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BHP and union talks for Port Hedland Iron Ore Workers to continue into next week
The parties announced on Tuesday that talks between BHP, and the unions representing the workers at the Port Hedland iron ore operations of the mining giant in Western Australia, ended without a deal. Further negotiations are scheduled for next week. In recent months, the three unions that make up the Combined BHP Ports Unions met almost weekly to negotiate a 4-year contract with?the third largest iron ore mining company in the world. The Fair Work Commission, which is the regulator, will facilitate next Tuesday's talks. BHP released a statement saying that "Today, we have tabled a powerful and updated proposal which is a major step in the right direction towards delivering an equitable and reasonable agreement for our port workers." BHP stated that the offer would lock in an 17% increase to most workers' pay over the course of four years. It also included a payment of A$25,000 (18,038) over two years as well as a rise?to roster allowances. Australia's mining industry is one of the highest-paying in the country. Workers in remote hot and dry regions claim they should receive compensation for the conditions they face and their time away from family. Port Hedland, Australia's largest iron ore loading facility, is home to a total of 900,000,000 tonnes of iron ore each year. BHP transports $80 million in iron ore through the facility every day.
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China's oil imports in August rose for the second consecutive month as a result of easing fuel export controls
Customs data released Tuesday showed that China's crude oil imports were up from July but down 23.4% compared to a year ago. After restricting exports of refined oil products since March in order to protect domestic supplies, the world's largest oil buyer imported 14.6% less oil than it did a year ago. Domestic consumption also fell due to higher prices. The second consecutive month saw a month-on-month increase in oil imports. However, China has eased its controls on refined oil since July. China imported?37.93 millions metric tons or 8.93million barrels of oil per day, an increase of 6.2% from July. According to Kpler, a ship-tracking company, onshore oil inventories fell by 550,000 barrels a day in August. This is compared to 80% drop per day that occurred in July. Muyu Xu is a Kpler analyst. He said that imports would gradually improve after September. However, seaborne imports are expected to remain between 8.5 and?9 millions bpd. Inventory declines will also slow down. China's refined product exports, which include gasoline, diesel and kerosene, reached 6.01 million tonnes in August. This is a 29% increase month-on-month and surpassed the 5.33 millions tons of August last year. Emma Li, an analyst with the ship-tracking company Vortexa, said: "The increase in crude imports month-on-month is in line a surge in fuel exports during August and continued exports throughout September." Vortexa anticipates exporting at least 3,000,000 tons of transportation fuel to other destinations than Hong Kong by September. This is a 50% increase from the same month last year. China's first-eight months refined oil exports totaled 34.24 millions tons, down 9.6% compared to the same period last. According to Oilchem, domestic transportation fuel consumption has also improved slightly from July. Gasoline demand was 12.6 million tonnes and diesel demand 15.48 million tonnes in August. According to Oilchem, the demand for gasoline and diesel was still down by 8% and 10%, respectively, compared to a year ago. Chinese customs data showed that China's natural-gas imports, including LNG and pipeline gas in August, were?at 10,33 million tons. This is a 12.9% decrease from the previous year. Natural gas imports in the first eight-month period were 78.23 millions tons, a 4.4% drop on an annual basis.
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Singapore minister defends Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India
Singapore's Transport Minister defended on Tuesday the 'Singapore Airlines investment in Air India', stating that 'the city-state's Flag carrier must grow abroad because there are limits to how many passengers will fly into or out of Singapore. In response to a parliament question, Minister Jeffrey Siow stated that the flag carrier is a publicly listed company which funds its investments out of its own balance sheet. It has not requested additional capital from shareholders. Temasek, a Singaporean state investor, owns the majority of the airline. Singapore Airlines' 25.1% share in Air India has affected its earnings, and the carrier's multi-billion dollar losses have increased. Last month, it was reported that Air India wants to raise?about $1.5billion in new equity from its owners Tata Sons & Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines and its shareholders will have to decide whether the investment in Air India is worth it. Singapore Airlines and its shareholders will have to decide whether its investment in Air India is worth it. He said that Singapore Airlines had not asked its shareholders for more capital. If it did, this would be a matter of commercial interest between the company's shareholders and Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines announced in a press release on Tuesday that the flag carrier will continue to fund investments in India with its internal resources. This is subject to approval by the board and a strict capital allocation framework. The airline said that Air India's transformation is a multi-year, complex programme and it's not expected to be linear. It also stated that the flag carrier's commitment was long-term?strategic aligned with the multi-hub strategy. Kenneth Tiong of Singapore's Workers' Party, an opposition lawmaker, was prompted by the news last month to ask that Temasek funds not be used for the Indian carrier's support and to submit the question to parliament on Tuesday. Singapore's Senior minister K Shanmugam stated on?Saturday that Temasek, as an investor in Singapore Airlines, expects that the company make responsible investment choices. Such decisions, however, are up to the company. He also requested that police investigate what he called racist remarks about the Air India investment debate. "That news gave rise to a series of anti-Indian and racist rants online," Shanmugam stated over the weekend. He added that Temasek CEO and senior managers had been attacked because of their ethnicity.
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China's crude oil imports in August fell 23.4% year/year
According to?customs data?released?on?Tuesday, China's crude?imports were?down?23.4% from the same period a year earlier. Data showed that oil imports for August were 37.93 metric tons or 8.93 million barrels a day. China's crude oil imports from January to August?fell by 14.6%, reaching 320.9 million metric tonnes. China's?natural gas imports in August, including LNG, were 10.33 million tonnes, down 12.9% compared to a year ago. Natural gas imports in the first eight-month period were 78.23 millions tons, a 4.4% drop on an annual basis. Exports of China's refined oil products, such as gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and kerosene, reached 6.01 million tonnes in August, up 12.7% on the year and 29.0% on the month. China's refined product exports in the first eight months totaled?34.24 millions tons, down by?9.6% compared to?the same time last year.
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Willis Lease Finance targets Asia-Pacific growth with new Malaysian centre
Willis Lease Finance Corp, a US-based aircraft engine lessor, is targeting the soaring demand for engine maintenance in Asia-Pacific. Its CEO stated that its 'new Malaysian repair facility' was just one step of a larger regional push. The Nasdaq listed company announced in late August plans to build its third global repair centre for engines in Johor, southern Malaysia. This is instead of Singapore where the company has an office as well as large maintenance operations by ST Engineering and GE Aerospace. In an interview with CEO Austin Willis on Friday, Willis said that Singapore is a great location but it has become so crowded over the last decade that there's no space or workforce available locally. He also cited Johor as being a special economy zone as another draw. WLFC, like other Western 'aviation' firms, is seeking to establish a foothold where aircraft fleets expand faster than maintenance infrastructure required to'support them. Analysts say this gap could cause airlines to scramble for engine repair capability for many years to come. Willis cited Airbus data and said that the Asia-Pacific region's off-wing maintenance, including engine maintenance and repairs, is expected to grow from $37.1billion in 2025 to 100billion by 2044. The region will account for almost half of new aircraft deliveries within the next 20years. Willis stated that the facility, which is 33,000 square feet (3,065 square metres) in size, will employ 25 people or more within two to three year. The facility will first focus on "hospital shop" visits for older Airbus and Boeing narrow body engines, such as the CFM56 or V2500, before moving on to the newer CFMLEAP family of engines and Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter 2027. The centre will scale "similarly" to existing facilities of the company in Florida and Wales. WLFC refused to reveal the amount of investment. Willis stated that the site would initially be used to store and lease engines for WLFC, as well as a storage agreement recently signed with Pratt & Whitney. Third-party airlines are expected to follow 'as capacity increases,' Willis added. Willis stated that as global supply chain constraints ease, and Boeing and Airbus deliveries increase, airlines will be forced to make a decision on ageing engines close to retirement. The first option is an expensive, full overhaul that would cost?at least 10 million dollars. The second is a quicker and cheaper shop visit similar to what you might find in a hospital. He said the company would cater to this market. Willis stated that the company will continue to invest in the region, primarily by acquiring and leasing additional aviation assets.
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Maguire: Southeast Asia is a key driver for China's clean tech exports.
Southeast Asian nations are the key drivers behind China's clean energy export boom. The region has made record purchases this year of grid equipment, clean power generation components, and electric vehicles. According to Ember, the energy think-tank, ASEAN countries have spent over $20 billion in total on clean-tech Chinese products by?2026. This total is 50% higher than the same period last year. It has?solidified Southeast Asia as the largest Asian market for Chinese clean-tech components. Southeast Asian demand is important because while Europe was the main destination for China's exports of clean-tech products in recent years ASEAN represents the next frontier. It could provide Chinese exporters with a demand boom lasting for years. BROAD BASED DEMAND ON CHINA’S DOORSTEP ASEAN is demanding a wide range of clean-tech products from China. The year-to-date purchase of solar panels, batteries, grid components and heating and cooling systems has all reached record levels. This wide-ranging demand is a positive development for Chinese exporters. They have relied heavily on advanced economies over the past few years, but they are now facing increasing trade tensions with Europe and North America which could slow down future growth. As electricity consumption, industrial activity, and energy investment all increase, the demand for Chinese-made products will also continue to grow. The economies of the region continue to urbanize at an increasing rate, industrialize more and digitize. The governments are increasing renewable energy capacity, expanding the power grids, encouraging electric vehicle adoption, and strengthening domestic manufacturing. Solar panels, batteries and EVs are all products that China produces in unprecedented quantities. Southeast Asia has become a major market for?China's clean tech output, at a moment when the access to certain developed markets is uncertain. SOLAR SHINES Export data for solar systems is one of the most obvious examples of Southeast Asia's importance for China's manufacturers. ASEAN countries have collectively spent $4.1 billion on solar panels made in China so far this season, which is a 90% increase from the same period of 2025. ASEAN accounts for 57% (of China's total exports of solar products across Asia), making it a crucial market for the solar industry. Philippines, Malaysia Indonesia and Vietnam are among the top buyers. They have nearly doubled their solar imports in 2026, compared to a year ago. The region spent just over $7 billion on energy storage batteries and about $1.6 billion on grid component imports. The region imported EVs worth $6.3 billion, and spent an additional $1.2 billion on heating and cooling systems. WORSE IMPACT Demand for clean energy components is increasing across Southeast Asia, and this has implications beyond China's manufacturing base. The trajectory of emissions will be increasingly shaped by economies in development with increasing populations, expanding industries and rising electricity needs. Southeast Asia, which has a population of around 700 million people, is the fastest growing economic bloc in the world, with an annual GDP growth rate of about 5%. According to Ember, the economic growth requires a?constantly increasing power consumption. Coal currently makes up a large part of the power mix in this region. But every shipment of solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and grid equipment to Southeast Asia could accelerate the deployment of low-carbon energy systems in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world. Clean-tech is no longer just about the place where products are manufactured. The story is not only about where products are made, but also how they are used. Southeast Asia, by this measure, is one of the key regions in the global transition to energy. Clean-tech imports from China are growing faster than global markets. The share of Asian demand is increasing. Its appetite spans all major segments of the clean energy economy. Southeast Asia is a key region as China looks for markets that can absorb its massive clean-tech production. You like this column? Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets seven days a weeks.
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Poste Italiane increases Telecom Italia's offer and waives the threshold condition
Poste Italiane, an Italian financial conglomerate, increased the value of its takeover bid for Telecom Italia by EUR550 million on 'Monday. In a press release, the state-controlled group announced that it would increase its bid per share?by EUR0.30 up to EUR1.97 and, for the first, offer equity, 0.218 newly issued Poste shares, for every share of Italy's ex-phone monopoly. Poste also waived its condition that it must receive 66.67% of all outstanding shares. The offer period expires on Friday and the take-up rate has been low. Calculations based on bourse data show that Poste Italiane has secured Telecom Italia's shares, which accounted for 25% of TIM's capital as of Monday. Poste's bid was launched?in?March, as part of an initiative to create a?national champion in digital infrastructure and services. Poste announced that it would offer an aggregate maximum?cash component? of EUR3,36 billion ($3,90 billion).
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Airbus deliveries at the end of August rose by 9%
Airbus jet deliveries increased 9% in the first eight-months of 2026. The European planemaker is 'broadly on target' to meet its yearly quota, but it still has some catching up to do with the A330 after a production snag. Airbus announced in a monthly bulletin it delivered 475 jets between January and August. This is up from the 434 that were delivered in the same period last year. The total included 57 deliveries during August. The France-based company released data showing that deliveries of the A330 wide body jet resumed in August with one handover, after they had been suspended for two months in June and July due to the discovery of an A330 tail segment containing a lost tool. Airbus has delivered 11 A330s this year, a 31% decrease. Delivery of the A320 family narrowbody, which is considered to be the benchmark for all other aircraft in its class, increased by 11%. The company targets 870 deliveries by 2026, up 10% from last year's 793. In August, the?planemaker shipped 67 aircraft including eight A350F cargo planes to an unnamed customer. So far this year, the company has sold 1,157 aircraft or 1,091 when cancellations are taken into account.
The yen is also rising in the morning bid for Europe
Gregor Stuart Hunter gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets.
The summer is officially over. Buckle up!
Carry trades are starting to fail as the markets expect a path of rate increases from the Bank of Japan.
The?Japanese?currency?traded as much as 1 percent firmer at 152.89. This is its highest since February. Just weeks after it hit a four-decade low, the U.S. government and Japanese authorities intervened to stabilize the currency.
The yen was also boosted by data released on Wednesday showing that Japan's economy expanded faster than originally estimated from the previous quarter in the April-June period. These figures, along with the real wage growth numbers, confirmed expectations that the Bank?of?Japan would continue to hike interest rates from next week until well into next.
The currency gains weighed on the jittery stock markets. The Nikkei was up 0.3%, and MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan was 0.5% higher. This was led by the 2.3% increase in South Korea shares, which is a competitor with Japan for memory chip production. S&P 500 E-mini Futures were down 0.1%.
Investor confidence was boosted by a faster pace of Chinese exports in August compared to the previous month. Imports rose as well, although less than expected. On Tuesday, copper prices reached a new record high as fears of a shortage of supplies grew.
Early European trading saw pan-regional futures up 0.1%. German DAX Futures were also 0.1% higher. FTSE Futures were flat.
The Middle East is still ambiguous about the future of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the assurances given by U.S. president Donald Trump in June.
Iran has threatened to wage "economic war" against the United States and fired a missile at U.S. ships, pushing Brent crude up 0.4%, or $97.49. This is the third day that Brent crude has been creeping towards the $100 per barrel mark, which the benchmark oil price has not reached since May.
Trump may have been better off referring to May 1, the day many countries outside the U.S. observe the labour movement. Remember to not wear white after Labor Day, in keeping with the frazzled spirit that pervades our times.
The following are key developments that may influence the markets on Tuesday.
Earnings of the company
Casey's General Stores and GameStop Corp
Economic Events
Germany: exports, imports and trade balance for July
France: current account and trade balance July
(source: Reuters)