Asian stocks were headed for early declines as global markets fell into a familiar, risk-off pattern with tech concerns weighing on stocks and Bitcoin, supporting short-dated Treasuries and precious metals.
U.S. crude futures opened a dollar higher in Asian trading on Thursday after President Donald Trump placed a blockade on tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and most exports from the country remained on hold.
The dollar held gains against its major counterparts on Thursday as markets positioned for central bank decisions in Britain, Europe and Japan.
Kerala is India's major rubber producer. But low prices, skilled labor shortages and soil depletion are forcing farmers to try out new growing methods and crops.
Malaysia's rubber industry recorded a mixed performance this year, with output and exports, including external demand for gloves contracting, while the lesser commodities of cocoa and pepper bucked the trend by showing resilience.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a continuous rain warning ranging from danger to alert levels, expected to affect several states from today until Thursday (Dec 18).