settlement, Yonhap reported. The transfer is a condition of the divorce ruling, which has not been detailed further.

TREE NEWS update: Shaoguan City in Guangdong has released a draft plan to become the ‘Bay Area Computing Valley’ serving the Greater Bay Area. By 2030, the city aims to support 1 million standard racks and install over 750,000 PFLOPS of AI computing capacity, positioning itself as a core computing hub for the region.