Key Takeaways
- Crude oil prices surged over 1%, with Brent crude topping $101 per barrel, as escalating shipping attacks in the Strait of Hormuz heighten Middle East supply risks.
- Standard Chartered (STAN) officially launched its digital asset custody service in Singapore, targeting institutional clients with a suite of integrated financing and security solutions.
- Nissan (NSANY) confirmed a major expansion into Australia and New Zealand, including the 2027 launch of the Navara Pro PHEV, sourced from its Chinese production hub.
- Goodman Group (GMG) is facing significant local opposition to its $20 billion Japanese data center project in Tsukuba, following the recent cancellation of a similar site in Sydney.
- Gold prices recovered from a two-month low of $4,104 to trade near $4,150, as a rally in the U.S. dollar stalled and Treasury yields retreated from multi-year highs.
Energy and Commodities Markets
Crude oil futures rose sharply on Thursday as persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to threaten global supply chains. Brent crude gained 1.33% to reach $101.53, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 1.26% to $89.39. The rally follows a series of projectile attacks on tankers in the Gulf region, which handles approximately 20% of the world's oil and fuel shipments.
Gold (XAU/USD) prices found support after a "brutal" sell-off in 2026, rebounding to $4,151 per ounce. Market analysts suggest the recovery is technical in nature, as the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) retreated toward 101.80 after hitting a year-to-date high. Meanwhile, in the industrial sector, China’s most-active coking coal contract gained 3%, driven by supply squeezes in the Shanxi province and low inventory levels ahead of the peak winter season.
Banking and Digital Infrastructure
Standard Chartered (STAN) has stepped up its digital asset offering by launching institutional custody services in Singapore. The bank will provide safekeeping for selected crypto-assets, integrating these services with its existing traditional financing and securities infrastructure. This move follows a strategic partnership with Anchorage Digital to facilitate 24/7 USD settlement for institutional clients outside the United States.
Goodman Group (GMG) is navigating a "Sydney-style" setback in Japan, where residents in Tsukuba are protesting a planned 1-gigawatt data center campus. The project, estimated at 3 trillion yen ($20 billion), has come under fire for its potential impact on local resources. This development mirrors a recent cancellation in Sydney, where the firm scrapped a project located just 20 meters from residential homes due to community resistance.
Regional Economic and Corporate Developments
Indonesia's Finance Ministry clarified that dividends from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) managed by the Danantara sovereign wealth fund are not included in the 2026 and 2027 budget assumptions. The government has opted to exclude these figures—estimated at Rp 120 trillion ($7.6 billion)—to maintain fiscal prudence. The funds will instead be used as leverage to attract private capital for infrastructure and social protection projects.
Nissan (NSANY) is leveraging its Chinese manufacturing base to revitalize its presence in the Oceania market. The automaker announced that the 2027 Navara Pro PHEV will be a cornerstone of its Australian lineup, featuring a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and a targeted output of 300kW. Additionally, Nissan plans to start sales of the China-built Frontier Pro pickup in Mexico this month to counter the rapid expansion of Chinese competitors like BYD.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.