Dubai’s commodities market is preparing to launch a same-day physically settled gold contract, giving bullion dealers, refineries and institutional traders a regulated route to execute, clear and settle physical gold transactions within a single trading day. The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange will introduce its Gold Spot T+0 Contract on Monday, 22 June, positioning the emirate as one of the few global centres offering exchange-based same-day settlement […]
Brussels has narrowed its artificial intelligence infrastructure plan by opening the way for smaller and phased data centre projects, signalling a more cautious approach to Europe’s bid to compete with the United States and China in advanced computing. The European Union’s tender framework for AI gigafactories now allows bidders to propose facilities that can grow in stages rather than committing immediately to the largest scale originally envisaged. […]
Dubai’s main commodities exchange is preparing to launch a same-day settlement gold contract on Monday, seeking to strengthen the emirate’s role in bullion trading as investors, dealers and refineries demand faster execution, tighter price certainty and reliable access to physical delivery. The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, part of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, will introduce the Gold Spot T+0 Contract for bullion dealers, refineries, brokers, clearing members […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai MENA mergers and acquisitions are expected to recover only gradually after war-driven volatility hit confidence, even as bankers say the region’s strategic deal pipeline remains alive. Bank of America expects activity lost during the first half of the year to take months, rather than days or weeks, to return, with transactions delayed by the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel. The bank’s […]
By R. Suryamurthy India’s economy is supposedly doing remarkably well. Growth remains among the fastest in the world. Stock markets continue to flirt with record highs. Billionaires are multiplying. Airports are expanding. Bullet trains are advancing. Defence exports are reaching new milestones. The nation is speaking confidently about becoming a $10 trillion economy and a […]
DAMAC Properties has launched The Lifestyle Collection, a new apartment ownership offer with monthly plans starting from AED 1,999 across four of its master communities, as developers sharpen affordability-led campaigns in a Dubai housing market facing softer transaction momentum after a record-breaking 2025. The offer covers a curated selection of apartments in DAMAC Hills, DAMAC Hills 2, DAMAC Lagoons and DAMAC Riverside, positioning the company’s suburban and […]
Washington and Tehran have published the text of an interim agreement signed by their presidents to halt a wider Middle East war, even as President Donald Trump warned that the United States could resume strikes and target Iranian officials if Tehran failed to meet its commitments. The 14-point memorandum, signed on Wednesday by Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian, extends an earlier ceasefire for 60 days and opens […]
Gulf economies are forecast to stage a sharp rebound in 2027 after a conflict-driven contraction this year, as energy exports recover, travel demand returns and business confidence improves across the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. The latest ICAEW-Oxford Economics Economic Insight report projects GCC gross domestic product to shrink 2.4 per cent in 2026, before expanding 8.1 per cent in 2027. The forecast marks one of the starkest […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Aramco is considering the sale of a stake in its sulphur business as the state-controlled energy group expands a wider drive to unlock cash from infrastructure assets and support Saudi Arabia’s investment-heavy economic transformation. The potential transaction, known internally as Project Yellowstone, could raise as much as $7 billion and would cover assets linked to sulphur storage and export terminals. Aramco invited […]
By K Raveendran The US-Iran deal marks a genuine easing of one of the most dangerous geopolitical shocks to hit the energy market, but it should not be mistaken for a reset button. The immediate risk of a military breakdown has declined, and that matters for every stakeholder: Washington, Tehran, Gulf producers, Asian importers, shipping […]
Uniswap’s UNI token surged more than 22 per cent on Wednesday as a long-range Standard Chartered forecast injected momentum into decentralised-finance names while bitcoin struggled to hold gains before the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The move lifted UNI to about $3.60, extending a sharp weekly advance and making it one of the strongest performers among larger crypto assets. Bitcoin traded near $65,000–$66,000, little changed after a choppy […]
Middle East governments moved to endorse a preliminary US-Iran peace deal on Monday, casting it as the strongest diplomatic opening yet to end a four-month conflict that has disrupted energy flows, strained Gulf security and unsettled global markets. The agreement, brokered after mediation led by Pakistan and supported by regional diplomacy, is due to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday. It provides for a halt to […]
Oil prices fell to three-month lows as a US-Iran framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and place Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile under international control moved towards a planned June 19 signing in Geneva, easing fears of a deeper Gulf energy shock. Brent crude slipped to about $83 a barrel on Tuesday after a sharper fall at the start of the week, while West Texas Intermediate traded […]
Foreign investors delivered their strongest one-day purchase of Vietnamese equities in nearly six years on 15 June, signalling a sharp improvement in risk appetite after fears over Middle East energy disruption eased.
Overseas funds bought a net US$160.4 million of Vietnamese shares on Monday, the largest daily inflow since 10 September 2020. The buying helped steady a market that had been under pressure from rising oil prices, global risk aversion and sustained foreign withdrawals despite Vietnam’s long-awaited move towards emerging-market status.
The VN-Index rose 0.43 per cent to 1,799.31 on Monday and moved back above the 1,800-point area on Tuesday, keeping the benchmark close to levels that still represent a strong annual advance even after a pullback over the past month. The shift was part of a wider rebound across Asian emerging markets after the United States and Iran agreed on terms aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over inflation and fuel costs.
The reversal is notable because foreign investors have remained net sellers of Vietnamese equities this year. Even after Monday’s inflow, overseas funds have sold about US$2.6 billion of Vietnamese stocks in 2026, following withdrawals of roughly US$4.8 billion last year. Those outflows reflected concerns over market concentration, heavy exposure to a few large-cap groups, tariff uncertainty, currency pressure and the impact of higher energy prices on a manufacturing-led economy.
“De-escalation in the Middle East and Vietnam’s own underperformance have created a textbook re-entry set-up for foreign capital,” said Quynh Cao, head of institutional business at VNDirect Securities. “Positioning was already tight and it does not take much to flip that.”
Vietnam’s appeal to global investors rests on more than a single trading session. FTSE Russell has confirmed that the country will be reclassified from frontier to secondary emerging-market status from 21 September, with inclusion in global equity indices to be phased through 2027. The upgrade is expected to bring passive inflows of about US$1.5 billion, with broader active flows potentially lifting the total to several billion dollars if market reforms continue.
The reclassification follows changes aimed at improving foreign access, including the removal of full pre-funding requirements for equity trades and the development of a global broker model. These reforms address long-standing obstacles for institutional investors, who had complained about settlement risk, limited access channels and operational frictions that made Vietnam harder to replicate within global index portfolios.
Large-cap names expected to draw attention include Vingroup, Masan Group, FPT Corp and Hoa Phat Group, alongside banks, securities firms, industrial stocks and consumer companies with sufficient liquidity and foreign room. Average daily trading value in Vietnamese equities this year has been around US$789 million, underscoring the market’s growing depth, though liquidity remains uneven across sectors.
The macroeconomic backdrop remains supportive. Vietnam’s economy expanded 8.02 per cent in 2025, helped by strong exports, public investment, manufacturing activity and resilient consumption. Foreign direct investment disbursement rose to about US$27.6 billion last year, while exports reached roughly US$475 billion. Growth is expected to moderate this year, but projections still place Vietnam among Asia’s faster-growing economies.
Higher oil prices had complicated that outlook. Vietnam is exposed to imported fuel and energy costs, making any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz a direct risk to inflation, transport costs and factory margins. The drop in crude prices after the US-Iran accord helped restore confidence among investors looking at countries with strong structural growth but sensitivity to external shocks.
The market is not without vulnerabilities. Retail investors remain a major force in daily trading, making sentiment swings sharper when liquidity thins. Foreign ownership limits continue to constrain buying in some leading companies. Corporate governance, disclosure quality and settlement infrastructure also remain areas under watch as Vietnam seeks eventual MSCI emerging-market status.
Analysts say the latest inflow will need to be sustained before it can be treated as a durable turning point. A single large session can reflect short-covering, index positioning or tactical buying after a sell-off. A lasting reversal would require more consistent foreign participation, firmer currency conditions, stable oil prices and evidence that earnings growth can match valuations after the market’s strong run.
Shoppers can stand to win S$10,000 daily exclusively on foodpanda when ordering from Sheng Siong, while enjoying islandwide delivery within an hour
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2026 – foodpanda, Singapore’s leading food and grocery delivery platform, today announced a partnership with Sheng Siong, bringing one of the nation’s largest supermarket chains exclusively onto its platform for on-demand grocery delivery.
(From left) Peter Tan, Senior System Architect, Sheng Siong Group; Lin Zi Kai, Director of Customer and Operations, Sheng Siong Group; Lin Ruiwen, Executive Director, Sheng Siong Group; Bhavani Mishra, Managing Director, foodpanda Singapore; Ricky Davda, Head of Marketplace, foodpanda Singapore; and Yingchun Li, Head of Marketing & Growth, foodpanda Singapore, at the launch of foodpanda’s partnership with Sheng Siong
From 22 June 2026, consumers can order more than 12,000 grocery products and household essentials from 43 Sheng Siong outlets islandwide, with plans to progressively onboard more outlets. Orders can be delivered in an hour, bringing Sheng Siong’s signature value and budget-friendly savings straight to the doorstep.
“As grocery delivery becomes part of everyday life for more Singapore households, consumers are looking for trusted brands, competitive prices and the convenience of shopping on their own terms,” said Bhavani Mishra, Managing Director of foodpanda Singapore. “Sheng Siong has earned the trust of generations of Singaporeans, and we are excited to welcome this beloved household brand onto foodpanda. By bringing together Sheng Siong’s trusted value with foodpanda’s convenience, we are making everyday grocery shopping even more accessible for consumers across Singapore.”
The partnership comes as demand for quick-commerce continues to grow in Singapore. foodpanda has seen grocery order frequency increase by 7% since 2023, while the average number of items per order has risen by 8%. This points to a broader shift in shopping habits, with more consumers relying on on-demand delivery not just for last-minute top-ups, but for their regular weekly grocery runs.
Strengthening foodpanda’s grocery ecosystem
Complementing foodpanda’s network of pandamart stores and existing grocery partners, Sheng Siong further strengthens the platform’s grocery offering and expands access to affordable options for Singapore households.
As grocery baskets continue to grow, foodpanda is also investing in fulfilment capabilities to support larger and bulkier orders. This includes a three-wheeler delivery fleet with increased carrying capacity to improve fulfilment efficiency, helping customers receive their weekly essentials quickly and reliably.
Through the partnership, consumers can look forward to:
Access to over 12,000 grocery and household products from Sheng Siong
On-demand doorstep delivery in an hour
Additional perks for pandapro subscribers, including free delivery on applicable orders
Lin Ruiwen, Executive Director, Sheng Siong Group, said,”At Sheng Siong, our focus has always been on providing quality products at competitive prices for Singapore households. As more consumers embrace the convenience of online grocery shopping, partnering with foodpanda allows us to extend that value proposition beyond our physical stores and better serve our consumer’s needs.”
Celebrating the launch with daily S$10,000 giveaways and exclusive savings
To celebrate the partnership, foodpanda and Sheng Siong are rolling out one of foodpanda’s biggest grocery campaigns to date, with S$280,000 total in cash prizes to be won.
From 22 June to 19 July 2026, customers who order from Sheng Siong on foodpanda will stand a chance to win S$10,000 in cash awarded to one winner each day throughout the campaign (terms and conditions apply).
Shoppers can also enjoy exclusive launch discounts on foodpanda, including:
Up to 40% off selected Sheng Siong products
Additional rewards and promotions throughout the campaign period
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About foodpanda Singapore
foodpanda is a leading on-demand delivery platform in Asia dedicated to bringing consumers a wide range of food, groceries and more, quickly and conveniently. Powered by technology and operational excellence, foodpanda is spearheading the growth of quick-commerce (q-commerce) across the region with its network of retail partners, as well as pandamart cloud stores to provide more on-demand options beyond the millions of food delivery options. foodpanda operates across 10 markets in Asia Pacific – Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. foodpanda is a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, a global leader of the food delivery industry. For more information, visit www.foodpanda.com.
The World Bank Group has raised $509 million through a second loan-backed bond deal, taking its emerging-market securitisation programme past $1 billion as it seeks to draw more private capital into businesses that can expand employment across developing economies. The transaction, closed through the International Finance Corporation, packages 62 IFC-originated loans from different sectors into a collateralised loan obligation, or CLO. It follows a $510 million debut […]
Oil prices slid to their lowest levels since March on Monday after Washington and Tehran said they had reached an initial deal aimed at ending the war and restoring traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears that months of disruption to one of the world’s most important energy corridors would deepen. Brent crude futures fell $4.08, or 4.7 per cent, to $83.25 a barrel by 0415 […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington and Tehran have accepted a preliminary framework aimed at ending their war, lifting the U. S. blockade of Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a move that pushed oil prices lower while leaving Iran’s nuclear programme for another round of negotiations. President Donald Trump declared the agreement “complete” on Truth Social on Sunday evening in Washington, shortly after Pakistan’s Prime Minister […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US President Donald Trump’s assertion that an interim agreement with Iran would be signed on Sunday and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz has exposed a widening gap between Washington’s public confidence and Tehran’s more guarded account of the negotiations. Trump said in a social media post on Saturday that “the Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow” and that, once completed, the […]
By K Raveendran The promise of a ‘great settlement’ from President Trump has been enough to pull oil prices lower, calm equity markets and revive hopes that the Strait of Hormuz may return to normal traffic. Yet it shows how fragile the relief remains. A diplomatic opening can move prices in an instant, but a […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has denied claims that money was transferred from the UAE to Iran, rejecting allegations that frozen Iranian assets, including a reported $3bn tranche, had been released or routed through its financial system. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reports were “entirely false and unfounded” and stressed that no frozen Iranian funds had been released, transferred or facilitated through the country. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has firmly rejected allegations that money was moved from the country to Iran, including claims involving as much as $3bn, saying no frozen Iranian assets have been released, transferred or facilitated through its territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said reports carried by unnamed international media outlets were “entirely false and unfounded”. The statement followed accounts suggesting that funds linked to […]
Nintendo has reintroduced purchase checks for the multi-language version of the Switch 2 in Japan after detecting orders suspected of bulk buying, adding a fresh layer of control to one of the year’s most sought-after gaming devices. The Kyoto-based company temporarily halted sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 Multi-Language System on its official Nintendo Store and said future purchases would be limited to accounts showing at least […]
Refined fuel exports from the Persian Gulf have climbed this month as more tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz, easing pressure on diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and naphtha markets starved of supply since the waterway was disrupted by the Iran war. The rebound marks a break from the squeeze that followed the closure of the world’s most important energy chokepoint after the February 28 attack on Iran […]
https://foodpanda.sg
