Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Hanwha Total Petrochemical Co is now the largest polypropylene (PP) producer in South Korea with a capacity of 1,120 tons after completing the extension of its PP and ethylene manufacturing facilities in Daesan.
The extension, which adds 400,000 tons to Hanwha Total’s previous annual PP production capacity of 720,000 tons, required an investment of 530 billion won and took 28 months to complete.
It is expected to generate additional revenue of 840 billion won annually.
PP is a synthetic plastic material used in disposable food packaging, food containers, other household products, and in auto vehicles and electronic components.
The material is seen attracting higher demand this year due to the increasing use of disposable food packaging amid the pandemic.
The extension also increased the company’s annual production capacity for ethylene from 1.38 million to 1.53 million tons.
The new facility uses liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) instead of naphtha, which is a more costly petrochemical material.
Hanwha Total Petrochemical Co. is a 50:50 joint venture between Hanwha Group and France's Total SE.
