Japanese manufacturers' confidence improved to its highest level in over four years in March, buoyed by the chemicals and petroleum sectors and a recovery in the semiconductor market, the Reuters Tankan poll showed.
Most Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, with tech gains boosting South Korean and Japanese shares, while investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve policy decision due later in the day.
Oil prices are likely to remain above $100 per barrel in the near term as there is little sign of de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, analysts at OCBC said in a note.
Oil prices fell in Asian trade on Wednesday, stepping back from strong recent gains after Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agreed to resume oil exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan port.
PROTON recorded 13,566 units in February 2026, bringing year-to-date sales to 33,399 units for the first two months of the year. The February figure represents a 20.8% increase compared with the same month in 2025, despite a softer overall market during the festive period.
Cambodia’s exports of rubber and rubber-related products surged in the first two months of 2026, reflecting strong global demand and positive market sentiment for natural rubber despite broader economic uncertainties.