Singapore Dollar Strengthens Slightly, Buoyed by Strong Economic Data
August 16, 2026, 11:14 PM EDT. The Singapore dollar edged higher after July non-oil exports surged 24.2% from a year earlier. MUFG said the data reinforce support from the semiconductor upcycle and Singapore’s exposure to recovering global technology demand. The U.S. dollar was about 0.1% lower at S$1.2777 in Asian trading.
From kangaroos to dim sum, foreign borrowers rush into Asia-Pacific bond markets
August 16, 2026, 11:02 PM EDT. Foreign borrowers are tapping Asia-Pacific local-currency debt markets at record rates as global funding needs climb. International kangaroo issuance has reached about A$60 billion this year, roughly 40% above 2025, while first-half panda and dim-sum bond sales hit records of about 160 billion yuan and 350 billion yuan. The shift reflects deeper regional investor pools, competitive swapped funding costs and a broader effort by issuers to diversify away from crowded dollar and euro markets.
Rupee set to weaken after central bank curtails dollar inflow window
August 16, 2026, 10:59 PM EDT. India’s rupee was set to open around 95.60 to 95.64 per dollar after the Reserve Bank of India unexpectedly shortened the deadline for a discounted foreign-exchange swap facility. Banks can now use the zero-cost hedge for eligible overseas deposits raised only through August 31, one month earlier than previously planned, after more than $50 billion of inflows. The change removes some prospective dollar support while elevated oil prices and importer hedging continue to weigh on the currency.
Meta Stock: Zuckerberg’s Open-Weight AI Push Faces a 91% Free-Cash-Flow Drop
August 16, 2026, 10:34 PM EDT. Meta’s second-quarter free cash flow fell 91% to $784 million even as revenue rose 28% to $60.80 billion. Capital spending including finance-lease principal jumped 83% to $31.08 billion, absorbing almost all of the company’s $31.86 billion in operating cash flow. The squeeze puts a harder financial test around Meta’s open-weight AI push as it guides to $130 billion to $145 billion of capital spending for 2026.
Aurizon FY2026 Financial Results
August 16, 2026, 10:18 PM EDT. Aurizon reported FY2026 underlying EBITDA of A$1.724 billion, up 9%, with underlying net profit after tax rising 24% to A$433 million and free cash flow increasing 11% to A$573 million. Full-year dividends climbed 46% to 23.0 cents per share, and the rail freight group completed a A$250 million on-market buyback. For FY2027, Aurizon expects underlying EBITDA of A$1.725 billion to A$1.775 billion and dividends of 23.0 to 24.0 cents per share, with weaker Coal earnings expected to be offset by growth in Network and Bulk.
IMDEX Delivers Record FY26 Results
August 16, 2026, 10:18 PM EDT. IMDEX posted record FY2026 revenue of A$520 million, up 21%, while reported EBITDA rose 38% to A$179 million and net profit increased 44% to A$79 million. Normalised EBITDA margin expanded to 31%, normalised operating cash flow reached A$135 million, and technology-enabled platform revenue accounted for 47% of group sales. The mining-technology company enters FY2027 with five acquisitions completed during the year and says improving exploration activity is supporting demand for its connected, digital and AI-enabled geoscience tools.
Iress 2026 Half Year Report
August 16, 2026, 10:18 PM EDT. Iress reported first-half statutory net profit of A$32.0 million, up 85%, while underlying profit after tax rose 18% to A$38.8 million and cash EBITDA increased 34% to A$61.1 million. Revenue and other income fell 17% to A$250.0 million largely because of the Superannuation and QuantHouse divestments; excluding disposed businesses, revenue increased 2.5% on a constant-currency basis and recurring revenue represented 95% of the total. The interim dividend increased to 14.0 cents from 11.0 cents, while the cash EBITDA margin reached 24.5% against a 25% exit run-rate target for the end of 2026.
GPT 2026 Interim Result
August 16, 2026, 10:18 PM EDT. GPT Group reported first-half funds from operations of A$338.8 million, or 17.7 cents per security, with statutory net profit of A$400.1 million and a 12.25-cent distribution. Like-for-like net property income rose 5.8% across the investment portfolio, while assets under management increased 4.6% since year-end to A$41.6 billion. The property group maintained FY2026 guidance for about 35.4 cents of FFO per security and a 24.5-cent full-year distribution, with net gearing at 31.5% and A$1.0 billion of liquidity.
Asian shares mark time as Gulf war keeps oil prices up
August 16, 2026, 9:17 PM EDT. Asian equities were subdued on Monday as the unresolved Iran conflict kept crude prices elevated and inflation risk in focus. Brent held near $88.50 a barrel after gaining 6% last week, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan was flat, the Nikkei added about 0.4%, and Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.3%. Softer U.S. data continued to reduce expectations for a September Fed hike, nudging Treasury yields and the dollar lower while gold held around $4,381 an ounce.
BlueScope profit boost stands out as ASX 200 slips 0.4%
August 16, 2026, 9:01 PM EDT. BlueScope Steel emerged as an early reporting-season standout in Australia, with The Australian flagging a significant profit boost as the broader market weakened. By 11:00 a.m. AEST, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.4% at 9,082, with retailers and banks among the weakest groups. The contrast puts BlueScope’s earnings performance in sharper relief on a session otherwise marked by pressure in rate-sensitive and consumer-facing shares.
Yen edges up as traders push back Fed rate hike bets
August 16, 2026, 8:41 PM EDT. The yen strengthened 0.2% to 159.055 per dollar as traders pushed expectations for another Federal Reserve rate increase further out after a run of softer U.S. data. Fed funds futures put the probability of no change at the September meeting at 66.9%, while the dollar index slipped 0.1% to 99.519. The move came despite Japan’s weaker-than-expected 1.1% annualised second-quarter GDP growth, showing that the rate outlook in the U.S. is currently exerting the stronger pull on major currencies.
Lendlease posts A$749 million loss as writedowns follow asset sales
August 16, 2026, 8:16 PM EDT. Lendlease recorded a A$749 million full-year net loss, reversing a A$225 million profit year-on-year. The result reflected A$182 million in property writedowns and impairments, with the capital-release unit incurring an A$800 million deficit amid ongoing sales of non-core assets. Core investment, development and construction segments produced A$233 million in earnings, but net debt grew to A$3.7 billion and gearing rose to 37.7%, adding to the balance sheet challenge for incoming CEO Nick O’Neil.
VIX Drops to 14.56 as Surge in Tail Hedge Activity Counters Market Calm
August 16, 2026, 8:16 PM EDT. The VIX ended last week at 14.56, close to its 2026 low and roughly 25% below its long-term average, even as demand for protection against extreme moves increased. Cboe’s SKEW Index has risen 6.6% since July, while Friday’s U.S. share volume of 9.6 billion was about 45% below the 20-session average. The combination points to unusually cheap day-to-day volatility alongside more expensive tail protection as markets head into a week of retail earnings, Fed minutes and fresh economic data.
EU plans most far-reaching sanctions package against Russia in autumn, foreign chief says
August 16, 2026, 8:05 PM EDT. The European Union is preparing what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described as its broadest set of sanctions listings against Russia since the war began. If adopted, the package would increase the number of sanctioned Russian entities by about one-third, though timing and detailed measures have not yet been disclosed. The initiative follows July restrictions aimed at Russia’s banking sector and cryptocurrency networks, keeping sanctions risk in focus for European financial, energy and trade exposures.
Japan Q2 annualised GDP rises 1.1%, falling short of expectations
August 16, 2026, 7:59 PM EDT. Japan’s economy grew at a 1.1% annualised rate during the April-June quarter, missing the 2.0% median forecast. GDP increased 0.3% from the previous quarter, less than the projected 0.5%. The slower growth clouds the backdrop for the Bank of Japan, as investors continue to price in a possible rate hike later this year.
JB Hi-Fi hits record sales but July performance drops for key brands
August 16, 2026, 7:16 PM EDT. JB Hi-Fi delivered full-year revenue of A$11.06 billion, a 4.8% increase, and net profit rose 6% to A$489.9 million. Both results were slightly under analyst forecasts. July trading slowed: comparable sales declined 1.4% at JB Hi-Fi Australia, 1.7% at The Good Guys and 4% at e&s. Despite this, the final dividend was raised 21% to A$1.27 per share, leaving investors balancing higher cash returns against more subdued consumer spending.
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