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Gold Rises, Buoyed by Likely Safe-Haven Demand Amid Global Trade Uncertainty

2339 GMT — Gold rises in the early Asian session, buoyed by likely safe-haven demand amid global trade uncertainty. The lack of a clear timeline for U.S.-China trade negotiations continues to maintain investors' cautiousness, GivTrade's Hassan Fawaz says in an email. Also, the ECB's recent rate cut could enhance the precious metal's allure in a low-yield environment, the chairman and founder says. Focus for this will likely to be on U.S. macroeconomic data and any new developments on the trade front, Fawaz adds. Spot gold is 0.6% higher at $3,347.33/oz. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

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Vietnam Soybean Import Report 2025-2034: Major Players in Vietnam's Soybean Market: A Growing Opportunity for Traders
Vietnam Soybean Import Report 2025-2034: Major Players in Vietnam's Soybean Market: A Growing Opportunity for Traders

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Vietnam Soybean Import Report 2025-2034: Major Players in Vietnam's Soybean Market: A Growing Opportunity for Traders

Global soybean demand is soaring, driven by Vietnam's expanding animal husbandry and aquaculture sectors. Major producers like the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina account for over 80% of production. Vietnam's imports, predominantly from the U.S. and Brazil, rose to $1.163 billion in 2024, fueling market growth. Vietnamese Soybean Import Research Market Dublin, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Soybean Import Research Report 2025-2034" has been added to offering. Soybean, a vital legume crop, plays a significant role globally across food, feed, and industrial sectors. It can be classified into edible, feed, oil, and seed soybeans. In Asian countries, edible soybeans form the core of tofu, soy milk, and bean sprout production. Feed soybeans are crucial for the livestock and aquaculture industries due to their protein content, while oil soybeans are primarily used for extracting soybean oil. The global soybean production landscape is dominated by Brazil, the United States, Argentina, and China, contributing over 80% of the world's output. These nations are not just leaders in production but are also pivotal in international soybean trade. Brazil tops the chart with extensive cultivation on the Brazilian plateau. The United States follows as the second-largest producer, with major farming activities centered in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. In Vietnam, the escalating demand for soybeans is fueled by the expansion of its animal husbandry and aquaculture sectors. Over the past decade, these sectors have shown remarkable growth, amplifying the need for high-quality animal feed like soybeans. However, Vietnam's domestic production, largely in the northern region, falls short of meeting this escalating demand, necessitating substantial imports. In 2024, soybean imports hit $1.163 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.2%. This upward trend is anticipated to continue as Vietnam's animal-related industries thrive. Vietnam's primary sources of imported soybeans include Brazil, the United States, and Canada. The United States leads, contributing approximately 31% of Vietnam's imports, with Brazil closely behind at 30%. Between 2021 and 2024, the key import countries were the United States, Brazil, and Singapore, with both global trading giants and local Vietnamese firms as principal importers. The dependence on imports is attributed to Vietnam's limited soybean production capacity against a backdrop of rising domestic demands. Economists predict that as Vietnam's economy and living standards advance, so too will its soybean import volumes. For global grain trading enterprises, the Vietnamese market presents a promising opportunity. Comprehensive market research is advised for those considering entry, ensuring a robust strategy to tap into Vietnam's burgeoning soybean sector. Topics covered: Vietnam's Soybean Import and Export Trends (2021-2024) Soybean Import Volume and Percentage Changes (2021-2024) Soybean Import Value Trends in Vietnam (2021-2024) Insights into Vietnamese Soybean Market: Top Import Sources and Suppliers Strategies for Entering the Vietnamese Soybean Market Forecasting Vietnam's Soybean Import Trajectory (2025-2034) Companies Featured The Delong Co Inc Enerfo Pte Ltd Dynamic Marine Ltd Bunge Vietnam Vietnam Agribusiness Ltd Dabaco Group Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2025 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $1.22 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $1.89 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.0% Regions Covered Vietnam Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of Vietnam1.1 Geography of Vietnam1.2 Economic Condition of Vietnam1.3 Demographics of Vietnam1.4 Domestic Market of Vietnam1.5 Recommendations for Foreign Enterprises Entering the Vietnam Soybean Imports Market2 Analysis of Soybean Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)2.1 Import Scale of Soybean in Vietnam2.2 Major Sources of Soybean Imports in Vietnam3 Analysis of Major Sources of Soybean Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)3.1 United States3.2 Brazil3.3 Singapore3.4 Canada3.5 Cambodia3.6 South Africa4 Analysis of Major Suppliers in the Import Market of Soybean in Vietnam (2021-2024)4.1 THE DELONG CO INC4.2 ENERFO PTE LTD4.3 DYNAMIC MARINE LTD5 Analysis of Major Importers in the Import Market of Soybean in Vietnam (2021-2024)5.1 BUNGE VIETNAM5.2 VIETNAM AGRIBUSINESS LTD5.3 DABACO GROUP6 Monthly Analysis of Soybean Imports in Vietnam from 2021 to 20246.1 Analysis of Monthly Import Value and Volume6.2 Forecast of Monthly Average Import Prices7 Key Factors Affecting Soybean Imports in Vietnam7.1 Policy7.2 Economic7.3 Technology8 Forecast for the Import of Soybean in Vietnam, 2025-2034For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Vietnamese Soybean Import Research Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Activist Retail Investors Take On Korea's Corporate Laggards
Activist Retail Investors Take On Korea's Corporate Laggards

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Activist Retail Investors Take On Korea's Corporate Laggards

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's small investors are trying to shake up the country's creaky corporate landscape. Next Stop: Rancho Cucamonga! Where Public Transit Systems Are Bouncing Back Around the World Trump Said He Fired the National Portrait Gallery Director. She's Still There. ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn Amateur stock-pickers across the country are gathering on social media platform KakaoTalk and dedicated shareholder apps such as Act, which has racked up more than 110,000 users in the two years since it launched. Their aim: to give a jolt to Korea's $1.9 trillion stock market, which has for years traded at cheaper multiples than regional rivals like Japan and Taiwan. 'Korea's financial system lags global standards and companies need to be held accountable,' said Younghee Won, a 66-year-old art instructor and amateur investor. 'Online platforms allow our anger to translate into action.' This wave of grass-roots activism means Korea's listed companies are now being pressured from all sides, as politicians, regulators and foreign investment funds push for better governance. That may finally force local companies to address the long-standing 'Korea discount' — adding fuel to a stock market that is already one of the world's best performers so far this year. It has also turned small investors into a surprising political force. Lee Jae-myung, the left-leaning politician who won the country's presidential election last week, tried to position himself as a champion for shareholders, promising to lift corporate governance standards, curb stock manipulation and set the Kospi index on the path to 5,000 — almost 80% higher than its current level. The Kospi entered a bull market after Lee's election win and was around 1.7% higher in early Asian trading on Monday. The market is getting a boost from foreign funds loading up on stocks, and rising optimism from Wall Street. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. strategists said in a weekend note they were upgrading Korean stocks to overweight from neutral, pointing to the increased likelihood of capital market reforms. Read: Goldman Upgrades Korean Stocks to Overweight on Domestic Boost Growing Clout Retail investors in Korea now represent almost 30% of the overall population, according to Goldman Sachs. A boom in stock trading during the Covid-19 pandemic led to millions of new account openings, fueling the rise of online communities where they could learn about stock picking — and hatch plans. Shareholders of Korean companies filed 168 proposals in the most recent round of annual general meetings, a jump of more than 80% from 2021, according to figures from the AJU Research Institute of Corporate Management. That included 78 proposals directly targeting management, calling for the appointment or removal of executives. 'Minority shareholders are seeking a more active role in corporate governance,' said Nameun Kim, deputy director at the AJU. 'If previously the focus was solely on returns, now they want their preferred directors on the board so they can participate in management decisions.' So far, small investors' successes have come at small companies, those with a market value of $1 billion or less. During the recent round of annual general meetings in March, medical company Oscotec Inc. scrapped plans to reappoint its chief executive after pushback from investors, while biotechnology firm Amicogen Inc and textile company DI Dong Il Corp. appointed new auditors after small investors pushed for it. Oscotec, Amicogen and DI Dong Il Corp. didn't respond to requests for comment. Unsurprisingly, many companies do their best to resist — or simply ignore — these mini activists. Kim, a schoolteacher who asked to be identified only by his surname, became so frustrated with one Korean company whose stock he holds that he sent 400 letters to fellow investors he found in the company's shareholder registry, asking them to join him in a KakaoTalk group to discuss possible action. More than 120 of them signed up. 'I had to print and mail each one by hand,' he said. 'I did it all on my own, outside of work hours, while maintaining a full-time job. Shareholder activism is exhausting, frustrating and frankly overwhelming.' The company didn't respond to Kim's numerous requests for clarity on their business performance, and he ended up selling most of his stake. He held on to a few shares out of a sense of obligation to his fellow activists. The rise of small investors in Korea differs from the meme-stock mania in the US, where anonymous users on Reddit's WallStreetBets forum banded together to drive up the price of GameStop Corp. and other shares. Korean platforms such as Act and Hey Holder require users to confirm they actually hold shares before they can join any dedicated group, meaning those weighing into discussions already have skin in the game. Act's CEO Sangmok Lee said that users on his platform often act more like 'fans' of the companies they hold. 'Fans engage in shareholder activism out of love for the company, much like how parents use discipline out of love,' Lee said. Powerful Allies Korea's stock market has for years been cheaper than close rivals Japan and Taiwan when it comes to metrics such as the price-to-book ratio, a popular measure of how much a stock is worth compared to the value of a company's assets. The 'Korea discount' doesn't have a single cause but analysts point to worries about how companies invest, a convoluted series of cross shareholdings and a sense that the interests of company executives aren't always in line with their shareholders. Read: What's the 'Korea Discount' and Why Is It a Problem?: QuickTake Small investors won't be enough on their own to turn things around, but they have some powerful allies. Local activist funds like Align Partners Capital Management Inc. are on the rise, adding professional savvy to the efforts of amateur investors. Foreign funds are also getting in on the act, expanding their operations in Korea in the hopes that the market is finally ready to turn a corner. 'We're optimistic that the presidential elections will bring even more substantial changes in South Korea,' said Seth Fischer, founder and chief investment officer of activist fund Oasis Management in a recent Bloomberg Television interview. He added a note of caution, saying there was still a 'long, long way to go' in reforming Korea's corporate sector. But small investors' greatest source of support may come from the very top. 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