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Recent Google search trends in Thailand show continued growth in interest for both asset classes. Gold trading-related searches such as “XAUUSD today” have consistently generated between 1,000 and 10,000 monthly searches over the past year, while cryptocurrency-related keywords including “crypto” have maintained similarly strong search volumes.

The trend is also reflected in internal traffic data from BrokersThai.com. Pages related to Forex brokers for gold trading generated more than 5,000 impressions over the last year, highlighting continued interest from Thai traders seeking reliable broker comparisons and trading cost information.

The data also reveals that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are no longer seen as just tools for quick gambling. Instead, users search for risk management, such as how to handle price drops and volatility, spike every time the stock market experiences volatility. This proves that traders are carefully weighing crypto risks against the steady safety of gold.

Justin Grossbard, CEO of BrokersThai.com, commented: “Thai traders are now interested in trading multiple assets, especially gold and Bitcoin, while paying more attention to trading costs and broker transparency. Many traders are carefully comparing spreads and execution speeds to reduce unnecessary trading costs as much as possible.”

The findings indicate that Thai retail traders are adapting to uncertain market conditions by conducting deeper research before making investment decisions. Rather than choosing between gold or Bitcoin, many traders are now using both together — relying on gold to help preserve capital while viewing Bitcoin as a long-term growth opportunity.

For broker comparisons, visit: https://www.brokersthai.com
Hashtag: #BrokersThai

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Petrol in New Delhi rose by 87 paise to ₹99.51 a litre, while diesel increased by 91 paise to ₹92.49 a litre. The latest increase takes the cumulative rise in both fuels to about ₹5 a litre this month, following the first retail fuel price increase since April 2022.

The pricing move reflects mounting pressure on oil marketing companies as international crude benchmarks remain elevated amid conflict in West Asia and supply concerns around key shipping routes. The controlled increases also point to a calibrated approach by the government, which is seeking to protect refiners’ balance sheets without delivering a sharp one-time shock to household budgets, freight operators and small businesses.

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation dominate the retail fuel market, operating more than 90 per cent of the country’s roughly 103,000 fuel stations. Their pricing decisions carry wide implications for transport costs, food supply chains, inflation expectations and fiscal calculations.

The latest revision follows a ₹3-a-litre increase on May 15 and another smaller increase during the week, marking a clear shift from the long freeze that had shielded consumers from global volatility while pushing losses onto state-run refiners. That freeze had become harder to sustain as crude prices climbed and the rupee’s movement added to import costs.

The country imports more than four-fifths of its crude oil requirements, leaving domestic retail prices exposed to global oil markets and exchange-rate swings. Refiners have been selling petrol and diesel at discounted rates relative to landed costs, with diesel under-recoveries remaining larger because of its central role in freight, agriculture, public transport and industry.

Losses on diesel sales have been estimated at ₹25-30 a litre even after the first hike, while petrol losses have been placed at about ₹10-14 a litre. The fresh increase narrows that gap only modestly, suggesting further upward revisions could follow if crude prices stay high or the currency weakens.

Diesel is the more sensitive fuel for the broader economy. It powers trucks, buses, farm equipment, construction machinery and a large part of the country’s goods movement. Even modest increases can feed into freight rates, especially for smaller fleet operators with limited capacity to absorb higher running costs.

Petrol demand has also stayed firm, supported by urban commuting, two-wheeler use and private vehicle ownership. April consumption data showed petrol sales at about 3.7 million tonnes, up more than 6 per cent from a year earlier, while gasoil sales stood near 8.3 million tonnes, marginally higher than last year. The numbers indicate that demand has not weakened sharply despite higher living costs.

Bulk fuel demand has added another layer of pressure. Large users such as transport operators, mining companies and industrial consumers often respond quickly to price differences between retail outlets and direct industrial supply. A spike in retail buying can worsen supply imbalances and deepen losses for refiners if pump prices remain below market-linked levels.

The government has so far signalled little appetite for direct subsidies to compensate refiners for continuing under-recoveries. That stance increases the likelihood of gradual price adjustments, particularly if global crude remains above levels assumed in company projections. A sudden subsidy programme would also complicate fiscal planning at a time when public spending priorities remain stretched across infrastructure, welfare and defence.

State-level taxes mean consumers across major cities will see different pump prices even when the base increase is broadly similar. Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad typically record higher retail rates than New Delhi because of local levies, dealer commissions and freight costs. That variation also affects inflation differently across regions.

Compressed natural gas prices have moved higher as well, with Delhi seeing another ₹1-per-kg increase, the third rise in ten days. The parallel increase in CNG adds pressure on taxis, autorickshaws and urban commuters who had shifted to gas-based transport as a cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel.

For oil marketing companies, the price increases may support margins but are unlikely to restore full profitability immediately. Investor attention is now focused on how quickly the companies can recover past losses, whether demand holds up, and whether policymakers allow market-linked pricing to continue if inflationary pressure grows.

The New York-founded company, led by Shayne Coplan, is seeking to open discussions around whether event-based contracts can be permitted under Japan’s financial and digital-asset framework rather than treated purely as gambling. The move comes as prediction markets draw heavier institutional interest, stronger trading volumes and sharper scrutiny from regulators over consumer protection, market integrity and the legal boundary between betting and derivatives.

People familiar with the matter said the company’s Japan strategy is at an early stage and would require engagement with officials, lawmakers and industry participants before any formal market entry. Japan does not have a dedicated framework for cash-based prediction markets, leaving platforms that allow users to trade on political, economic, sports or cultural outcomes exposed to uncertainty under gambling and financial laws.

Polymarket allows users to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of real-world events, with prices reflecting market-implied probabilities. Its markets have covered elections, central bank decisions, geopolitical events, sports, entertainment and cryptocurrency milestones. The platform gained global visibility during the 2024 US presidential election cycle, when trading volumes surged and its odds were widely cited as an alternative gauge of political sentiment.

Japan would offer Polymarket a large, sophisticated retail market with deep participation in equities, foreign exchange and digital assets. The country has also built one of the world’s more structured crypto regulatory regimes, requiring registration for crypto-asset exchange service providers and imposing rules on custody, anti-money laundering controls and customer protection. That framework may give the company a potential route for engagement, although prediction markets remain a separate and more politically sensitive category.

The company’s global push has accelerated after a period of regulatory pressure in the United States. Polymarket settled a case with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2022 after being accused of offering off-exchange event-based binary options without proper registration. It blocked US users for several years before moving to rebuild a domestic regulatory path through acquisitions and licensing efforts. Its purchase of a derivatives exchange and clearinghouse gave it a route to pursue compliant US operations.

Institutional backing has also strengthened its position. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, agreed to invest up to $2 billion in Polymarket in a deal that valued the business at about $8 billion before the transaction. The partnership gave Polymarket a powerful market infrastructure ally and signalled that event-driven data may have value beyond retail speculation, particularly for investors seeking real-time sentiment around political, economic and corporate developments.

Competition is intensifying. Kalshi, a regulated US prediction market operator, has expanded rapidly by framing event contracts as financial instruments under commodities law. Its growth has triggered legal disputes with state regulators, some of whom argue that sports and election-linked contracts resemble gambling products. That debate is likely to influence Japan’s assessment of whether prediction markets can be supervised as finance, gaming, information markets or a hybrid category.

Polymarket’s Japan plan faces several obstacles. Gambling is tightly restricted, with permitted activity largely confined to state-authorised sectors such as horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, lotteries and pachinko-linked structures. Online betting carries heightened enforcement risks, and any product involving wagers on uncertain outcomes would need careful legal classification. A crypto-funded model could add further complexity because regulators would need to examine custody, settlement, identity checks, sanctions screening and investor suitability.

Supporters of prediction markets argue that they create useful public signals by aggregating dispersed information into tradable prices. Traders who believe a market is mispriced can buy or sell contracts, pushing prices closer to collective expectations. That model has appealed to political analysts, hedge funds, economists and technology investors seeking faster indicators than polls, surveys or conventional research.

Critics counter that thin liquidity, anonymous participation, insider access and coordinated trading can distort outcomes. Questions have intensified around markets linked to sensitive events, where participants may possess non-public information or where the existence of a market could create troubling incentives. Japan’s regulators are likely to examine whether surveillance systems, position limits, disclosure rules and dispute-resolution mechanisms are strong enough to reduce those risks.

The sharpest pressure has fallen on long-dated Japanese government bonds, where the 30-year yield has climbed above 4 per cent, reaching a record since the maturity was introduced in 1999. The 10-year yield has also risen to around 2.8 per cent, its highest level in nearly three decades, marking a decisive break from the low-yield era that defined Japan’s markets for much of the post-deflation period.

The selloff has rippled across global debt markets. US Treasury yields have moved higher, with the 30-year yield testing levels above 5 per cent, while Germany’s benchmark bonds and UK gilts have also weakened. Bond prices move inversely to yields, meaning the surge in yields reflects heavy selling by investors who are demanding greater compensation for inflation, fiscal risk and uncertain central bank policy.

Rising oil prices are the immediate catalyst. Brent crude has moved above $100 a barrel as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt energy flows and heighten concerns over import costs for major economies. For Japan, which relies heavily on imported energy, the oil shock carries a particularly direct inflationary threat. A weaker yen has amplified the impact, increasing the local-currency cost of fuel, food and other imported goods.

Japan’s inflation backdrop has become more difficult for policymakers. Consumer prices have remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2 per cent target for an extended period, while corporate goods prices have shown persistent pressure from energy, raw materials and logistics costs. Investors are now pricing in a greater chance that the central bank will raise interest rates again, possibly as early as its next policy meetings, after years of extraordinary accommodation.

Fiscal concerns are adding to the strain. Tokyo is preparing additional spending to cushion households and businesses from rising fuel and utility costs, but fresh borrowing could worsen concerns over debt sustainability. Japan’s public debt is already among the highest in the developed world, making long-term bond investors more sensitive to any increase in issuance. The prospect of larger supply has hit demand for longer maturities, where insurers, pension funds and banks traditionally played a stabilising role.

The Bank of Japan faces a delicate balance. Raising rates too quickly could unsettle growth and worsen losses in bond portfolios held by financial institutions. Moving too slowly could allow inflation expectations to become entrenched and place further pressure on the yen. The central bank has already scaled back its dominance of the bond market compared with the period of yield-curve control, leaving prices more exposed to market forces.

Global investors are also reassessing the role of government bonds as a safe asset. During earlier market shocks, US Treasuries, German Bunds and Japanese government bonds often rallied as investors sought protection. The current episode is different because the shock is inflationary rather than deflationary. Higher energy prices reduce household purchasing power, raise business costs and complicate the task of central banks that had hoped to cut rates or keep policy steady.

The selloff has implications beyond financial markets. Higher sovereign yields raise funding costs for governments already facing pressure from defence spending, ageing populations, energy subsidies and climate-related investment. They also affect mortgage rates, corporate borrowing and equity valuations. Technology shares and other growth-sensitive assets tend to come under pressure when long-term yields climb, because future earnings are discounted more heavily.

Japan’s shift is especially important because its low yields long encouraged domestic investors to buy overseas bonds. As yields rise at home, insurers and pension funds have less incentive to take currency risk abroad, potentially reducing demand for US and European debt. That repatriation effect could intensify volatility in global markets if Japanese institutions continue to rebalance portfolios.

The measure, effective from 16 May for three months, applies to selected motor vehicles including passenger cars, jeeps, vans, buses, goods transport vehicles, ambulances, electric vehicles and hybrids. Vehicles for which letters of credit were opened on or before 15 May are exempt, limiting the immediate disruption for importers who had already committed payments before the order took effect.

The surcharge is levied on the applicable customs import duty, rather than directly on the total value of a vehicle. For many private vehicles, the customs import duty had stood at 30 per cent, meaning the added surcharge raises that component to 45 per cent. Other taxes and levies, including excise duties, value-added tax and sector-specific charges, mean the final tax burden on imported cars can be far higher than the headline customs duty figure.

Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said the step was designed to encourage buyers to delay vehicle imports rather than halt the trade outright. He said the government was responding to a sharp rise in import expenditure and added pressure on foreign reserves. “Given the current pressure on foreign exchange, we want people to delay their imports by three months,” he told reporters in Colombo.

The decision marks a swift policy adjustment by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration as Sri Lanka attempts to balance consumer demand, revenue needs and currency stability after years of severe economic strain. Vehicle imports were heavily restricted after the island’s 2022 financial collapse, when the country ran short of foreign exchange and struggled to pay for fuel, food and medicines. The gradual reopening of imports was seen as a sign of economic normalisation, but it has also revived concerns about the pressure placed on the balance of payments.

Sri Lanka remains dependent on imported fuel, leaving the economy exposed to swings in global crude prices. Tensions across the Middle East have pushed energy costs higher, forcing authorities to reassess import priorities. Fuel prices have already climbed sharply this year, adding to the cost of transport, electricity generation and logistics. The government is trying to prevent higher oil bills from draining reserves at a time when the country remains under a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund programme.

The rupee has weakened against the US dollar this year, with official figures showing a fall of about 4.5 per cent since January. Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has warned lawmakers that the currency could remain under pressure unless global oil prices ease or the country reduces energy imports. That warning sharpened the policy case for curbing non-essential import demand, particularly in high-value categories such as vehicles.

Vehicle importers and consumers are likely to face a tougher market over the next quarter. The surcharge may delay purchases, reduce showroom availability and raise prices for buyers who choose to proceed. Importers with confirmed letters of credit before the cut-off date may have a temporary advantage, while new buyers could defer orders until the surcharge expires, provided the government does not extend it.

The policy also carries revenue implications. Vehicle imports are a lucrative source of tax income, and Sri Lanka has relied on trade-related levies to support public finances during its recovery. A surcharge may increase tax collected on each imported vehicle, but lower import volumes could offset that gain if buyers hold back. The government’s calculation appears to prioritise currency defence and reserve management over short-term market expansion.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index touched 8,001.40 in early trade at about 9.15am, extending a rally that has accelerated since early May as investors crowded into semiconductor, memory-chip and data-centre supply chain stocks. The move marked another symbolic milestone for a market that only passed 7,000 seven trading sessions earlier, reflecting the speed with which capital has moved into companies expected to benefit from the AI infrastructure boom.

Traders at Hana Bank’s dealing room in Seoul marked the 8,000-point breakthrough with a ceremony, underscoring the psychological importance of the level for domestic investors. Yet the celebration was tempered by sharp volatility later in the session, as profit-taking and foreign selling hit several of the same technology and auto counters that had led the advance.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix remain at the centre of the rally. The two chipmakers have benefited from global demand for high-bandwidth memory, advanced storage and server components used in artificial intelligence training and inference. SK Hynix has strengthened its position in high-bandwidth memory supplied to leading AI chip platforms, while Samsung has drawn renewed investor attention as it pushes to close the gap in next-generation memory products and expand foundry capacity.

The broader appeal of South Korean equities has also been reinforced by expectations that the country’s corporate governance reforms will improve shareholder returns. Measures aimed at narrowing the long-standing valuation discount on local shares, including stronger pressure for dividends, buybacks and more transparent capital allocation, have encouraged investors to look beyond chipmakers into financials, industrials and holding companies.

Market participants said the scale of the advance has created a difficult balance for policymakers and investors. Strong earnings momentum and the AI investment cycle provide support for valuations, but the pace of gains has left the Kospi vulnerable to sudden reversals whenever global technology sentiment weakens. Concerns over crowded positioning, high expectations for AI-related revenue and the concentration of gains in a small group of heavyweight stocks have grown more visible as the index moved through successive records.

The Kospi’s rise has unfolded against a favourable global backdrop. Wall Street’s major indices advanced overnight, led by technology shares, while investor confidence was helped by signs of diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing. South Korea’s export-driven economy remains closely tied to global electronics demand, making its equity market highly sensitive to sentiment around chips, cloud computing, smartphones and consumer electronics.

Foreign flows have played a decisive role. Overseas investors have treated Seoul as a liquid way to gain exposure to AI infrastructure without relying solely on US-listed software and chip-design companies. That has lifted trading volumes and strengthened the won at times, although the currency remains exposed to shifts in US interest-rate expectations and geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

Domestic retail investors have also returned to the market in force. The rapid climb has revived comparisons with earlier speculative cycles, but the current rally is more closely tied to corporate earnings upgrades in semiconductors and technology hardware. Brokerages have raised target prices for key chip stocks, citing memory pricing, AI server demand and stronger capital expenditure by global technology companies.

Still, risks are building. A sharp fall after the 8,000-point breach showed how quickly sentiment can turn when valuations look stretched. Heavy foreign selling, particularly in technology and auto shares, pointed to caution after months of gains. Analysts have warned that any slowdown in AI spending, weaker guidance from major US technology firms or delays in high-bandwidth memory certification could trigger further volatility.