United News of Bangladesh

Asian shares mostly gained Thursday as investors continued to buy technology stocks, particularly those linked to artificial intelligence, despite uncertainty over the war in Iran and its impact on energy markets. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 3.3% to 68,956.72, while South Korea's Kospi gained 2% to 6,971.35. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell nearly 2% to 8,614.40. Markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed for a national holiday. In Tokyo, shares of companies expected to benefit from strong demand for computer chips and AI-related technology advanced. Advantest, Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group were among the gainers. On Wall Street, US stocks mostly declined Wednesday despite signs that the US economy remains relatively strong. The S&P 500 fell 0.3%, ending its third losing month in the past four months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 443.87 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. A US inflation report showed consumer prices rose 3.4% in August from a year earlier, below economists' expectation of 3.7% but still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Oil prices continued to fluctuate amid uncertainty over when the Iran war will allow crude supplies to return to normal. US benchmark crude rose 0.12% to $90.53 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.32% to $98.34. Iranian officials said Wednesday they had received an official US response to Tehran's latest proposal aimed at ending the seven-month conflict but did not disclose its contents. US President Donald Trump had rejected an earlier Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if Washington met certain conditions. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 5.29% from 5.26%, returning to levels last seen more than two decades ago. The 30-year Treasury yield increased to 5.64% from 5.59%. The S&P 500 fell 19.30 points to 7,651.54, while the Dow dropped 443.87 points to 50,906.05. The Nasdaq gained 63.52 points to 26,861.06. In currency trading, the US dollar rose to 158.30 Japanese yen from 157.33 yen, while the euro fell to $1.1320 from $1.1334.

Asian stocks mostly rose Wednesday, supported by continued optimism over artificial intelligence and chip-related companies despite concerns about the ongoing war in Iran. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 2.1% in afternoon trading to 66,882.34. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.1% to 8,806.40, while South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.1% to 6,861.30 after giving up earlier gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.3% to 24,585.63, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.5% to 3,847.55. SoftBank Group Corp., which has invested in OpenAI, surged more than 6% in Tokyo. Japanese chip-related companies, including Renesas Electronics and Rohm Co., also gained. On Wall Street, stocks ended slightly lower Tuesday as rising long-term Treasury yields put pressure on markets. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% after moving between small gains and losses during the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.1%. Major indexes turned lower as higher bond yields offset gains by several major technology companies. Nvidia, the market’s most influential stock, fell 0.7% after an early rise, while Broadcom gained 1.6%. Oil prices have fluctuated sharply as the U.S.-Iran war continues, contributing to a rise in Treasury yields to their highest level in 24 years. U.S. benchmark crude rose 0.1% to $89.47 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained 0.49% to $103.09. Brent remains well above the roughly $72 a barrel recorded before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. Mediators continued efforts to help the United States and Iran reach an agreement to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump rejected a proposal from Tehran over the weekend to reopen the key waterway. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 5.25% from 5.24% late Monday. It had reached 5.28% earlier Tuesday, its highest level since 2002, according to Tradeweb. The S&P 500 lost 12.85 points to close at 7,670.84. The Dow fell 131.59 points to 51,349.92, while the Nasdaq declined 22.84 points to 26,797.54. Several major U.S. economic reports are due this week, which could give investors and the Federal Reserve a clearer picture of the inflation outlook. U.S. inflation has remained above 3% for most of the year, well above the Fed’s 2% target. Wall Street expects the central bank to raise its benchmark interest rate again at its October meeting. “While it is easy to focus on the macroeconomic headwinds of bond yields and oil, the underlying U.S. economy remains remarkably resilient,” said Tina Teng, a market analyst at MooMoo, a global financial technology and online brokerage company. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 156.93 Japanese yen from 157.27 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1344 from $1.1347.

Asian stocks mostly declined Tuesday after major U.S. indexes ended lower in the previous session, while U.S. Treasury yields paused after reaching their highest levels in about two decades. U.S. stock futures edged down, while oil prices increased amid uncertainty over talks between the United States and Iran and the possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. On Monday, the S&P 500 fell 0.8%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7% and the Nasdaq composite declined 0.9%. Rising U.S. Treasury yields have put pressure on stocks as investors seek better returns amid concerns about inflation and growing U.S. government debt. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note reached 5.27% Monday, its highest level since 2007. It stood at about 5.25% early Tuesday, compared with 5.17% last Friday. Oil prices, already elevated and contributing to inflation, rose further Tuesday as mediators continued efforts to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian offer over the weekend to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.8% to $99.63 a barrel, well above about $72 a barrel in late February before the Iran war. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.2% to 65,114.64, while South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.6% to 6,847.56. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.5% to 24,516.46. Shares of online fast-fashion retailer Shein traded in Hong Kong fell 11.7% after the company reported a 67% year-on-year decline in adjusted net profit for its latest quarter. China’s Shanghai Composite edged up 0.1% to 3,826.51 after state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Monday that the State Council discussed ways to improve the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies and support economic growth. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1% to 8,686.20. Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.6%, while India’s Sensex declined 0.7%. The U.S. dollar rose slightly to 157.42 Japanese yen from 157.39 yen. The euro fell to $1.1362 from $1.1371.

Asian stock markets were mixed Monday after a decline in oil prices last week helped U.S. stocks end their first winning week in three. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% to 65,877.62. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.2% to 8,679.70, while South Korea’s Kospi dropped 2.7% to 6,889.74. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.6% to 24,654.86, while the Shanghai Composite declined 1.7% to 3,823.62. In energy trading, U.S. benchmark crude rose 1.98% to $94.24 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained 2.5% to $106.93 a barrel. Brent crude briefly fell to around $97 a barrel last week. Oil prices have remained volatile amid uncertainty over when the war with Iran will end and allow oil supplies from the Middle East to flow more freely, including through the Strait of Hormuz. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, ending a three-day decline marked by sharp swings as bond yields rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 478 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.5%. Rising expectations for high inflation in the United States weighed on markets last week. Higher inflation could put further pressure on the economy by increasing living costs and potentially triggering further price increases. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note briefly rose to 5.22% Friday from 5.18% late Thursday, approaching its highest level since 2007. Higher yields can slow economic activity by making borrowing more expensive and can also put pressure on stocks and other investments. The 10-year yield had risen from 3.97% at the start of the war with Iran. However, it eased later Friday as oil prices fell, dropping to 5.15%. The decline in yields helped U.S. stocks recover. Overall, the S&P 500 rose 39.28 points to 7,743.41. The Dow gained 478.64 points to 51,828.62, while the Nasdaq composite advanced 129.34 points to 27,068.72. In Asian currency trading Monday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.53 Japanese yen from 157.19 yen. The euro fell to $1.1380 from $1.1393.

Asian stocks traded mixed Monday as oil prices moved higher after a decline last week helped U.S. shares finish their first positive week in three. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was nearly unchanged, slipping less than 0.1% to 66,333.53. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3% to 8,688.60, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 2.3% to 6,916.30. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7% to 24,684.09, while the Shanghai Composite declined 1.7% to 3,820.82. In energy trading, U.S. benchmark crude rose 1% to $93.33 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed 1.8% to $106.19 a barrel. Brent had briefly fallen to the $97 range last week. Oil prices remain volatile amid uncertainty over when the war with Iran will allow oil supplies from the Middle East to move more freely, including through the Strait of Hormuz. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, ending a three-day decline marked by sharp swings as bond yields increased. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 478 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.5%. Rising expectations of higher U.S. inflation weighed on markets last week. Investors are concerned that persistent inflation expectations could influence economic behavior and contribute to further increases in living costs. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note briefly rose to 5.22% Friday from 5.18% late Thursday, approaching its highest level since 2007. Higher yields can slow economic activity by increasing borrowing costs and can also reduce the appeal of stocks and other investments. The 10-year yield has risen sharply since the start of the war with Iran, when it stood at 3.97%. However, yields eased later Friday as oil prices declined, with the 10-year yield falling back to 5.15%. The move helped U.S. stocks recover. The S&P 500 rose 39.28 points to 7,743.41. The Dow gained 478.64 points to 51,828.62, while the Nasdaq composite advanced 129.34 points to 27,068.72. In Asian currency trading Monday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.76 Japanese yen from 157.19 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1392, little changed from $1.1393.

Asian shares were mixed Friday after another global sell-off in bonds pushed U.S. Treasury yields to their highest levels in years. U.S. stock futures edged higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% to 66,364.20, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.1% to 24,495.35. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.4% to 8,665.00. India’s Sensex was up less than 0.1%. Markets in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea were closed for a holiday. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 was almost unchanged Thursday, slipping less than 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite gained less than 0.1%. Another global bond sell-off has put fresh pressure on stock markets, with the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury reaching its highest level since 2007. The yield eased slightly to around 5.17% early Friday after rising above 5.20% Thursday, compared with about 5.11% on Wednesday. Government bond yields have remained high as investors demand greater returns amid rising risks and uncertainty. These include increasing inflation pressures linked to the energy shock caused by the war involving Iran and concerns over growing U.S. government debt. ING Bank analysts said in a commentary this week that higher energy prices and continued inflation pressures were likely to keep pushing U.S. 10-year Treasury yields higher. Oil prices declined early Friday as investors watched for signs that the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, could reopen. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 1% to $99.24 a barrel. It remained below the $100 mark but was still well above about $72 a barrel in late February, before the war began. Investors were also watching a meeting in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Analysts said the meeting had produced limited concrete progress so far, although the two leaders discussed issues including trade, artificial intelligence and the Middle East. The U.S. dollar fell to 158.06 Japanese yen from 158.86 yen, while the euro rose to $1.1387 from $1.1380.

Asian shares were mixed Friday following another bond sell-off that brought U.S. Treasury yields to their highest in years. U.S. futures edged lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.2% to 66,318.14. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 1.7% to 24,333.20. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5% to 8,660.30. India’s Sensex was up 0.2%. Markets in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea were closed because of a holiday. Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 was almost unchanged on Thursday, edging down less than 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.3%, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed less than 0.1%. A global sell-off in the bond market has again added pressure to the stock market, as the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury reached its highest since 2007. The U.S. 10-year Treasury eased slightly to around 5.19% early Friday, after rising above 5.20% on Thursday from around 5.11% Wednesday. Government bond yields have been elevated as bond investors are demanding higher compensation under increasing risks and uncertainties, including growing inflationary pressure from the Iran war-driven energy shock and rising U.S. government debt. Oil prices fell early Friday as investors look for signs of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway for global oil transport. Brent crude, the international standard, dropped 1.4% to $98.84 per barrel, remaining below the $100 mark although it’s still well above the roughly $72 a barrel level in late February before the start of the war. While many investors are also monitoring the meeting in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, analysts said limited concrete progress has been made, although the two sides touched on topics including trade, artificial intelligence and the Middle East. The U.S. dollar fell to 158.34 Japanese yen from 158.86 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1370, down from $1.1380.   END/

Asian shares traded mixed in early Thursday trading as investors assessed recent movements in oil prices and the US bond market, while also watching currency fluctuations. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.3% to 65,883.41 in morning trading, helped by gains among some chipmakers amid continued interest in artificial intelligence. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,700.50. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.5% to 24,715.95, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.8% to 3,902.33. South Korean markets were closed for the Chuseok autumn harvest holiday. In energy trading, US benchmark crude fell 0.82% to $91.40 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped 0.83% to $102.22 a barrel. Brent prices remain well above the roughly $72 a barrel recorded before the war with Iran began. Investors remain concerned that the conflict could disrupt oil supplies in the Middle East for an extended period. Talks between US and Iranian officials are continuing through mediators, but no concrete agreement has emerged so far. US bond yields pressure Wall StreetWall Street came under pressure Wednesday as a stronger-than-expected economic report raised fresh concerns about inflation and pushed US Treasury yields higher. The S&P 500 fell 0.8%, after ending the previous session just 0.4% below its record high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 352 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 1.1% from its record level. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 5.10% from 4.96%, a significant move in the bond market. Higher bond yields can weigh on stocks and other investments while also making borrowing more expensive, which can slow economic activity. The 10-year yield briefly reached nearly 5.14% on Wednesday, returning to levels last seen in 2007, before the global financial crisis sent borrowing costs sharply lower. Yields have risen in recent weeks amid concerns about persistent inflation, the US government's large debt burden and other economic risks. Inflation worries intensified after a preliminary report indicated that US business activity had grown at its fastest pace in more than five years. US inflation has remained elevated, prompting the Federal Reserve to raise its short-term interest rate last week for the first time in three years. Fed Gov. Michael Barr said in a speech this week that further rate increases “are likely to be needed” to bring inflation down to the central bank's 2% target. Yen remains weakThe Bank of Japan recently raised its benchmark interest rate in an effort to support the Japanese yen. However, the move had largely been expected by investors, limiting its impact on the currency. A weaker yen puts additional pressure on Japan because the country relies heavily on imported oil, particularly when global energy prices are high. In currency trading, the US dollar slipped to 157.94 yen from 158.30 yen. The euro was little changed at $1.1382, compared with $1.1388. In US markets, the S&P 500 fell 58.61 points to 7,706.03. The Dow dropped 352.10 points to 51,511.59, while the Nasdaq composite declined 308.24 points to 26,936.04.

Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has raised gold prices again, increasing the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 1,691 per bhori to Tk 2,34,621, including VAT. BAJUS announced the new prices in a notice on Saturday, saying the price of tejabi gold (pure gold) had increased in the local market. Considering the overall market situation, the association revised the prices, which came into effect from 10am today. Under the new rates, one bhori (11.664 grammes) of 21-carat gold has been set at Tk 2,24,065 per bhori, 18-carat gold at Tk 1,92,398 and traditional-method gold at Tk 1,57,172. BAJUS said the new prices will remain effective at all jewellery shops until further notice. However, labour charges will apply depending on the design of the jewellery. As VAT is included in the selling price of gold and silver jewellery, jewellers cannot collect VAT separately from customers. BAJUS's previous rules will remain in place for jewellery exchange and purchase, excluding specified VAT, labour charges and the price of stones. BAJUS last adjusted gold prices on Sept 12, when it raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 1,050 per bhori to Tk 2,32,930, including VAT. So far in 2026, gold prices in the country's market have been adjusted 116 times. Prices have been raised on 58 occasions, lowered on 57 occasions and VAT adjusted once. Meanwhile, silver prices have also been increased. The price of 22-carat silver has been raised by Tk 116 per bhori to Tk 5,132, including VAT. The price of 21-carat silver has been set at Tk 4,957 per bhori, 18-carat silver at Tk 4,257 and traditional-method silver at Tk 3,208. Silver prices have been adjusted 70 times so far in 2026, with prices increased on 36 occasions and reduced on the remaining 34 occasions.

The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) opened on Thursday in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, bringing new business opportunities under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 framework into focus. Running from September 17 to 21, the expo has attracted more than 3,400 companies from over 70 countries and regions. The exhibition area covers about 170,000 square meters, with participating enterprises up 5.3% from the previous edition. Timor-Leste is taking part for the first time as a full ASEAN member and co-host, bringing all 11 ASEAN member states together in Nanning, reports CGTN. AI and the newly opened Pinglu Canal are also key focuses of this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas showcasing their potential to drive regional cooperation. The latest CGTN survey shows that 90.9% of global respondents believe the continued hosting of CAEXPO demonstrates China's commitment to high-standard opening up. Meanwhile, 89.5% see the expo as an important platform for business exchanges, industrial matchmaking and sharing regional development opportunities. China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 opens new areas for cooperation The expo comes as China and ASEAN begin implementing the upgraded CAFTA 3.0 framework, which aims to facilitate trade, strengthen supply chains and expand cooperation into emerging sectors. Science and technology authorities and high-tech institutions from countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have sent delegations to the expo. China has made significant advances in areas such as AI, electric vehicles and renewable energy, said Destarata Mustafa, counselor for political affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing. "We hope to expand cooperation with China in these fields." More than 50 trade and investment promotion activities are being held during the expo, focusing on trade and investment facilitation, regional economic integration, and cross-border industrial and supply chain cooperation. In the CGTN survey, 84.5% of respondents said deeper China-ASEAN free trade cooperation will inject greater momentum into openness, cooperation and stable growth in the global economy. AI takes center stage at China-ASEAN Expo AI is taking a prominent role at this year's expo, with dedicated exhibition areas at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center and the newly established Nanning AI Compound. The AI exhibition area at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center showcases AI products and technologies covering consumer applications, smart homes, intelligent terminals, robots and embodied intelligence, alongside AI technologies from ASEAN countries. At the 10,000-square-meter Nanning AI Compound, more than 150 AI companies, including Huawei, iFlytek and Unitree Robotics, are presenting applications across 11 themed sections, focusing on industrial and everyday use. The venue will also feature an AI-themed market, service robots, robot competitions and performances. The new exhibition area is also designed to facilitate more targeted cooperation through an intelligent matchmaking system. More than 8,000 pairs of potential cooperation partners have been pre-matched, while nearly 2,000 additional matchmaking sessions are scheduled during the expo. The system has collected around 60 cooperation demand projects from ASEAN countries and matched them with nearly 40 Chinese projects to help companies pursue potential partnerships. The emphasis on practical applications reflects growing efforts to connect China's AI capabilities with the specific industrial and consumer needs of ASEAN markets. How Pinglu Canal could strengthen China-ASEAN trade The newly opened Pinglu Canal has become another highlight of the expo, with a dedicated exhibition area showcasing the 134.2-kilometer waterway and its potential to strengthen regional connectivity. Connecting the Xijiang River shipping network with the Beibu Gulf, the canal allows vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes to reach the sea directly, creating a more efficient route from China's southwestern hinterland to international markets. The canal is expected to shorten shipping distances between southwest China and Southeast Asia by more than 560 kilometers, reduce logistics costs by 18% to 30% and save about 5.2 billion yuan (about $775 million) annually. It also strengthens the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor linking western China with Southeast Asia through railways, roads, waterways and ports. According to the CGTN survey, 87.6% of respondents said multimodal transport, including river-sea and rail-water transport, when efficiently connected with cross-border industrial and supply chain cooperation, will further facilitate regional trade and investment. The new connectivity comes as China-ASEAN trade continues to expand. In the first seven months of 2026, trade between the two sides reached $744.41 billion, up 24.7% year on year and accounting for 21.8% of China's total foreign trade.