SINGAPORE — Consumer confidence has picked up
across Asia/Pacific markets as concerns about slow growth lessen in the
region, according to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index for Consumer
Confidence. SEE MORE SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Offers for styrene monomer (SM) in Asia
breached $1,450/tonne (€1,160/tonne) this week, representing a 17%
increase from early June, because of tight availability of prompt
cargoes, market sources said on Thursday. SEE MORE Chemtex International Inc. received a conditional USDA loan guarantee
to build a 20 MMgy cellulosic ethanol facility in eastern North
Carolina’s Sampson County. Project Alpha is planning to use energy
grasses as feedstock, with an estimated 30,000 acres of production
needed to supply the facility. SEE MORE (VOV) - Domestic gold prices rose sharply to VND43.8 million/tael on August 21. SEE MORE Gold speculation is popular in the country, namely in Ho Chi Minh which
accounts for nearly 76% of the national total. Banks mobilise capital in
the public’s gold to sell for Dong in order to settle liquidity
problems. SEE MORE