-- 据《焦点台湾》周四报道，巴拉圭总统圣地亚哥·培尼亚敦促台湾私营企业加大对巴拉圭的投资，称该国政治稳定、经济增长强劲，并能帮助企业进入更广阔的拉美市场。 报道称，培尼亚表示，巴拉圭是台湾在南美洲唯一的邦交国，其经济表现优于其他地区国家。国际货币基金组织预测，巴拉圭2026年的GDP增长率约为4.2%，穆迪近期也将其信用评级上调至投资级。 该媒体还指出，培尼亚提议在人工智能和高科技产业领域深化合作，强调巴拉圭的水力发电能力与台湾的半导体优势是“完美契合”，适合共同发展。 （本新闻内容来源于与全球市场专业人士的对话。我们认为这些信息来自可靠渠道，但可能包含传闻和推测。准确性无法保证。）
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Indonesia Foreign Reserves Decline on Currency Stabilization Efforts
Indonesia's foreign-exchange reserves declined to the lowest level in April in nearly two years, as Bank Indonesia sustained interventions to defend the nation's currency, the rupiah.Indonesia's foreign-exchange reserves fell to $146.2 billion last month, down from $148.2 billion in March, marking the lowest level of the international financial buffer since July 2024, reported Bank Indonesia. The reserve has fallen by $10.27 billion this year.Bank Indonesia cited its "rupiah stabilization policy" in April, that is ongoing intervention in the foreign-exchange markets, for the shrinking foreign reserve position, with several other factors.In general, Bank Indonesia has been spending US dollars in its foreign exchange reserve to buy and hold Indonesian rupiahs, thus increasing demand for the rupiah and the currency's relative scarcity, with the goal of undergirding the rupiah's value.The Indonesian rupiah, which has been declining against the US dollar for several years, has lost 5% of its exchange rate against the greenback in the last 12 months, despite Bank Indonesia market interventions.Indonesia's foreign-exchange reserves also slipped in April due to lower tax and services receipts, external debt repayments, as well as national government bond sales, added Bank Indonesia.Although declining, Indonesia's foreign-exchange reserves remain adequate cover nearly six months of imports, which is above the benchmark of three months promoted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Foreign-exchange reserves are assets held by a nation's central bank, generally denominated in US dollars or euros, including cash and non-domestic government bonds. Central bank gold hoards are also regarded as foreign reserves.In addition to managing currency-exchange rates, an ample amount of foreign reserves can help a central bank buttress a nation's financial stability, by allowing national government to manage economic shocks and fund necessary imports in times of stress, such as oil.Nations largely accrue foreign reserves by running trade surpluses, by inflows of money from offshore investments, by direct inward foreign direct investment, and by remittances sent home by offshore workers.
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Asia
South Korean Shares Close Higher for Fourth Straight Session to Hit New High Despite Middle East Tensions
South Korean shares closed higher on Friday, hitting a new high in the fourth session of straight gains, despite escalated tensions in the Middle East.The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or Kospi increased by 7.95 points, or 0.1%, to end at 7,498. The Kosdaq also added 8.54 points, or 0.7%, to close at 1,207.72.The tension between the U.S. and Iran escalated on Friday after U.S. forces targeted Iranian military facilities that launched attacks against warships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.The U.S. military said in a statement that U.S. forces do "not seek escalation."Iran's armed forces said the U.S. military's airstrikes on Thursday night hit civilian areas along the coasts of Qeshm Island, Bandar Khamir and Sirik.In economic news, South Korea's current account surplus sharply rose to $37.33 billion in March from $23.19 billion in February, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea released Friday.Compared with the year-ago period, the figure rose from a surplus of $9.58 billion, the central bank said.The goods account registered a surplus of $35.07 billion. Exports rose by 56.9% on an annual basis to $94.32 billion, while imports increased 17.4% to $59.24 billion.In corporate news, Coway (KRX:021240) posted first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of 182.02 billion won, up 31% from 138.9 billion won a year earlier, according to a Friday filing with the Korea Exchange.The South Korean household appliances manufacturer's sales rose 13% year over year to 1.329 trillion won from 1.174 trillion won.Shares of Coway rose nearly 1% at market close.
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Asia
Cost Synergies Key to Joint Venture Gains for PTT Global Chemical, S&P Says
Potential benefits from a proposed joint venture will materialize for PTT Global Chemical (BKK:PTTGC) only if it achieves cost synergies, S&P Global Ratings said in a recent release.The joint venture plans with SCG Chemicals Public could make PTT Global Chemical more competitive, but it also needs to ease pressure on feedstock sourcing and keep an efficient cost structure, the rating agency said.The company could increase its cash flow due to the deal through capital release, increased scale and diversity, and cost synergies, which would be credit positive, S&P said.However, less feedstock self-sufficiency or a more expensive cost structure would be credit negative, according to S&P.The company may also face limits to control and cash flow access due to a joint venture framework, the rating agency said.S&P forecasts the company's EBITDA for this year to exceed past estimates by 40% to 50% given increased prices for petrochemicals and refined fuel products.
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