The US will expand its efforts to address lingering damage from the Vietnam war, which ended in 1975, including increasing funding from $183 million to $300 million for a dioxin remediation project in the Bien Hoa Air Base area.

While global food prices eased in August, those of rice rose 9.8 percent compared to the previous month, "reflecting trade disruptions in the aftermath of a ban on Indica white rice exports by India", the FAO said in a monthly report.

A deal could be inked before the end of this year if their negotiations to buy PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power conclude successfully.

Philippines is traditionally biggest buyer of Vietnam rice.

Stocks sank again Friday after another report pointing to a resilient US jobs market added to the misery for investors who fear the Federal Reserve is not finished with its campaign of monetary tightening.

The South American agricultural giant, already the world's top producer and exporter of soybeans, is on track to export 50 million tonnes of corn in 2023.

Higher purchases by the world's biggest importer of palm oil could help to lower inventories in top producing Indonesia and Malaysia and support benchmark futures.

Asian investors took fright Thursday at a forecast-busting reading on the US services sector that revived speculation the Federal Reserve could lift interest rates again, compounding a spike in oil prices that has fanned fresh inflation fears.

Oil prices rose sharply following the news, with Brent rising above $90 a barrel for the first time since November, despite steady increases in Iranian and Venezuelan oil exports.

Asian stocks fell on Tuesday as weak service sector data rekindled worries over China's sputtering post-pandemic economy, while the Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates unchanged, as expected, for a third month in a row.

Asian shares pushed higher on Monday as markets wagered the Federal Reserve was done raising US interest rates, and on hopes the drip feed of policy stimulus from Beijing would be enough to stabilize the Chinese economy.

Markets mostly rose Friday ahead of a crucial US jobs report later in the day and following data showing inflation in the world's largest economy had ticked up slightly.

Traders are closely watching India's decision on which countries it will sell rice to, as this will impact global rice prices.

China's surprise move to slow the pace of mainland initial public offerings (IPOs) in an attempt to bolster the secondary market will cloud the fundraising plans of hundreds of companies and will weigh on the economy, bankers and lawyers said.

A fall in demand for wine has led to over-production, a sharp fall in prices, and major financial difficulties for up to one in three wine makers in the Bordeaux region, according to the local farmers' association.

Asian equity markets struggled for direction on Tuesday as the bounce from Beijing's efforts to support stocks ebbed, while bonds rallied and the dollar dipped ahead of US labor and manufacturing data due later in the week.

Asian shares rallied on Monday as China announced new measures to support its ailing markets, though the mood was still cautious ahead of readings on US jobs and inflation that could decide whether interest rates have to rise again.

Traders have spent most of August fretting that the Fed will be forced to raise interest rates further to contain inflation owing to a string of reports pointing to a resilient US economy and jobs market.

Asian stocks sold off and the dollar scaled an 11-week peak against major peers on Friday, as investors braced for the risk of a hawkish tilt from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at Jackson Hole.

Asian markets rose again Thursday after soft US and European economic data soothed recent fears that central banks will hike rates further, while tech firms were given a boost by forecast-busting earnings from AI chip titan Nvidia.

Asian markets drifted between gains and losses Wednesday with traders struggling to maintain momentum from the previous day's much-needed bounce as they contemplate an extended period of elevated interest rates.

Dubai's main airport reported a 49 percent surge in passenger traffic in the first half of the year to 41.6 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, operator Dubai Airports said on Tuesday.

China stocks fell to around nine-month lows on Monday as investors were disappointed by milder-than-expected measures by authorities to boost confidence in the economy, with sluggish recovery and property woes keeping sentiment fragile.

Mortgage rates in the United States have surged to the highest since 2002, said a home loan finance company Thursday, adding pressure to buyers who are already grappling with high costs and low inventory.

Vinfast hopes to compete with giants such as Tesla and began building a factory in the US state of North Carolina last month.

Wall Street ended Wednesday lower and oil continued a downward slide as concerns over more Federal Reserve rate hikes and China's laggard economy weighed on investors.

Asian markets fell Wednesday on concerns about the Chinese economy and after stronger-than-expected US retail sales data increased the likelihood of a further Fed rate hike.

Neta will next year become the second Chinese car manufacturer to establish an EV assembly line in Indonesia, after Wuling began producing its AirEV locally in 2022.

The safe-haven dollar stayed firm against major peers while the yuan sank to a nine-month trough after China's central bank unexpectedly cut key policy rates for a second time in three months on Tuesday to shore up the country's sputtering economy.

The domestic food and beverage industry is considering raising the prices of a number of products this year to make up for the high price of refined sugar, an industry association has said.