Markets Today: the Asian close, 20 August 2026
The Asian trading day in one place: 6 stories across currencies, central banks, equities and deals, collected at the close.
The close
Asian Equities Gain as US Treasury Buybacks Ease Yield Pressure: Asian markets rose on Thursday, tracking Wall Street's gains after the US Treasury Department announced increased long-dated government debt buybacks. This move lowered bond yields, improving risk sentiment globally. Federal Reserve minutes revealed a fractured debate on future rate hikes, while geopolitical tensions and crude oil prices remain key investor concerns.
Vietnam Gold Climbs as US Inflation Data Weakens Dollar: Vietnam's gold bar and ring prices rose Saturday, mirroring global gains. A weaker US dollar, influenced by US inflation data, supported the precious metal.
Central banks & currencies
Reserve Bank of India Absorbs ₹2 Trillion Liquidity via 7-Day Reverse Repo: The Reserve Bank of India conducted a Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction on 17 August 2026. This move removed ₹2,00,000 crore from the banking system, addressing prevailing liquidity conditions.
Stocks & bonds
SGX Reviews Trading Hours After HKEX Proposal to End Lunch Break: The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is assessing its trading hours, including potentially removing its lunch break. This review follows a similar proposal by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) to extend continuous trading. Singapore aims to boost capital market liquidity.
Reserve Bank of India auctions ₹24,000 crore in T-Bills: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted an auction for Government of India Treasury Bills totalling ₹24,000 crore on August 12, 2026. This sale included three different tenors of short-term debt instruments.
Koh Brothers Eco Engineering Faces S$57.6m Legal Liabilities Ahead of SGX Mainboard Move: Singapore's Koh Brothers Eco Engineering disclosed S$57.6 million in potential legal liabilities. This news came hours before shareholders approved its transfer to the Singapore Exchange mainboard.
Every item above was reported and checked separately today; this wrap collects them in one place at the Asian close. Follow any headline through to the full story for the figures and their sources. The Brief carries the same day in five minutes tomorrow morning.
This article is journalism, not investment advice; consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Market data is indicative, may be delayed, and should be verified with your broker or exchange before use.
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