Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of USD 1.1 billion in August 2026, shifting from a surplus of USD 3.7 billion in the corresponding month a year earlier. It was the ninth consecutive month of a trade deficit, but the smallest trade gap since March, as imports rose much more than exports. Factories continue to bring in more machinery and materials to expand production and reach double-digit GDP growth this year. Imports surged 37.9% from a year earlier to USD 54.91 billion, while exports jumped 26% to USD 54.8 billion. The trade outlook has come under greater scrutiny since the US imposed a 12.5% tariff on Vietnamese goods on July 24, 2026. For the first eight months of the year, the country posted a trade deficit of USD 20.46 billion, as exports increased 22.4% to USD 374.84 billion, while imports grew 35.3% to USD 395.30 billion.

The RatingDog China General Services PMI rose to 51.4 in August 2026 from 50.4 in July, which was the softest pace since September 2024, surpassing market forecasts of 50.6. However, the latest reading was the second-lowest in 14 months, though faster than in July. The increase was mainly supported by domestic demand, while foreign sales rose for the fourth straight month, but at a more modest pace than in July. Employment rose for the fourth consecutive month, marking the longest sequence of growth since 2023. On the price front, input cost inflation accelerated due to higher labor, raw material, oil, and diesel costs. Meanwhile, output prices rose for the third month running, marking the longest sequence of inflation in the sector since the first half of 2024. However, selling price inflation was unchanged from July and remained marginal. Lastly, sentiment strengthened amid hopes of business expansion plans, new projects, and expected market growth.

Gold climbed above $4,400 an ounce on Thursday, extending the previous session's rebound as a pullback in the dollar and Treasury yields provided some relief. New York Fed Bank President John Williams said there is evidence that inflation continues to ease as the impact of tariffs fades, while higher energy prices have yet to spill over into other services. Data on Wednesday also showed that US private employment growth slowed in August. Still, markets are pricing in around a two-thirds chance of a Fed rate hike later this month following Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish remarks on Friday. Elsewhere, oil prices halted their rally after President Donald Trump said the latest attacks on Iran would be short-lived while indicating that the US stands ready for further strikes, easing inflation concerns and providing additional support to bullion.

South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves surged to $442.3 billion at the end of August 2026 from $428.0 billion in July, with the $14.3 billion increase marking the largest monthly gain on record. The jump was mainly driven by higher foreign currency deposits from financial institutions and gains in marketable securities. Securities remained the largest component, rising by $7.1 billion to $387.1 billion, while deposits jumped by $7.2 billion to $30.3 billion. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) edged up to $15.8 billion, while the country’s reserve position at the IMF also increased slightly. Gold holdings were unchanged at $4.8 billion. Foreign exchange reserves have now risen for three consecutive months since June, with the August increase surpassing the previous record monthly gain of $14.29 billion set in May 2009.

The Japanese yen appreciated past 158 per dollar on Thursday, extending the previous session's rally on speculation that authorities had conducted a rate check, where officials would contact banks to check on exchange rates and signal the possibility of intervention. The recent moves also kept markets on high alert for any signs that authorities could step in again to support the Japanese currency. The yen sank to 40-year lows in late July amid wide interest rate differentials, growing fiscal concerns and elevated energy and import costs, shortly before Tokyo and Washington conducted a joint yen-buying operation. Meanwhile, BOJ board member Hajime Takata raised the possibility of outsized or back-to-back rate hikes to contain rising inflationary pressures. Governor Kazuo Ueda also said that policymakers need to pay greater attention to upside price risks when conducting monetary policy, signaling that a rate hike is likely later this month.

Crude oil held around $91 per barrel on Thursday after rising for three consecutive sessions, as investors assessed renewed hostilities in the Middle East alongside efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said the latest attacks on Iran would be short-lived despite indicating that the US remains prepared for further strikes, while reiterating claims that the US controls Hormuz. The US launched fresh strikes on Iranian targets around the strategic waterway this week following roughly a month of relative calm, prompting Tehran to retaliate with drones and missiles targeting American bases across the Middle East. Despite the renewed hostilities, crude shipments continued to pass through the strait at an estimated average of 8 million barrels a day. In the US, official data showed crude inventories declined by 4.5 million barrels last week, marking their first drop since late July.