Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

According to Jin10, on August 18, the Japanese yen fell to two-week lows as concerns over rising U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices higher, with USD/JPY surging to 159.77 intraday. Analysts at ING noted that lower foreign exchange volatility has driven increased carry trade demand, as investors

According to Jin10, on August 18, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) futures warehouse receipts on the Dalian Commodity Exchange declined by 7 lots to 120,984 from the previous trading day. Polyethylene futures receipts remained at 5,623 lots, polypropylene at 27,129 lots, ethylene glycol at 2,396 lots, and l

According to Shanghai Futures Exchange data, as of August 18, major metal futures warehouses showed mixed daily changes. Aluminum inventories declined to 292,929 tonnes, down 2,916 tonnes day-over-day, while zinc holdings rose to 114,807 tonnes with a gain of 599 tonnes. Gold warehouses

London Metal Exchange copper futures one-day price spread reached $110, marking the highest level since 2021. The surge reflects increased volatility in the global copper market amid ongoing supply and demand

According to Jin10 Futures citing Shanghai Futures Exchange data, on August 18, pulp futures warehouse inventory rose to 374,420 tons, up 4,185 tons from the previous trading day. Pulp futures factory inventory remained flat at 20,000 tons. Other energy and chemical futures showed mixed

At midday close on August 18, China's domestic futures market saw broad gains led by energy and industrial commodities. SC crude oil rose nearly 6%, fuel oil surged over 5%, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) climbed nearly 5%, and ethylene glycol (EG) gained over 4%. Low-sulfur fuel oil (LU),

According to Gate data, Brent crude oil (XBRUSD) surged to $92.04 per barrel on August 18, breaking the $92 mark, up 3.6% in 24 hours.

According to China Rueilin, executives from the company met with representatives from Kyrgyzstan's Kumtor Closed Joint-Stock Company on August 17 to discuss cooperation. China Rueilin's Party Secretary, Chairman and General Manager Wu Runhua and Kumtor's Board Chairman Toktosonov Kanimeт discussed i

According to Yonhapinfomax, Samsung Electronics' pension fund (channeled through insurance and fund subsidiaries) made net purchases of 230 billion Korean won in mortgage-backed securities across all maturity segments on August 14. The buying spanned from 2-year to 30-year bonds, with heaviest

According to Jin10 Data, mining giant BHP Group reported a net profit of $9.83 billion for the 2026 financial year, up 9% year-on-year. The company's underlying profit reached $13.2 billion, surging 30% annually and exceeding market expectations of $12.66 billion. In commodities markets, copper

According to Interfax, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium transported 33.35 million tonnes of crude oil in the first half of 2026, down from 36.024 million tonnes in the same period of 2025.

According to Yonhap Infomax, South Korea's international airline fuel surcharge will increase to stage 21 starting in September, up from stage 14 in August. The jump reflects crude oil prices surging 25.4% to $149.29 per barrel over the past month, driven by rising global crude prices.

According to CME data, on August 17, precious metals and energy futures showed mixed performance. Silver volume increased 14,071 contracts to 56,676 and open interest rose 2,337 to 121,117. Brent crude oil volume rose 4,355 to 135,873, with open interest up 1,434 to 249,172. Gold volume

According to Jin10, the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding expired on August 17, with neither side seeking renewal. Iran has demanded the United States lift sanctions on its oil exports, warning of unilateral action if the restrictions remain in place. The standoff signals continued diplomatic de

According to Indonesia's presidential spokesman on August 18, the country is establishing a commodity exchange dedicated to minerals and strategic goods, set to launch on January 1, 2027. The exchange will cover palm oil, nickel, and coal—Indonesia's largest commodity exports. The Financial

According to Jin10 Futures, CBOT soybean oil surged yesterday (August 17), breaking out of its previous consolidation range as crude oil rallied. Malaysian palm oil markets showed modest gains but weakened again in overnight trading, with elevated inventory levels limiting support from

According to Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Russia's government is considering imposing export bans on aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, phenol, toluene, and xylene on August 18. A working group discussed the proposal in mid-August but reached no final decision due to disagreements between

According to an interview with MoneyToday, Korean Investment Trust Management launched 13 new ETFs this year, with 10 being domestic equity products. Nam Yong-soo, head of the company's ETF division, highlighted that long-term investment opportunities in the domestic stock market have expanded,

South Korean government bond yields surged across all maturities on the morning of August 18, with the 10-year benchmark yield jumping 11.0 basis points to 4.420% and the 30-year yield hitting an all-time high of 4.780%. The sharp rise was driven by unfavorable supply-demand conditions as a 3

According to Zhitong Finance, on August 18, the Hong Kong stock market's Hang Seng Index fell 0.65%, or 165 points, to 25,287 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index declined 1.99%. Morning trading volume reached 136.5 billion Hong Kong dollars. Pork-related stocks led gainers amid recent price