17 Apr 2026

Star Mica Holdings Co Ltd has indicated that the suspension of orders by housing equipment manufacturers is unlikely to significantly affect its business performance. The company clarified that its overall exposure to such manufacturers remains limited, helping it manage any short-term disruptions. The development comes at a time when supply chains and demand cycles in the housing equipment segment are seeing some adjustments. Despite this, Star Mica maintains that its diversified operations and revenue streams will support stability. The company's statement aims to reassure stakeholders about its operational resilience.Read more

17 Apr 2026

China's refined copper consumption is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, supported by long-term industrial and infrastructure demand. A senior researcher from China Minmetals indicated that demand is unlikely to peak soon, with annual growth estimated at 3.7% until 2035. However, growth in the current year is expected to remain muted at around 1% due to slower progress in the energy transition, particularly in solar power, and elevated copper prices. Despite a possible population decline, overall consumption is expected to remain strong due to rising per capita usage and ongoing economic activity.Read more

17 Apr 2026

Real estate activity in Dubai has witnessed a decline in transactions and rental demand amid escalating tensions in West Asia, reflecting a temporary impact on investor sentiment. Data indicates that property transactions fell in the early part of the month, while leasing activity also moderated. The slowdown is attributed to geopolitical uncertainty and rising risk perception among global investors. However, the market has continued to demonstrate resilience, supported by underlying demand fundamentals and ongoing project activity. Developers and investors have largely adopted a cautious approach, indicating a wait-and-watch phase rather than a structural downturn. The development highlights the sensitivity of international real estate markets to geopolitical disruptions.Read more

17 Apr 2026

Serbia has announced plans to jointly manufacture combat drones with Israel as part of its broader effort to modernise its defence sector and expand military exports. The announcement was made by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic during a visit to a military unit, where he highlighted that the country cannot independently develop drones at the level of Israel. The proposed collaboration is expected to follow a 50-50 structure, although key details such as investment value, timeline, and the manufacturer involved have not been officially disclosed. The move aligns with Serbia's ongoing military upgrade strategy.Read more

16 Apr 2026

Japan has announced a USD 10 billion financial support framework to help Asian countries procure crude oil and other energy resources amid rising Middle East tensions and supply disruptions. The funding will be routed through state-backed institutions to ease credit constraints faced by several Southeast Asian nations. The move also aims to protect Japan's own supply chains, which depend on regional manufacturing inputs. With limited stockpiles in Southeast Asia and heavy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, concerns over supply stability have increased, prompting Japan to also plan a release from its oil reserves in the coming weeks.Read more

16 Apr 2026

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc has announced a leadership transition with Kevin Collins set to take over as Chief Executive Officer and David Lyle appointed as President. The changes follow the planned retirement of current CEO John Anzalone, which is scheduled to take effect later this month. The move reflects a structured succession plan within the company. Invesco Mortgage Capital, a real estate investment trust focused on mortgage-backed securities, has been aligning its leadership to support long-term strategy and market positioning amid evolving financial conditions.Read more

16 Apr 2026

Prodea Real Estate Investment Company SA has announced a voluntary tender offer to acquire up to 50,000 bonds that were issued in 2021. The move is part of its broader capital management strategy and comes amid ongoing efforts by real estate firms to optimise their balance sheets. To fund this transaction, the company is planning to issue up to 10 million new shares. Such actions are generally aimed at improving financial flexibility, managing liabilities, and aligning long-term funding structures with current market conditions.Read more

16 Apr 2026

Greece has proposed extending the tenure of central bank Governor Yannis Stournaras, whose current term is set to end later this year. Having led the Bank of Greece since 2014, he played a key role in stabilising the country's economy during the debt crisis as finance minister. The move, announced by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, was widely expected under the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. If approved, Stournaras would become the first central bank governor in Greece to serve three consecutive terms.Read more

16 Apr 2026

The United States has initiated a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. The enforcement, which began in the past week, applies to vessels entering or leaving Iranian coastal infrastructure across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, while allowing transit through the Strait of Hormuz for non-Iran-bound traffic. The move follows the collapse of diplomatic negotiations between the two countries and is aimed at restricting Iran's oil exports and economic activity. The development has triggered concerns over global energy supply disruptions, with oil prices reacting sharply and maritime traffic facing increased scrutiny. The blockade is expected to have implications for international shipping, logistics, and trade flows, particularly across Asia-bound energy corridors.Read more

15 Apr 2026

Liquidators of China Evergrande Group have entered into an exclusivity agreement with a selected bidder to sell their 51.016% stake in Evergrande Property Services, according to a recent exchange filing. The parties will undertake exclusive negotiations for a period of 30 business days, although the identity of the bidder and transaction value have not been disclosed. The development comes as the group continues to address its prolonged debt crisis, having defaulted on over USD 300 billion in liabilities since 2021. The services arm, which was valued at over HKD 94 billion at listing in 2020 and peaked near HKD 200 billion in 2021, currently has a market capitalisation of approximately HKD 13.19 billion. The transaction forms part of ongoing efforts to monetise assets under liquidation proceedings.Read more